Cutaways

[cck45]

How do you format a cutaway during a scene?

[Deus Ex Machine]

I understand the term as an editor uses it. I'm not sure what you mean in terms of a story. Is this what you mean?


INT. ROOM - DAY

Bob sits on a sofa.

...........BOB
I wonder how much time I have left?

INT. HEAVEN - DAY

An hourglass labeled "BOB" runs out of sand.

INT. ROOM - DAY

.........BOB
Better make the most of what I have left.

Bob turns on Bay Watch.

[cck45]

My character is walking down a street and looks at something, but then has a quick hallucination of something else. Then it goes back to him on the street again.

[Deus Ex Machine]

EXT. STREET - DAY

Bob sees a watch on the ground. Imagines --

INT. CAR - DAY

John Lennon rips off his watch.

.............LENON
Time is a state of mind.

Lennon tosses the watch out the window.

EXT. STREET - DAY

Bob considers the watch.

...........BOB
He's right.

Bob removes his own watch and drops it on the street.


Like a dream sequence deciding to label the hallucination sequence will be determined by the desired effect you want it to have on the reader. Do you want to give away that it is a hallucination or do you want the reader to think it is real at the time?

If you want to label it you can simply add an extension to the slugline:

INT. CAR - DAY (HALLUCINATION)
INT. CAR - DAY (BOB'S IMAGINATION)

Another method that works well for very short sequences is:

EXT. STREET - DAY

Bob sees a watch on the ground.

BOB IMAGINES: JOHN LENNON REMOVES THE WATCH AND TOSSES IT OUT OF HIS CAR.

Bob considers the watch.

..................BOB
I found John Lennon's watch!




Choose the method that best suits your story and creates the desired effect on the reader.

HTH.