Screenwriting : How to format quick flashes in a screenplay? by Andy Alexander

Andy Alexander

How to format quick flashes in a screenplay?

In my screenplay, the main character occasional suffers quick flashes, like visions. I have been unable to assert if I am formatting these correctly. Please also note there are currently double line spaces before my 'QUICK FLASH' and 'BACK TO SCENE's, and single line spaces afterwards, because I have tagged them as Scene Headings in my software (Amazon Storywriter). The formatting here on Stage32 has removed my double line spaces. Am I doing everything correctly?

Bob slowly averts his eyes towards the trees.

QUICK FLASH

Hands bend a thick rope into a loop.

BACK TO SCENE

Eyes down again. Grimaces. Finds the courage to return his gaze.

QUICK FLASH

A noose sways in the breeze. Heavy off-beat BREATHING.

BACK TO SCENE

Head down. Winces.

Chad Stroman

I think you are fine. No hard-line rule so long as it's understandable. You may want to do a little bit of an explanation in an action line before the first one so people understand what it is you are introducing to the script.

Chad Stroman

I echo what Kay says regarding the insert and back to scene. If your intent is to make it a "quick cut" so to speak and you have multiple lines to get that across, it kind of works against it being "quick".

Andy Alexander

Thanks for your responses so far. :)

The flashes happen at specific moments, not randomly, so I believe it is important I state exactly when that happens. But possibly it's my use of 'QUICK FLASH' and 'BACK TO SCENE' which you believe is not ideal? I think I got that idea from https://keepwriting.com/tsc/flashback.htm . What alternative would you suggest?

Andy Alexander

Interesting answer Dan, thanks. I think my screenplay is at the stage where the storytelling is pretty much done, I'm just now going over the whole thing to try and eliminate any major no nos. One comment above has already implied that my quick flash formatting would be hated (justifying why I've asked this question), so I assume it's still something I should quickly polish up? Although if you still would argue I shouldn't, that's your answer, so cool.

Dan Guardino

Andy. I would go with what Trottier says. As long as the reader knows what is going on.

Andy Alexander

Kay Luke To be able to reduce my flashes down to one line that would be excellent! Much more concise! To play devil's advocate, are we sure it's clear enough that those lines are flashes, like quick flashbacks, rather than happening now? Also, did you literally mean to put the flashes in capital letters, or was that you just highlighting to me where the flashes are?

Dan Guardino Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't know who Trottier is!

Andy Alexander

Thanks Kay Luke . I'd love to hear what everybody thinks about your suggestion vs my original. Or any others?

Andy Alexander

Mmm, Kay Luke , one extra point I didn't make clear earlier is that my example above is not the entire scene, it's just the end. The entire scene is bigger, and these flashes happen at the end, so the intercut stuff would not come in to play until the end (when he averts his eyes towards the wood). Would this affect your formatting suggestion?

Stephanie Brandolini

Hey Andy. I came to ask a similar question! I've also seen QUICK FLASHES done in italics then when we go back to the actual scene it's back to regular font and the BACK TO SCENE line isn't used. I like how that reads a bit better than the RESUME SCENE or BACK TO SCENE at the end. But I've done both. Thanks to all the wonderful responses so far!

B A Mason

I have always done it as an INSERT: so as not to detract from the current ongoing scene it compliments.

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