Introducing character through telephone?

[thebrainstorm215 User Find all posts View Profile Close thebrainstorm215]

OK, so...in my screenplay, You actually hear a person's voice through the telephone (V.O.) before we see them on screen...They dont actually come on screen until a few scenes later. Do I introduce them when i get the phone call, or when They actually come onto the screen??

[14001 Regular Find all posts View Profile Close 14001]

Re: Introducing character through telephone?

This is the intro scene of THE MATRIX, I think it's exactly what you say.

FADE IN ON:

    COMPUTER SCREEN

    So close it has no boundaries.

    A blinking cursor pulses in the electric darkness like a
    heart coursing with phosphorous light, burning beneath
    the derma of black-neon glass.

    A PHONE begins to RING, we hear it as though we were 
    making the call.  The cursor continues to throb,
    relentlessly patient, until --

                    MAN (V.O.)
            Hello?

    Data now slashes across the screen, information flashing
    faster than we read.

                    SCREEN
            Call trans opt:  received.
            2-19-96  13:24:18  REC:Log>

                    WOMAN (V.O.)
            I'm inside.  Anything to report?

    We listen to the phone conversation as though we were on
    a third line.  The man's name is CYPHER.  The woman, 
    TRINITY.

                    CYPHER (V.O.)
            Let's see.  Target left work at
            5:01 PM.

                    SCREEN
            Trace program:  running.

    The entire screen fills with racing columns of numbers.
    Shimmering like green-electric rivets, they rush at a 10-
    digit phone number in the top corner.

                    CYPHER (V.O.)
            He caught the northbound Howard 
            line. Got off at Sheridan.  
            Stopped at 7-11.  Purchased six-
            pack of beer and a box of Captain 
            Crunch.  Returned home.

    The area code is identified.  The first three numbers
    suddenly fixed, leaving only seven flowing columns.

    We begin MOVING TOWARD the screen, CLOSING IN as each 
    digit is matched, one by one, snapping into place like
    the wheels of a slot machine.

                    TRINITY (V.O.)
            All right, you're relieved.  Use
            the usual exit.

                    CYPHER (V.O.)
            Do you know when we're going to
            make contact?

                    TRINITY
            Soon.

    Only two thin digits left.

                    CYPHER (V.O.)
            Just between you and me, you don't 
            believe it, do you?  You don't 
            believe this guy is the one?

                    TRINITY (V.O.)
            I think Morpheus believes he is.

                    CYPHER (V.O.)
            I know.  But what about you?

                    TRINITY (V.O.)
            I think Morpheus knows things that
            I don't.

                    CYPHER (V.O.)
            Yeah, but if he's wrong --

    The final number pops into place --

                    TRINITY (V.O.)
            Did you hear that?

                    CYPHER (V.O.)
            Hear what?

                    SCREEN
            Trace complete.  Call origin:
            #312-555-0690

                    TRINITY (V.O.)
            Are you sure this line is clean?

                    CYPHER (V.O.)
            Yeah, course I'm sure.

    We MOVE STILL CLOSER, the ELECTRIC HUM of the green 
    numbers GROWING INTO an OMINOUS ROAR.

                    TRINITY (V.O.)
            I better go.

                    CYPHER (V.O.) 
            Yeah.  Right.  See you on the other side.

    She hangs up as we PASS THROUGH the numbers, entering the
    netherworld of the computer screen.

    Where gradually the sound of a police radio grows around 
    us.

                    RADIO (V.O.)
            Attention all units.  Attention
            all units.

    Suddenly, a flashlight cuts open the darkness and we find
    ourselves in --

[thebrainstorm215 User Find all posts View Profile Close thebrainstorm215]

Re: Introducing character through telephone?

Yes, this answers my question. thank you