That may have been the shooting script that you read, which would have more detail than a spec script.

I have a script with several flashbacks in it, one of which is an extension of another (kinda like what you want to do).  I numbered each of the flashbacks and, when I wanted to use one again, I mentioned using flashback number 5 again.

Hope this helps.


Phil

Thanks for the help.

Just to clarify something else, would I start the flashback this way...

FLASHBACK

and end it with

END FLASHBACK ?

Or since there are many different scenes in the flashback, all of the murder scenes at different locations, would I have to use scene headings for each location?

Many thanks.

Brian

Brian,

Some writers use it like this:

INT. HOUSE - NIGHT/FLASHBACK

The face of Brian is lit by the moonlight, he has the a scar like the killer. Brian killed Jenny Brod.

Hehe. This is just an example. And inside this scene you could add a Montage sequence and you could even describe the montage like this:

INT. HOUSE - NIGHT/FLASHBACK

The face of Brian is lit by the moonlight, he has the a scar like the killer. Brian killed Jenny Brod.

MONTAGE - FLASHBACK

The killer approaching Jenny Brod. The face of Brian is revealed.

Brian shooting at his dog.

He throws the gun away.

Hope this helps.

Cheeers

Quoted from Brian M Thanks for the help. Just to clarify something else, would I start the flashback this way... FLASHBACK and end it with END FLASHBACK ? Or since there are many different scenes in the flashback, all of the murder scenes at different locations, would I have to use scene headings for each location? Many thanks. Brian

I would put FLASHBACK in parenthesis in the slugline and when it's over, the next slugline I would have PRESENT in parenthesis.

THIS IS A MONTAGE FROM ONE OF MY SCREENPLAYS THE RAINBOW KINGDOM

EXT. FOREST LIGHT SIDE OF THE KINGDON - DAY
Anabelle and Oliver follow the forest trail

MONTAGE - OLIVER AND ANABELLE HAVE FUN TOGETHER

-- Annabelle runs through the forest Oliver chases her

-- Oliver runs through the forest Annabelle chases him

-- Oliver runs through the forest gives Annabelle a piggy back

-- Oliver and Annabelle roll down a hill in the forest

-- anabelle runs through the forest gives Oliver a piggy back

-- oliver and anabelle stand in a cave rain falls thunder rumbles

BACK TO SCENE
please note you can use dialogue in montage

I borrowed advice from a couple of different places to combine a flashback and montage thusly:

                                                                 FLASHBACK TO:

INT/EXT - LOCATIONS - VARIOUS - DAY/NIGHT

MONTAGE

A younger Aaron teaches a younger Hein how to properly shoot
at a CIA shooting range.

Aaron and Hein lead a team of CIA agents busting into a
seedy room to capture a group of criminals.

Aaron pushes a wounded Hein out from in front of a car
bearing down on him, saving his life.

A criminal has the drop on Aaron, and is about to shoot him,
when Hein shoots the criminal just in time to save his life.

END MONTAGE

BACK TO PRESENT

I don't know if it's exactly right, but  I felt it read correctly to convey the idea.

I've done it a few different ways.  Never really knew there was a "right" vs "wrong" way.  Below is the most recent way I've written it for my spec Sunset Summer and how I have seen it written.  


EXT. FAIR - NIGHT

MONTAGE

“Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” continues.

Quinn and Matt enjoying the fair.

EXT. FERRIS WHEEL

Quinn and Matt ride the Ferris wheel.

EXT. MIDWAY

Quinn and Matt, walk around the midway, eating cotton candy.

Playing games on the midway...Matt doesn’t win anything.  He just shrugs and smiles at Quinn.

“Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” plays in the distance.

Quinn and Matt walk over to the concert stage.

END MONTAGE

Then I head the next scene as follows:

EXT. STAGE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

Though I think this is a montage that is a little different so to speak.  So for me I think this is the simplest way.  I did it this way I believe in a couple of shorts that I've let people use and one that was used in a screenwriting class - and the teacher nor no one said it anything about it.  As long as the same format/template is used consistently I'm not sure it really matters all that much.  


Of course if a producer or DP ( or reader) reads/read it and went WTF? Then you obviously have not made it clear enough for them and in that case it needs to be redone.

I also included the music - though for this particular spec they were actually intended as placeholders and to give the me and the reader the idea of music that's involved.  Though the producers that read my Sunset Summer (the few I actually heard back from) liked the fact that I put what song should play during the scene... One said it was helpful for the tone of the film.  the other two didn't say why, but that they liked it.  Though normally referencing music should be left out.  

In scripts like shorts and stuff that I know I'm going to write, produce and direct myself I write a little different than other specs. Just because I know I'm the top person that will be going WTF?  if something doesn't make sense... which has happened.  My goal with those is to keep the actors and crew from going WTF? or "I'm confused" in the middle of shooting a scene - that's bad, really bad.

EDIT: Just was editing/cleaning up Sunset Summer and noticed on my script MONAGE entered the sluglines!  Not that it's bad, but it wasn't supposed to be that way. I feel it's easier if MONTAGE has it's own line, but I've seen plenty of scripts that are fine and have:

EXT. FAIR - NIGHT- MONTAGE

I've also found out that sometimes when using my laptop, which is a mac dinosaur by apple standards today. I've realized that  FD7 tends to get a mind of it's own sometimes, where random text disappears and/or appears in odd locations, creating headaches for me.  I mean I love autosave but ALWAYS use an external mouse when on the laptop - it lessens the problems.  

Also I recommend listing the shots with a # or Letter to make it clearer, and I didn't that my script, but just listed it here so people can get an idea.