Quick Flashbacks - Print Topic

Posted by: TAnthony, August 3rd, 2006, 8:20pm

How do you do a really quick flashback? The kind of flashback where the screen time would only be 2 seconds or so. Like in a movie when a detective has a clue and it flashes back really quick to where he first found it.

Thanks.

Posted by: Mr.Z, August 3rd, 2006, 9:17pm; Reply: 1

Seems like you could use the QUICK FLASHES David Trottier mentions in the Screenwriter's Bible; he says you should format them like MONTAGES.

Quoted Text

INT. TANTHONY'S ROOM - NIGHT

TAnthony types behind his computer until he's interrupted by his...

                  WIFE
          Where were you last night? And where
          is the money you were supposed to leave
          me for the groceries?

He looks at her... worried.

QUICK FLASHES

TAnthony shares a toast with three guys who look as drunk as he is.

He puts a hundred dollar bill between the boobs of a stripper.

INT. TANTHONY'S ROOM

                 TANTHONY
          Err...

The phone rings.

                TANTHONY
          I'll get that.

Posted by: Jonathan Terry, August 5th, 2006, 8:04pm; Reply: 2

I've also seen it done as such.

-------------------------------

INT. HOUSE

John stares blankly at the sink. Sticking halfway out of the drain is a dead rat.

INTERCUT: John fights with a rat, picks him up and throws it across the air where it lands in the sink.

He stabs at it with his fork.

--------------------------------

Most of the time this seems to be used to show something that happened earlier in the movie. I think an Intercut/flashcut or anything else is exceptable. I've also seen it italisized like I've done. Its not necessary but I've seen it used in real scripts to make it stand out.

Hope this helps.

Posted by: George Willson, August 5th, 2006, 8:24pm; Reply: 3

FLASH INSERT is another choice for this one. Works pretty mch the same way as the others already mentioned.

FLASH INSERT: TAnthony shares a toast with three guys who look as drunk as he is...He puts a hundred dollar bill between the boobs of a stripper.

Move on with description.

Posted by: Lon, August 6th, 2006, 8:27pm; Reply: 4

If it's just a one-time quick flashback, I'd just write it in an action paragraph.  I wrote a script about a crooked cop, and at one point he flashes back during a pivotal moment to when he took a bribe without realizing it was a bribe.  It went something like this:

Manny
You wouldn't send a friend to prison, would
you, Val?  I mean, we're still friends, right?

Val flashes back to Manny slipping him that fat wad of cash.  Manny's got him by the balls, Val knows it and it shows.

I got no complaints from the producer who picked it up, so it must not be too big a deal.