Dream scene formatting

[whitingmedia]

How would I format a scene where the main character goes into a dream, but the scene location and other characters do not change.

In the scene, you do not know it has transformed into a dream until an abrupt ending and the character is back to reality.

Examples from other movies would be great.

Thanks

[Deus Ex Machine]

Just write it the way you see it playing in your head and don't label it as a dream sequence if you want it to be a surprise that way the reader gets the full cinematic experience. If you find it confusing add a (DREAM) to your slug.

INT. ROOM - DAY (DREAM)

[MrErdnase]

I usually write something like this:

BACK TO REALITY

if it was in the same location, and perhaps the same time.

[pantalone]

Be careful with showing the audience (as well as the reader) something that you will take away from them when you reveal it to be a dream.

An audience would understand if they saw me typing madly at my typer and my girlfriend comes in and says we need to get ready to go... and the next scene is me getting into a tux for the Academy Awards... an audience would accept that as a dream sequence when we cut away to see me sleeping forehead down on the keyboard.

But be careful, if you show me getting ready to meet the girlfriend's parents only to back out of the scene at the with a 'nevermind, dream sequence' then you need to say something significant (or get a big joke) from the scene.

[dk23]

Ditto.

Dream scenes are incredibly risky. I put them right up there with "energy masks" as extremely bad cop outs most of the time. Sort of a, "where should the story go next? who cares, let's just throw in a reversal or two" type of thing.

Unless they're done incredibly well, they almost always leave the audience feeling short changed.

One of the better recent examples I can think of is Femme Fatale. It still was a tad bothersome, but it was mostly enjoyable/acceptable because there were clues there that made you wonder what they signified, and in hindsight, it all sort of made sense. Most dream sequences are just an abrupt halt and change of direction, with no rhyme or reason.

Dan