One of the things that I heard about 8 quatrillion times in various screenwriting classes was —
Unless you want to look like an amateur, do not include voice overs (V.O.) in your script.
Sure, I get it, why say things in a voice over when visually you can show whatever it is you’re trying to convey to your audience. Film is a visual medium after all, and what you are writing on paper must ultimately lend itself to that visual medium.
But…what if you do it and it works?
They will say still do not do it, it will be the sure mark of an amateur if you do. They will tell you it’s lazy writing, and unnecessary.
Can you imagine the movie The Shawshank Redemption without Morgan Freeman’s V.O.? The story itself would still probably be told without his narration, but it’s just so much better with it!
Here is the end of the film, so – spoiler alert, don’t watch this if you’ve not seen the movie and want to keep the ending a surprise.
Limebird Writers 