Intercut
Final Draft style: Shot
To cut between 2 locations with simultaneous action, an INTERCUT can be used.
Intercutting action
Establish each location then call for the INTERCUT.
EXT. CROWDED CITY STREET - DAY
Emily pushes her way through the crowd.
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Alex looks impatiently at the time.
INTERCUT - CROWDED CITY STREET/RESTAURANT
Emily bangs into a stranger and falls to the ground.
Alex signals the waiter to bring his bill.
Emily is helped up and continues to fight her way through the crowd.
Alex leaves the restaurant.
Emily opens the restaurant door and enters.
Alternatively, you could use the character names:
INTERCUT - EMILY/ALEX
Phone conversation
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Emily is sitting alone at a table for two. She pulls a RINGING PHONE out of her purse.
EMILY
Hello?
INT. ALEX'S BEDROOM - DAY
Alex is clearly hung over.
ALEX
Hey, it's me.
INTERCUT - PHONE CONVERSATION
EMILY
Where are you?
ALEX
Well, um, there's a problem.
EMILY
I've been waiting more than an hour.
ALEX
Well, like I said, we uh, we have a bit of a problem.
Alternatively, you could use the character names:
INTERCUT - EMILY/ALEX
Alternate approach
Put both locations in the initial scene heading separated by the word INTERCUT.
INT. RESTAURANT - INTERCUT ALEX'S BEDROOM/RESTAURANT - DAY
Emily is sitting alone at a table for two. She pulls a RINGING PHONE out of her purse.
EMILY
Hello?
ALEX
(groggy)
Hey, it's me.
EMILY
Where are you?
ALEX
Well, um, there's a problem.
EMILY
I've been waiting more than an hour.
ALEX
Well, like I said, we uh, we have a bit of a problem.
Alternate approach
Use V.O. initially then go to INTERCUT.
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Emily is sitting alone at a table for two. She pulls a RINGING PHONE out of her purse.
EMILY
Hello?
ALEX (V.O.)
(groggy)
Hey, it's me.
EMILY
Where are you?
INT. ALEX'S BEDROOM - DAY
ALEX
Well, um, there's a problem.
INTERCUT - RESTAURANT/ALEX'S BEDROOM
EMILY
I've been waiting more than an hour.
ALEX
Well, like I said, we uh, we have a bit of a problem.
Texting
For suggestions on how to handle texting, see Texting.
Revised: May 3, 2021
© 2007-2025 Ken Briscoe