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O.C. or V.O.?

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jdadams1 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jdadams1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: O.C. or V.O.?
    Posted: 19 Apr 2019 at 3:59am
OK, I keep Googling this, and I can't find answers to these specific questions.

I have a couple of instances in my screenplay that need a (V.O.) or an (O.C.), but I'm not sure which! Can anyone help?

1) An electronic device that does not have a face is in the scene and emits a voice. Sort of like an Amazon Alexa (but not actually an Alexa). I assume this is not (O.C.). Would it be (V.O.)? Or since we can actually see the device, would it not need anything like that?

2) On screen, we see a ship docking at a port. I want to have the audience hear what the captain is saying to his crew as the ship docks without actually going inside the ship. The captain would not be speaking over a microphone or anything. Basically, we are seeing the outside of the ship but hearing a conversation inside the ship. Would this be (O.C.) or (V.O.)?

Thanks so much!!!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Suave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Apr 2019 at 4:14am
For # 1 there I had a phone sitting on a table in the same room and used (VO)
For # 2  I would go with (OS) as you are not in the same shot.

But!  I am not an expert!


Edited by Suave - 19 Apr 2019 at 4:17am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote beckyrcollins Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Apr 2019 at 4:49am
Yep, go with Suave. 

O.S. is when the person speaking is in the scene but we can't see them, so like you said, we cut away to another visual or they're yelling from another room etc. Critically -- they need to be scheduled for filming that day but for this particular bit, they're not on camera.

V.O. is when the speaker really isn't in the room, isn't on set, isn't scheduled to film that day etc. So Alexa, speaker phones, all that goodness.

If someone thinks otherwise or can add to this, please speak up! I wanna learn haha


Edited by beckyrcollins - 19 Apr 2019 at 4:50am
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheezopath Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Apr 2019 at 4:53am
OS if they could be in shot but arent

VO otherwise

radio is VO, alexa is VO, narrator is VO

OS is if someone is calling at you from the en suite bathroom and you're in the bedroom
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote OnyxLily Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Apr 2019 at 7:30am
I think everyone has covered it, but this is the "official" word, if that helps

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jdadams1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Apr 2019 at 6:54pm
Thanks, all. Much appreciated!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote weebil Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Apr 2019 at 7:06pm
Hmm, I too have an 'Alexa' problem. I went with giving her her own voice when in the same room, and 'off screen' when, uh, not.
I think of VO as a narrator.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote jdadams1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Apr 2019 at 7:14pm
I'm gonna make this "over easy" and say:

If it's something that an actor could presumably record the day the scene is filmed, but just standing off-camera, it's O.C.

If it would likely require an actor to come back in for voice-over work, it's V.O.

So, basically, exactly what the names say; off-camera = O.C.; voice-over = V.O.

I'm sure there are some corner cases, but if the above is generally right, I can wrap my head around it. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote steph9289 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Apr 2019 at 7:27pm
And if it's an electronic device such as Alexa, do we have to use V.O. every time the character speaks?
#amrevising
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jdadams1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Apr 2019 at 7:50pm
Originally posted by steph9289 steph9289 wrote:

And if it's an electronic device such as Alexa, do we have to use V.O. every time the character speaks?

I am going to hazard a "yes" (even though, as the person who started this thread, I am clearly not "in the know").

But, when I see (V.O.) or (O.S.) used, they are used continuously for that character in that situation, not just on first reference. 
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