Sock

Can you use a characters name in dialog before you state it in the script? My screenplay opens with two men speaking, however we don't see them until a few minutes into the film, their dialog is heard over different footage. Should I...

A) State who the voices belong too from the get go.
B) Write with "Man 1" and "Man 2" until they are seen.
C) Use their names and describe them once they are visible on screen.

Thanks

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At least I think... so...

Wallmaker

I believe it's always best to use one name per a character throughout... If you've seen Michael Clayton, the opening is a voiceover of Arthur and we don't actually meet Arthur until the second Act. But in the script it says Arthur (V.O.) for the opening. And it helps avoid confusion. So, option A.

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Monkuta

I agree. The audience shouldn't know who they are yet if you don't want them to, but the person reading the script should.

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Monkuta's Favorite Quotes: "Time is our greatest teacher. Unfortunately, it kills most of its' pupils." - Louis Hector Berlioz; "What a crazy random happenstance!" - Dr. Horrible; "Remember when the platform was sliding into the fire pit and I said 'Goodbye' and you were like (deep male voice) 'NO WAY!' (normal voice) and then I was all 'We pretended we were going to murder you'? That was great!"- GLaDOS