: If two characters are texting back and forth in different locations, you can use an INTERCUT heading, similar to a phone conversation. Tips for Effective Texting Scenes
: Use a specific shot heading if the audience needs to see the phone screen directly.
: Regardless of how you format the texts, the rest of your script should typically use Courier New 12 point font. Send your Scripts
Example: CHARACTER NAME (TEXT) followed by the message in the dialogue block.
: For a single message, you can describe the action and include the text in quotes within the narrative. : If two characters are texting back and
Example: He looks down at his phone. A message from Sarah: "Where are you?" .
: How the text appears on screen (e.g., as floating bubbles or a close-up of the screen) is usually decided by the director, so you don't need to over-describe the visual effects in your script. Example: CHARACTER NAME (TEXT) followed by the message
If you are looking for how to include or format text messages within a screenplay, there is no single industry standard, but several common methods are widely used to ensure clarity for the reader. Common Script Formatting Methods for Text Messages