Screenwriting : Formatting Question Regarding FLASHBACK by Bill Brock

Bill Brock

Formatting Question Regarding FLASHBACK

From page 49 of my horror screenplay, HORROR-FEST.

Scene: Horror film star / "Final Girl," Lisa Martinez is invited to lunch by her inebriated film producer, Ellis Trent. Lisa is distraught by the disastrous results of a morning interview shared with the film's leading man, Trey Wallace, when his mouth goes on a very methodical, murderous rampage, which prompts the Variety magazine reporter, Meriam Gerrity, to end the interview due to Trey's extremely sour note.

Question: If I have Lisa recalling another character's quote delivered earlier in the script, must I introduce the quote as a FLASHBACK, or is it already understood, having mentioned it in the Action Line? Oh, one more thing. Trey's line was originally delivered as a Voice Over.

Thanks, Everybody!

Maurice Vaughan

You can do either one, Bill Brock. Also, the dialogue in the middle of the page and the spaces between the names and dialogue are off.

Rutger Oosterhoff

"A standard flashback might last a full scene, or even a sequence of scenes, as in Ray. FLASH is shorter than a traditional flashback. We go into the character's head for a rapid-fire glimpse of a past moment or moments. They play out in a character's mind and we see it with them."

So I would use the word FLASH, if I needed to.. But I think you don't need to.

This is also explained in The Hollywood Standard.

DREAM SEQUENCE - EXT. FERISWHEEL - DAY

Jish dangles by his fingertips frim the highest car. Melanie sits in the car above him, prying his fingers loose one by one. And suddenly, John is falling, falling, falling...

INT. SCIENCE CLASSROOM - DAY

Josh jerks his head off his desk, jolting awake. He looks across the room at Malanie with deep suspicion.

----------

...Same thing, and to use "A FLASH" would disrupt the the flow of the writing here..

Bill Brock

Maurice Vaughan Thanks, Maurice. Reason for the horrible formatting. I made a PDF of the page straight from my script, but was unable to post it. So I just typed out the page on Word, printed it, and took a photo of it. Trust me. The page looks PERFECT in the Final Draft script. : )

Bill Brock

Dan Guardino Thanks, Dan. I assume we're right. Agreed, it's not really a flashback, but just a line of dialogue shared earlier.

Bill Brock

Rutger Oosterhoff Thank you, Rutger. You're right. The Flash would definitely cause a distinct pause to the reader. So that settles it. Keeping it just as it is! : )

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Bill Brock. Oh, gotcha about the formatting.

Bill Brock

Dan MaxXx Thanks, Dan, for the stellar advice! Definitely incorporated your info into the script. Went with the "boldness" in describing Lisa's horrific recollection! Be well, my man! : )

Other topics in Screenwriting:

register for stage 32 Register / Log In