Story starts with a voice-over. A few scenes later, we meet the character who was the VO. What would you put for the initial character name? Would you make some sort of intro, like:
A voice speaks. We'll later learn it belongs to JOE SCHMOE.
Or would you use a generic name like VOICE (V.O.) and tie it to the JOE SCHMOE character when he appears later?
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Bob. (V.O.) means voice-over film so they would have to add Joe’s voice to the film sometime after the scene had already been shot. So you would write.
JOE (V.O.)
Blah, blah, blah.
You would introduce him in after in ALL CAPS when he first appears on film.
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I'd state the character name and in parentheses, "VO".. JOE SCHMOE (VO) ... When Joe comes OC (ON CAM), take away the VO.
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I agree if Joe is in the scene but off camera, I would use (O.C.) If he is in another room and we can we hear is the voice I would use (O.S.) and introduce him in ALL CAPS when he first appears on film.
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This is how I start my screenplay AMY.
Everyone is VO over the images of Amy getting interviewed by the Police.
INT LOUNGE ROOM - DAY
Amy enters from the kitchen.
AMY
I can’t understand why people think that.
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Check this example from OZARK script:
"EXT. LAKE - DUSK
An insolated cove. Water still, smooth. Fireflies blink in thick woods crowding the shore.
MARTY (V.O.)
Scratch.
A 16-foot aluminum flat boat run ashore,...."
(latter in the script. when Marty is on camera - not even in a dialog as the VO continues)
"MARTIN “MARTY” BIRD, 40s, halts his cooler-pulling.
Unshaven, hair matted with sweat,..."
The conclusion is that you only use your character name in the VO, and only introduce them when they first show on camera (in a dialog or not).
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Whats your goal here: are you purposely hiding who is talking on/off-screen?
Craig D Griffiths. I am confused. What does that have to do with a voice over?
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I agree with Claudio and the Ozark script. Simplify it. Use the character name in the VO. Introduce them when you want the audience to see them on camera.
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Dan MaxXx - the story opens with establishing shots and music playing. It's a radio broadcast and "Joe" is the DJ. We don't actually see Joe until a few scenes later. He turns out to be a main character. If you remember the TV show Northern Exposure, they did the same type of thing several times. My real question is whether or not to use JOE (V.O.) before we meet JOE in the script.
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I'd definitely give his voice a name and then reveal him later. It will be an ah-ha moment for the audience. I have a script like this, as well. It starts with a VO but the source isn't revealed until later in the story.
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Why are you all playing 'stump the Director'? Just KISS.
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If the narrator is an important character you can write the character's name and add V.O next to it. If he's not important and we just see him/her once just name it Narrator or anything else. You can still give him/her a name if you'd like.
It all depends on how you tell the story. You can for example hide the real identify of the V.O character if its necessary for your storytelling structure then you reveal him/her at the right moment (surprise).
I hope this helps.
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DEFINITELY! A voice speaks. We'll later learn it belongs to JOE SCHMOE. Great idea by the way,
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Bob Johnson A technical remark. Suppose it is a narrator (someone that doesn't exist in the scene in any form). In that case, it is Voice Over (V.O.), But if it isn't a narrator, but a voice from a radio. The radio is at the scene (like the voice is from a radio that is in the living room) than is Off Screen (O.S.), and in the dialog, you may also add a parenthetical "(from the radio speaker)" or the like. V.O. = Narrator, O.S. = Not on screen, but not a narrator.