# How to format a pre-lap in a screenplay > When the next scene's sound arrives before its picture, write it just above the scene it belongs to: a (PRE-LAP) cue for a line of dialogue, a PRE-LAP line in action for a sound. Sources reviewed: 2026-09-22 Article updated: 2026-10-03 ## Direct answer A pre-lap is sound from the next scene that starts before we cut to it. For dialogue, end the outgoing scene with the next speaker's cue marked (PRE-LAP) and their line, then write the new scene heading. For a sound effect or music, a single action line such as PRE-LAP: A guitar chord is struck does the job. Either way, place it directly above the scene it belongs to. ## On the page A line of dialogue that arrives before its scene ``` INT. MARA'S KITCHEN - NIGHT Mara stares at the unopened letter. ELI (PRE-LAP) You opened it, didn't you? INT. ELI'S CAR - MORNING Eli waits at the curb, phone to his ear. ``` ## Current practice ### Put the sound above the scene it belongs to _Common choice_ A pre-lap sits at the end of the outgoing scene, immediately before the heading of the scene whose sound it is. The label tells the reader to hear it early; the heading that follows tells them where it came from. ## Accepted variations ### Dialogue pre-lap _Common choice_ Use PRE-LAP in parentheses after the character name, the way V.O. or O.S. is used, so the line reads as dialogue that arrives ahead of its picture. ### Sound or music pre-lap _Context dependent_ Write one action line such as PRE-LAP: A guitar chord is struck. Final Draft's own guidance italicizes it; the label carries the meaning on its own if the italics are lost in a later export. ### The edit sets the overlap _Production-specific_ How early the sound actually begins is decided in the cutting room. The script records the intent; it does not time the overlap in seconds or frames. ## Where reasonable writers disagree Some writers mark a pre-lap as a cue extension, some as a standalone line, and some describe the bridge in plain action — we hear Eli before we see him. All read clearly once the reader knows which scene the sound belongs to. The difference is mostly typographic; the placement, just above the new scene heading, is what makes it work. ## Mistakes to avoid - Placing the pre-lapped line after the new scene heading, where it reads as ordinary dialogue in that scene. - Marking a pre-lap as V.O., which implies narration or a remote voice rather than sound arriving early. - Leaning on a pre-lap for every transition until the device stops registering. - Timing the overlap in seconds or frames, a decision that belongs to the edit. ## Submission versus production ### Submission or reading draft A pre-lap can sharpen a transition in a spec, but it is still a device. Use it where the overlap carries meaning — an answer arriving before the question's scene ends — rather than as a house style for every cut. ### Production draft In production the pre-lap becomes a note for editorial and sound. Keep the line and its scene placement stable in revised pages so the edit and the script continue to agree on which scene the sound belongs to. ## Working in Plot In Plot, end the outgoing scene with the cue and its line, typing (PRE-LAP) after the character name — the line counts toward that character's dialogue, and the cue prints and exports to Final Draft exactly as you wrote it. For a sound or music pre-lap, use an Action line directly above the next Scene Heading. ## Questions writers ask ### Where does a pre-lap go — before or after the new scene heading? Before it. The pre-lapped line or sound sits at the end of the outgoing scene, directly above the heading of the scene it comes from, so the reader hears it early and then sees where it belongs. ### Is a pre-lap the same as V.O.? No. V.O. marks a voice from outside the pictured scene, such as narration. A pre-lap is ordinary dialogue or sound from the next scene, heard a moment before we cut to it. ### Can a pre-lap be music or a sound effect? Yes. Write it as one action line, such as PRE-LAP: A guitar chord is struck, directly above the scene the sound belongs to. ## Sources and context - [Final Draft — 5 tips for a professional-looking screenplay (PRELAP)](https://www.finaldraft.com/blog/5-tips-to-making-your-screenplay-look-professional) - [Final Draft — Screenplay formatting and elements (character extensions)](https://www.finaldraft.com/learn/screenplay-formatting-elements/) - [Final Draft's PRELAP example](https://www.finaldraft.com/blog/5-tips-to-making-your-screenplay-look-professional) These sources document current screenplay practice, software guidance, or production workflow. Screenplay style remains flexible, and any delivery brief or submission rule supplied by the recipient takes precedence. --- Canonical page: