Flashbacks and Showing dialog

[JetMonkey]

Hey guys, quick question.

It seems now the trend I'm seeing lately in movies is during a long-winded dialog scene or even a short one where a charactor is discribing something that happened in the past. We see the flashback or a cut to scene where it "shows" whatever dialog is being said. How would you write this? Just putting a FLASHBACK in between lines? or someother way.

Thanks for any tips.

[ComicBent]

As so often happens with "how to" questions, I am not sure if you mean A or B.

If you mean A, then you are saying that the character is talking over some disconnected actions that we see. (Oops, sorry about that "we see," but it is probably one of the genuinely necessary times to use it. )

In that case, you just write the dialogue as V.O. and describe what is happening with action paragraphs.

In you mean B, then you are saying that a character starts speaking but then we find ourselves in a different scene where characters talk and engage in actions.

In that case, if you mean B, then you interrupt your first scene with a flashback scene, which can be a scene with its own master scene heading, or an interpolated ("put in") mini-slug kind of scene within the first scene. (Just use a mini-slug to identify the location; then, at the end, add a BACK TO SCENE or some such bookend.) Personally, I prefer master scene headings for everything, but it is really your choice.

Hope that helps.

Best ...

[JetMonkey]

Thanks ComicBent,

Yes, I'm talking about when you have a scene with someone describing "what happened" or such, and then.. We see it taking place. I think its popular now because the audience has such a short attention span that whatever is being talked about has to be shown now.. I too agree with using master headers for everything.

[Madbandit]

Originally Posted by JetMonkey

Thanks ComicBent,

Yes, I'm talking about when you have a scene with someone describing "what happened" or such, and then.. We see it taking place. I think its popular now because the audience has such a short attention span that whatever is being talked about has to be shown now.. I too agree with using master headers for everything.

The rule you have to know, JM, is never describe the action in your voiceover, whether it's a flashback or a real time event. If you want to, don't have dialogue in the scene (watch old "Dragnet" episodes, for an great example) and have the voiceover describe the moment.

[spinningdoc]

Make the visuals and the dialogue counterpoint.

EG

INT KITCHEN DAY
Colin crouches down on the kitchen floor holding out a piece of fish, beckoning a cute little kitten.

TINA (VO)
Colin was such a kind guy. He
wouldn't hurt any of God's beautiful
creatures.

EXT RIVERBANK NIGHT

Colin hefts the kitten in his hand, a large BRICK tied to its neck.

He hurls the kitten into the black swirling waters of the river.

[JetMonkey]

I appriciate it guys, thanks!