I tried searching the entire website, but could not find an answer to this. I used the search key and it found no thread about flashbacks at all. Maybe it is not that reliable for searches, I don't know.

Anyway, can anyone help me on how to use flashbacks (start and end them). I have read a few scripts with flashbacks and still do not quite know how to start and end a scene in a flashback. Help would be nice, thanks.

Quoted from usaking I tried searching the entire website, but could not find an answer to this. I used the search key and it found no thread about flashbacks at all. Maybe it is not that reliable for searches, I don't know. Anyway, can anyone help me on how to use flashbacks (start and end them). I have read a few scripts with flashbacks and still do not quite know how to start and end a scene in a flashback. Help would be nice, thanks.

The way I learned was to have a normal slugline with (FLASHBACK) after it.

Example: EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT (FLASHBACK).

Might be good to get a second opinion, too, though.

Yes, I have seen that way, but how would I end the flashback?

Would it be

EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT (END FLASHBACK)

I don't quite understand.

A few ways of doing this. I'll give one example:

EXT. PARK - NIGHT

FRANK
Cast your mind back, Sarah. Think...

Sarah closes her eyes, screws them shut...

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY - FLASHBACK

[Blah blah blah - stuff happens]

INT. PARK - NIGHT - PRESENT DAY

SARAH
Oh my God, Mr. Jenkins is my real father!

Use the slugs to help indicate the flashback and return to the present to the reader.

Okay thanks. If anyone has anymore ways of doing a flashback, I would appreciate you posting it.

Quoted from usaking Okay thanks. If anyone has anymore ways of doing a flashback, I would appreciate you posting it.

Jonny's way seems best, but I've seen another way.

EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

[Stuff happens] (as Jonny said)

INT. SCHOOL - DAY (END FLASHBACK)

I think it's one of those things where you're not really wrong either way. You just have to do the one that's most comfortable with you, as I'm sure there's probably 5 other ways to deal with flashbacks.

Thanks, Mr. Blonde. I prefer JonnyBoy's way of doing flashbacks. Yours is good too, but his is much more easier for me to follow. Thanks again though.

Quoted from usaking Thanks, Mr. Blonde. I prefer JonnyBoy's way of doing flashbacks. Yours is good too, but his is much more easier for me to follow. Thanks again though.

I like his way better, but I learned mine first, so it's kind of implanted in there, now. Lol. But, like I said, there's no real wrong way to do it. Do what's easiest. =)

USAKing,

There's loads of ways of doing them. You can use dates.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT - PRESENT DAY

Bob & Tim sit on the sofa staring at the TV. They looks bored stupid.

BOB
Remember that day Fat Freddie wet himself?

INT. SCHOOLROOM - DAY - 1982

Young Bob & Tim watch a yellow stream leak out from Fat Freddie's trouser leg

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT - PRESENT DAY

Bob grins. Tim chuckles.

BOB
Yeah man.

That's another way. If it's clear in your regular scenes what the date is you can lose 'present day'. I made up that scene bearing in mind your unusual tastes. Nice to see you not getting a hammering on V.

I'm sure there's a thread on this in the screenwriting class section.

I think mr. Blonde's is the most common way , i have see it many times.
When i make a flashback scene i never write flashback, i do it like this ( if this is wrong please correct me)

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY- 1984

INT. PARK - DAY - PRESENT

I Just mention a year or something else time-relate.

P.S. Rendevous just beat me ...  

Thanks rendevous. I have another question about flashbacks that I forgot to ask.

If my character is entering a shop or place in a flashback, would I have to continue putting the FLASHBACK in my sluglines? For instance, let's pretend I am in a flashback and my character enters a store. Would it be:

INT. STORE - DAY - FLASHBACK

or

EXT.. STORE - DAY

Would I need to continue putting FLASHBACk in my slugline?

No, just start the first header with Flashback. Then do the scenes you need to do.

At the end of it just do END FLASHBACK and carry on.

It should be clear enough from the writing that you're still in the flashback.

Couple of threads that may make things clearer for you...

http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1251385402/

http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1246403463/

http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?m-1204156899/

You just place (FLASHBACK) at the end of the slug line and either write:-

END FLASHBACK at the end of the Flashback (right justified) or write (PRESENT) at the end of the following slug line.

No big deal.

As long as it s perfectly clear what's going on, any of these method will work. You can have FLASHBACK in parenthesis or after a dash following the time of day. It doesn't matter. However, you should place END FLASHBACK at the end of the sequence to make it crystal clear that sequence is over. It's too easy to overlook PRESENT DAY since flashbacks can span several slugs.

Okay, I'll make sure to have END FLASHBACK instead of PRESENT.

Thanks.

Here's how I've been doing flashbacks, really good site:

http://www.storysense.com/format/flashbacks.htm

E.G.
     
BEGIN FLASHBACK:

INT. MAIN CONTROL BOOTH (BUILDING 1) - NIGHT

Rachel puts down the phone.  A KNOCKING startles her.  She turns to see Sgt. Hughes peering up at her from the foyer.

END FLASHBACK.

INT. POLICE DEPARTMENT/INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY

Tears are streaming down Rachel's face.

                            RACHEL
               It sounded like him.  I wish...

Now then, I have a plug. And I've a DVD of 'Shameless'.

All I need to do now is combine the two and mention my use of a type of flashback in 'Take Care - Episode One - "Sosea"'.

Two characters are talking about an incident that happened to a kid in the Quarter a while back. They weren't there but they know what happened. I then cut to the scene with the kid just before the incident and show what happened. After this I cut back to the two for reaction.

At no point did I say Flashback or state a certain date. It was obvious from their dialogue and the scene headings what was happening. Stevie 'The Cockroach Walrus' from Oz didn't like it but hey, I'll forgive him eventually. It worked for most.

The main point is don't lose the audience with flashbacks and make it clear in the text what's happening.

Good format is like a good drummer - if they are really good then you don't notice them.

RV

You should always notice and hear a good drummer.  If you don't, then chances are he sucks and has nothing to contribute.

Quoted from Dreamscale You should always notice and hear a good drummer.  If you don't, then chances are he sucks and has nothing to contribute.

Oh dear.

As opposed to the vocals and the melody first? I don't think so.

Of course you can hear them. Point being a bad drummer stands out way more than a good one. It's like car gears crunching.

I should know, I've put with enough hopeless tub thumpers in my time. Like having teeth pulled.

Back on topic...

Did you manage to do that flashback then dodaah, er I mean UK?

RV, maybe it has a lot to do with the music you're listening to.  The music I listen to is what most would call quite "heavy".  There are good drummers, decent drummers, and crap drummers.  It is very easy to hear the difference in this style of music.

Melody and vocals are obviously key, but I bet ya that the vocalists that I call my favorites, you'd think are terrible.

Back to subject - I actually liked the way Muse set that Flashback up.  Kinda like my exact ways of writing Slugs, I think you should use everything you've got available to you, and since scripts are written, write that it's a Flashback, so there's no confusion.  In a filmed version, the visuals make it much easier to understand what is a Flashback, and what isn't.

Quoted from Muse32 Here's how I've been doing flashbacks, really good site: http://www.storysense.com/format/flashbacks.htm E.G.       BEGIN FLASHBACK: INT. MAIN CONTROL BOOTH (BUILDING 1) - NIGHT Rachel puts down the phone.  A KNOCKING startles her.  She turns to see Sgt. Hughes peering up at her from the foyer. END FLASHBACK. INT. POLICE DEPARTMENT/INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY Tears are streaming down Rachel's face.                             RACHEL                It sounded like him.  I wish...

That's how I personally prefer to do it. I like to make it as visible as possible so no-on misses it.