Anyone have any creative ways to deal with phone conversations in a script? Seems like I've got a lot of them. I've stayed away from split screen and mainly used (V.O.) because the dialog on the other end is important.
A couple of cautions about using a lot of phone calls: First, they break the "show don't tell" rule. Second, they aren't particularly interesting to watch unless there is some associated action (like duct taping the victim to the chair while talking on the phone) but even then cutting back and forth can start the audiences head spinning. Finally, keep them short. The rule I was taught was to write the phone call with as few words as possible then cut out half the words that remain.
Just my thoughts.
Doug B