Screenwriting : Subtitles by Shelly Talbot

If it's a small part that needs subtitles, sometimes I'll just put it in parentheses at the beginning of the scene. e.g. (All Italian dialogue subtitled in English) It's really up to you. Just help the reader understand what you want. You don't necessarily even need to say there will be subtitles in every instance in my opinion. The reader will figure it out as long as you note the dialogue is in a different language. And for that I put it in parentheses next to the character name in the dialogue section: John (Italian)

At the end of the day, it's up to you. Hope I helped.

Thank you. I wasn’t sure if there was an industry standard. I’m not a professional writer.

perhaps you could put a ' comic book balloon on screen ' as a visual solution for the alien language... but probably it would be simpler to let production company solve this.

I am seeing this:

John (Subtitle)

(In Italian)

Hello, how are things going?

Anyone see it done this way?

Right now I have the Italian words and then in a parenthetical the English words.

Open to more comments and thank you.

Shelly. You aren't doing it right How it should appear on film is up to the Director. Just use an actor's direction like so.

GINO

(Italian)

Blah, blah, blah...

And the director can decide. If you feel the need to add subtitles you could do it like so.

GINO (SUBTITLES)

(Italian)

Blah, blah, blah...

Hi Shelly! Dan's example is spot on if it's a quick Italian conversation.

GINO

(Italian)

Blah, blah, blah...

FRANCESCO

(Italian)

Blah, blah... (lol)

But if the conversation is an entire scene, then you could write. "They spoke in Italian" OR "They conversed in Italian" Then you don't need subtitles.

GINO

Blah, blah, blah...

FRANCESCO

Blah, blah...

Hope this helps a little to clear up confusion.

Thank you Dan and DD. I understand now. It is an entire scene so now I know what to do. Onward with my writing.