Have a question that some more experienced folk can weigh in on:

I'm working on a script that is supposed to have three different time lines being shown out of chronological order.  An example would be Pulp Fiction.  So, my thought was to write each time line as if it was a 40-minute short, and then pick and choose which scene would go where.  Does this sound insane, or is this the easiest way to keep everything coherent during the writing stage?

Thanks!

Not insane at all, probably a good way of doing it. A tip would be to write all your sequences out on index cards and colour code them Plot A, B and C. You can then shuffle them around easily to get the best fit. (many script writing apps have this facility, Celtx does for instance.)

I'm using Celtx, that's a great tip, I hadn't realized it had that option.

One question I have as a follow up would be:  if I have dialogue and action that overlap from two different periods of time, what's the best way to indicate that.

For example:  let's say a character was describing the steps involved in robbing a bank during the planning stage, but the image on screen was the actual robbery taking place.  What's the best way to put that on the page?

INT.BANK-DAY

The Bank is full of customers, the owners of the bank are in a back room counting their bail-out money.
                  
                     Robber #1 [V.O]
I stuck the gun in her face and asked for the money.

Quoted from timstep I'm using Celtx, that's a great tip, I hadn't realized it had that option. One question I have as a follow up would be:  if I have dialogue and action that overlap from two different periods of time, what's the best way to indicate that. For example:  let's say a character was describing the steps involved in robbing a bank during the planning stage, but the image on screen was the actual robbery taking place.  What's the best way to put that on the page?

This is trick!!! If it's important to have this moving at the same time, do you think voice over might work?

They use this in CSI type shows (which I actually don't watch but catch glimpses when my husband is watching). You get this kind of flashback talk where someone is recollecting the past:

They are dialoguing but "we are seeing their memories of the experience".

For instance:

The character is being interrogated about "what happened".

"I don't know... It was really dark. I remember he was crawling around... looking for something... He was really upset... said he couldn't see anything..."

Then we cut back from the scene of someone crawling around to:

The interrogation itself and the Aha moment:

"He can't see anything-- Glasses!!! His glasses were knocked off!"

"Get a rundown from all optometrists in the area!"

Hope this helps,

Sandra

Awesome, thanks for the replies!