Texting on Screen: How to Format Text Messages in Your Screenplay

In today’s digital age, texting is an integral part of our daily communication. But how do you effectively format text messages in a screenplay? I asked this question as I developed my forthcoming series Syntax, a thriller set in Silicon Valley. Let’s dive into what I learned – the many ways screenwriters write text messages in their scripts.

Screenplay Formatting

There is not one single, “official” method to write text messages in a screenplay. However, every screenwriter should consider the fundamental rules to formatting their screenplay before they choose the best method from them. These two rules will guide you: 

1. Be clear | Clarity ensures your script is easily understood.

2. Be consistent | Consistency maintains a professional appearance and easy reading. 

When deciding how to format text messages in your screenplay, consider:

  • The frequency of text messages in your script
  • The visual style you envision for the final film
  • The role of texts in your storytelling (are they central or incidental?)
  • The overall tone and pace of your script

Remember, the goal is to make your script clear and engaging for readers while providing necessary information for eventual production. 

Format Method 1: Action Descriptions 

The first method screenwriters use is stating the text message within a script’s action description. Here are two examples:

Example One: This is from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, one of the first movies to show people communicating through text. It details how the text will appear visually. This can be important when a text message is displayed or typed out on screen. 

Example Two: This scene from The Fault in Our Stars includes the texts in the description. The text conversation highlights the intimacy between the characters communicating without adding bulk from dialogue blocks.

Again, every line counts. If your script has a lot of texting, consider what will work best for efficient reading.

Format Method 2: Dialogue Blocks 

How do you show texting in a screenplay that involves a two person dialogue? This can be done with standard dialogue blocks as long as you properly clarify in each block that the dialogue is continuing through text messaging. Many screenwriters choose to italicize or capitalize text messages to differentiate it from normal dialogue. See this example from Fruitvale Station:

Format Method 3: Chyrons and Visual Texting on Screen

If your script calls for visually displayed texts, you can indicate this using “chyrons”, a term for on-screen text graphics or animations that show what is being typed. 

Check out this video to see how texts can be visually presented on screen with use of chyrons and more: 

More Examples of Text Messages in Screenplays

Techniques within the screenplay may differ in format. It’s important to consider if you want to offer clarity and direction or focus on the subtext portrayed in the back-and-forth of texting. Here are some more examples from the Ted Lasso pilot, Promising Young Woman, and To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.

By mastering the craft of writing text messages in your screenplay, you’ll be better equipped to tell stories that resonate with modern audiences. Experiment with these techniques, find what works best for your script, and above all, keep it clear and consistent. Happy writing!

Need more insight into formatting your text conversation in a screenplay? Check out this video and read the scripts linked below:

Screenplays Featuring texting 

Promising Young Woman (2020), a film about a young woman traumatized by a tragic event in her past who  seeks out vengeance against those who crossed her path. | READ THE SCRIPT 

Ted Lasso Pilot (2020), this first episode introduces an American football coach hired by a wealthy divorcée to coach the English soccer team | READ THE SCRIPT 

Searching (2018), a story about a father searching for his missing daughter  | READ THE SCRIPT 

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018), a film about a teenage girl who writes secret, soul-baring letters to her five crushes, but never meant to send them. Now they are out and wreaking havoc on her life. | READ THE SCRIPT 

The Fault in Our Stars (2014), a film about a 16-year-old cancer patient who meets and falls in love with Gus Waters, a similarly afflicted teen from her cancer support group. | READ THE SCRIPT 

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010), a film about a young Canadian gamer and wannabe rockstar who falls in love with an American delivery girl and must defeat her seven evil exes to be able to date her. | READ THE SCRIPT 

Kiki Roeder Daza is a screenwriter, producer, and entertainment technologist based in Atlanta, Georgia.