Please check out the following (Mike is 16 years old in the main, current-time part of the scene):
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EXT. SANTA MONICA BLVD - NIGHT
A whole other crowd has come out, and Mike, clutching a bottle of gin by its neck, wanders through it as if a dream.
QUICK FLASH - PRAGUE - DAY
Mike, 5, wanders down the cobblestone street, eyes wide, lips tight, clutching an over-sized lollipop. He squints his eyes to read the signs with the strange words. He strains his ears to understand the strange language.
END QUICK FLASH
Pimps, dealers, prostitutes of all genders, johns, druggies, homeless.
Music, lights, neon, car horns.
QUICK FLASH - PRAGUE - DUSK
Mike jumps at the blast of the horn of the car that narrowly misses him. He stares at a young couple who start toward him, then he dashes down the sidewalk.
END QUICK FLASH
The whole thing almost has the festive air of a carnival, a debauched and rotted and depraved carnival.
Mike stops and watches as a skeletally-thin man -- alone, ignored, half in and half out of the shadow of a litter-strewn and graffitied alcove -- juggles three balls, faster and faster, in danger any second of losing control and having them go flying.
QUICK FLASH - PRAGUE - NIGHT
Mike huddles in a dark corner, his little arms wrapped tightly around his legs. Tears flow down his face. His whole body trembles. These strange people just keep walking by.
END QUICK FLASH
Mike tosses a fistful of change into the juggler's can and continues on his way.
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A quick bit of background: The above scene is part of the Second Plot Point 75% Turning Point #4: Major Setback section in the story when Mike is at his lowest. This scene struck me as the perfect time for me to FINALLY get across to my reader what this "Prague thing" is to which so many of the characters have referred throughout the story. (The "Prague thing" is Mike's wound, the avoidance of which of Mike ever re-living has driven him all this time in all his actions and decisions.)
My first question is, are these even "quick flashes"? In my mind's eye, as I see the screenplay as a movie, I see them as quickly flashing on the big screen, but now I'm wondering if they're more your typical flashbacks. Your thoughts?
My second question is, have I formatted these quick flashes correctly? Any and all suggestions and feedback are welcome and encouraged (and VERY much appreciated!).
I look forward to your replies. Thanks in advance!
While I think you get the point across perfectly fine, technically you can/should say QUICK FLASH TO: (next line) EXT. PRAGUE STREET - NIGHT (or whenever). As one is a transition and the other a scene heading. And then at the end of each flash, you could just say BACK TO SCENE instead of END QUICK FLASH. Again, the way you have it makes sense and might not be an issue, but you should have a proper scene heading for tge Prague scenes... hope this helps.
If this is the first time the five year old Mike appears you would have to ALL CAP his name YOUNG MIKE, 5 or whatever name you choose but he would have to have a different name because a different actor would have to take on the role of Young Mike. Since you are going back eleven years in time you might want to put the year in your scene heading.
You dont need the year if youve set the script in the present alteady and told us your character is 16 and then tell us he's 5 in the flashback. we can do the math.
To me, BACK TO SCENE works better.