An Easy Guide to Pre-Laps: Screenwriting, Formatting, & More

Learn about this iconic movie transition and how to use it effectively

Co-authored by Finn Kobler

Last Updated: March 20, 2023 References

Definition

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Formatting

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Uses

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When to Avoid

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Post-Laps

Trying to make a moment in your screenplay pop? Use a pre-lap! The pre-lap is a stylish and powerful scriptwriting technique that's been effectively utilized in all sorts of beloved movies and TV shows—from Lost to Indiana Jones to The Matrix. In this article, we’ll give you a comprehensive breakdown on pre-laps: what they are, when to use them, and how they can enhance your film, teleplay, or short. So, without further ado…FADE IN:

Things You Should Know

A pre-lap is a filmmaking technique where the audience hears the sounds of an upcoming scene before a previous scene is over.
If your pre-lap sound is dialogue, write (PRE-LAP) in a parenthetical next to the character who will be speaking.
If your parenthetical is music or sound effects, write "PRE-LAP: [SOUND]" in the scene description. Capitalize both so it catches the reader’s eye.
Use pre-laps in your scripts for dramatic irony, unique punchlines, and distinct character introductions.

Section 1 of 5:

What is a pre-lap?

In a pre-lap, the sound of one scene starts before the prior scene ends. A pre-lap (or prelap) refers to a film editing technique where the audience hears the dialogue or music from an upcoming scene before they see the scene visually. The future scene’s sounds are used to conclude the scene onscreen. Usually, screenwriters type pre-laps in their scripts to suggest the importance of an upcoming moment before it plays out or to underscore a line from an existing scene.^{[1]
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- For example, if a character in a script says “The train arrives at midnight. Don’t be late, it waits for nobody,” this dialogue might be followed by “PRE-LAP: TRAIN WHISTLE. HEAVY BREATHING” so we know we’ll hear these sounds before we see the late person running to catch the train. This creates an easy transition between scenes and emphasizes the humor of the moment.

Section 2 of 5:

How to Format a Pre-Lap

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If the pre-lap is dialogue, write (PRE-LAP) next to the speaking character. If you want to write a line that’s said before a scene begins, type and format the dialogue like you would any other line. Then, indicate that this is dialogue from a future scene by typing (PRE-LAP) in a parenthetical next to the character that will say the line.^{[2]
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- For example, if a dialogue pre-lap were used in Avengers: Endgame, the script would look something like “IRON MAN (PRE-LAP)” with his dialogue directly underneath.
- When writing your screenplay, capitalize character names and parentheticals, but keep dialogue lowercase.
- (PRE-LAP) is different from (O.S) which stands for (off-screen). Type (O.S) next to a character’s dialogue if the audience won’t see the character who’s speaking, but they’re still present in the scene. Maybe they’re in another room, on a video call, or the camera just isn’t pointed at them. However, type (PRE-LAP) if the character’s dialogue comes from a different scene entirely.
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If the pre-lap is a sound effect, write PRE-LAP: [SOUND] in the scene description. If your pre-lapping sound isn’t dialogue, but a specific noise like a car horn or alarm clock, create a separate line in your script’s scene description for this detail. Usually, you’ll type pre-lap sounds right before a new scene heading.^{[3]
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- For example, you might type “PRE-LAP: TAP SHOES CLICKING.” Then “INT. (or Interior) DANCE STUDIO…”
- Always capitalize sound effects so the reader’s eye is clearly drawn to them.
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If the pre-lap is music, write the song you plan to use. Your script is a blueprint so the director and editor know what details to include during production. If you have a specific song you plan on using for your pre-lap, indicate the song’s title and the band/artist name in the scene description. If you know you want a certain type of music but not a specific song, write details about the tune.^{[4]
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- For example, you might type “PRE-LAP: CARRY ON MY WAYWARD SON (KANSAS)” or “PRE-LAP: LOUD, AGGRESSIVE DEATH METAL.”

Section 3 of 5:

When to Use a Pre-Lap

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Use a pre-lap for drama or ironic effect. Pre-laps are a great device for adding dramatic irony to your scripts. By including a pre-lap, you’re able to immediately create a dynamic where the audience knows something that the character hasn’t learned yet. This adds suspense, and makes readers and viewers more emotionally invested.^{[5]
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- For example, if you’re writing a soap opera or drama, you could have a heartwarming moment with a character spending quality time with their loved one. Then, add pre-lap dialogue like “How long has it been since they passed?” or “I have some unfortunate news regarding your recent MRI scans.” The end of the previous scene hits readers/viewers differently when they know that this lovely moment is short lived.
- Pre-laps can also be used to convey the consequences of a character’s actions before a scene is over. For example, in Spider-Man 2, we hear Peter Parker’s boss tell him “You’re fired” in the upcoming scene right after he screws up at Joe’s Pizza.
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Create a joke using a pre-lap. If you’re writing a sitcom or a script with a lot of jokes, a pre-lap can be a great vehicle for comedy. Use your pre-laps to undermine the opinions and reality of your characters. This works especially well if you write dialogue that includes absolute statements like “never,” “always,” or “totally.”
- For example, in a will-they or won’t-they romantic comedy, you might end a scene with one lead character saying “I’d never date you” to the other. Then, add a pre-lap with the sounds of them kissing.
- In a horror or action-comedy like Scream, you could have a character say “I’ll be totally fine. What’s the worst that could happen?” Then, add a pre-lap of a bloodcurdling shriek or their shoes hitting the pavement as they run for their life.
- Popular animated comedies like Archer and After Hours use pre-laps a lot as a mechanism for humor.^{[6]
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Use pre-laps to convey genre and themes. You can also include a pre-lap to convey the tone of your movie or a character’s emotional state. By juxtaposing music or dialogue from an upcoming scene with a visual from an existing scene, you create a moment where these two story beats are linked, despite them happening at different times.
- For example, if you were writing a horror movie, you might end a scene on an image of a tranquil house or a seemingly innocent child. Then, pre-lap some spooky musical notes so the audience knows there’s something sinister lying underneath this place or character.
- In the iconic zombie movie Shaun of the Dead, we hear the threatening pre-lap of a siren right before a mundane scene in Shaun’s daily life ends. This clues us in that the movie’s tone is about to change.^{[7]
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- In The Graduate, we see a shot of Benjamin at the bottom of a swimming pool. We then hear pre-lap dialogue of him talking to Mrs. Robinson before we see a healthier version of him on the phone. This tells us that Mrs. Robinson makes Ben feel like he’s no longer drowning or lost at sea.
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Build seamless transitions between time and place with pre-laps. If your script is an adventure story where characters visit multiple locations or your story takes place during multiple time periods, use pre-laps to create a sense of cohesion. Using sounds and dialogue to move between 2 very different scenes makes the narrative feel more unified and less episodic.^{[8]
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- For example, if you’re writing a sci-fi film where the main character has to travel to space, you might include a pre-lap sound of a rocket ship blasting off right after the hero is given their mission.
- In Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars, movies that hop between countries and even planets, the directors use a lot of pre-laps to convey that the story, though being told from miles apart, is all one consistent journey.
- In the Harry Potter series, the sound of the Hogwarts Express taking off is pre-lapped in 4 separate movies. This easily transitions the audience from Harry’s ordinary world to his wizarding life.^{[9]
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Use pre-lap dialogue to introduce important characters. Because pre-laps begin with sound instead of visuals, they signal to the audience that we’re supposed to focus on the noises or words of the person speaking, rather than the location. Consider using pre-laps when introducing a new character in your story.
- In The Wolf of Wall Street, we hear Matthew McConaughey’s character chanting before we ever see him. This helps reveal his cockiness more clearly. It also makes us pay more attention to him when we first see him onscreen, rather than the location he’s in.^{[10]
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Section 4 of 5:

When Not to Use a Pre-Lap

Only use pre-laps to enhance your story; don’t just add them for style. Be careful not to overwrite pre-laps into your scripts. While they can be a cool, stylistic technique, most decisions involving pre-laps are made by the director and editors during the production process. If used incorrectly, they can come off as gimmicky or amateurish. ^{[11]
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Research source} Only put a pre-lap in your script if it’s pivotal in selling a joke, emphasizing a dramatic moment, or it makes the story easier to follow.
- Because pre-laps are added in post, they can also be accidentally forgotten or gleaned over. When writing a pre-lap, make it essential to the scene.

Section 5 of 5:

Pre-Laps VS Post-Laps

Post-laps are the mirror opposite of pre-laps and have a similar effect. Another common technique that screenwriters use is called a post-lap. Post-laps are the opposite of pre-laps. They let the dialogue or sounds of a previous scene linger, even after a new scene has visually begun.^{[12]
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- For example, in a war movie where a character is struggling with PTSD, we may hear post-lap gunfire from the previous scene’s battle sequence, even after the scene has changed and we see that the soldiers have moved to a peaceful location.