In scriptwriting, how is audio notated if talent is off-camera?

In scriptwriting, indicating that audio is from talent who is off-camera is commonly done using the notation "Voice over" or "VO." This term signifies that the character is speaking but not visible to the audience, allowing the narrative or dialogue to be heard without showing the speaker on screen. This technique is frequently used for internal thoughts, narration, or reactions that provide context but do not involve the character being present visually.

Using "Voice over" helps maintain clarity in the script, ensuring readers and production staff understand the audio's origin while conveying the intended emotional tone and storytelling elements effectively. This notation contrasts with other options that do not specifically indicate an off-screen audio presence, such as "Soundtrack," which generally refers to music or background scores; "Off-camera dialogue," which could imply spoken lines without indicating they're non-visible; and "Background noise," which refers to ambient sound instead of voiced dialogue.