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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /  Screenwriting Class  /  time jumps
Posted by: _mouse_, December 29th, 2023, 2:51pm
hi! so i'm writing this script, and i want to open it with a scene from the middle, then jump back to the beginning and have the rest of the timeline be linear, but i'm not sure how to format it.

what i have now is:

EXT. THE SKY - DAY

Talia slowly opens her eyes. Her hand rests on her side. Blood seeps slowly from a bandage.
Her hand moves to the dragon beneath her. Her fingers glide over the red and orange scales.

FADE TO:

EXT. A FOREST - DAY
One month earlier.
(action, story, etc)

is this a good way to do it, or should i put the 'one month earlier' in the slugline? or is there a different way to format this entirely?
Posted by: LC, December 29th, 2023, 5:02pm; Reply: 1
As long as it's clear to the reader, you'll be okay.

Not sure you need A FOREST, FOREST will suffice.
And 'one month earlier' will need to be a SUPER. You'll need to set the scene first obviously.

Your scene EXT. THE SKY - DAY
Are we to assume Talia is on a dragon's back in flight?
Posted by: _mouse_, December 31st, 2023, 3:03pm; Reply: 2
tysm for your advice!

the scene EXT. FOREST - DAY is super threadbare atm, i have to fill in the setting much more once i get some dialogue down.

as for EXT. THE SKY - DAY, yes the dragon is meant to be in flight. i added several more lines of description to the setting.
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