Stop Ignoring Sound: A Screenwriter’s Guide to Adding Audio in Scripts

It's the creak of a floorboard, the slam of a book closed, and even the sound of a wet fart. Sounds are all part of the medium of film and TV, and belong on your screenplay page.

They help the imagination of your readers and allow them to see a more complete picture in their minds.

But far too many writers are ignoring sounds. When used correctly, sound cues can build tension, bridge transitions, and establish an atmosphere that dialogue alone can't touch.

So today, I want to show you how to incorporate more sound into your screenplays.

Let's dive in.

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1. The Power of Sound

I know it is probably hard to think of your favorite sound from a movie or TV show, but whether it's the roar of a lightsaber or the throaty V8 of an engine rev, sounds help deepen the medium.

And while many of those sounds get added in post, having them on the page helps guide the people making the movie or TV show.

Here are a few things you should be doing:

• The Format: Usually, specific sound effects are capitalized.
  • Example: A distant SIREN wails. The heavy THUD of a deadbolt sliding home.
• The "Why": Capitalizing sounds alerts the reader (and later, the sound department) that this audio element is a character in itself. It forces the reader to "hear" the world as they read.

2. Using Sound as a Transition (Pre-lap)

Another creative use of sound in your screenplays comes when the scene transitions. You can move between scenes using audio and even match it off against another version of the same noise.

There's also this thing called a Pre-Lap. A Pre-lap happens when the sound from the next scene begins before the current scene has ended. This creates a psychological link between two locations and keeps the pacing tight.

Here are a few examples:

SCENE A - INT. KITCHEN - DAY
Arthur stares at the leaking faucet. Drip. Drip. These drips soon become the sound of clapping.
We HEAR the ROAR of a stadium crowd.
CUT TO:
SCENE B - EXT. FOOTBALL STADIUM - DAY
Arthur stands mid-field, blinded by the lights.

3. Off-Screen (O.S.) Audio

Writing "O.S." next to a character's name in dialogue is the simplest way to incorporate sound, but don't stop at talking. Describe the ambient sounds happening off-camera to expand the world beyond the frame.

If your scene takes place in a quiet bedroom, but we hear the muffled sounds of a party downstairs, then you’ve instantly created a sense of "fear of missing out" or even anxiety without a single line of dialogue.

All of it can be done with sound that's not on screen.

4. Don't Overstuff the Page

You have a lot going on in every scene. Sound should be like the cherry on top. You want just one of them or adash, not like a bucket of them.

If the sound doesn't change the mood, provide a plot point, or tell us something about the character, leave it for the sound mixer. Your job is to provide the blueprint, not the entire construction.

Summing It All Up

Sound is the "secret sauce" of a great screenplay. It grounds your story in reality and gives your reader a more immersive experience.

So, the next time you sit down to write a scene, close your eyes for a second and ask yourself what you an hear.

Let me know what you think in the comments.