Screenwriting : Format for Flashback scenes by John Ravitz

John Ravitz

Format for Flashback scenes

What is the proper format for placing a flashback in a screenplay? Should you state FLASHBACK; and then start the description? Or state FLASHBACK and then do the INT./EXT. format and describe the description? Finally what if the flashback is a montage of scenes., should you break them out into separate INT./EXT. formats?

Beth Fox Heisinger

Hi John R. Take a look at this website link from David Trottier, author of "The Screenwriter's Bible." He explains and demonstrates various uses of FLASHBACK, including flashback montage: https://www.keepwriting.com/tsc/flashback.htm. ;)

Doug Nelson

John; Beth's given you the best answer there is. Were we sitting side by side with a copy of your script, I'd be glad to show you - but we're not. So read Dave's book.

Pierre Langenegger

I hate to say it John, but your formatting needs a little improvement. It's not clear that this scene is a flashback and you don't need the continuous scene header after the V.O. because visually, we're still in that scene.

Danny Manus

Hey John, generally yes you want to write BEGIN FLASHBACK in caps like you would a scene heading and then youd give the scene heading for where the flashback takes place. and at the end of it, youd write either END FLASHBACK or BACK TO SCENE.

Other topics in Screenwriting:

register for stage 32 Register / Log In