Flashback and time lapse?

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  • Flashback and time lapse?

    So I've looked through the threads but there have been a lot of different responses and they're all from at least a year ago or longer. How would I imply a flashback? And a time lapse? They're separate events in the script. Thanks!!

  • #2
    Re: Flashback and time lapse?

    I don't think much has changed over the past year, or even longer.
    "I am the story itself; its source, its voice, its music."
    - Clive Barker, Galilee

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    • #3
      Re: Flashback and time lapse?

      Okay good to know. But that being said, there still wasn't really a clear answer, many people gave different examples, so I'm not sure what to go with.

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      • #4
        Re: Flashback and time lapse?

        Flashbacks (or flashforwards) can be indicated in two ways. If the flashback takes place in one scene it can be conveyed in the scene heading:

        INT. MAX'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

        If it takes place over several locations:

        INT. MAX'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

        BEGIN FLASHBACK: (or “FLASHBACK SEQUENCE:”)

        When the flashback is finished:

        END FLASHBACK. (or “END FLASHBACK SEQUENCE.”)

        Some writers just use:

        FLASHBACK:

        and at the end of the flashback -

        END FLASHBACK.

        There are acceptable variations of the above but whatever you do, keep it as simple and clear as you can.

        What do you mean by "time lapse"? If you mean a period of time between successive scenes at the same location it can be written simply as:

        LATER:

        or with the scene heading repeated and "LATER" in parenthesis.

        INT. MAX'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT (LATER)

        Or you could be more specific if that's what you need to convey, e.g.

        SIX HOURS LATER...

        Max sits on the workshop floor surrounded by parts of the dismantled control unit.

        As a general guide, try not to over-write these things - focus on keeping them simple, clear and logical for the reader. Read a bunch of recent produced scripts and you'll get the idea. You may be inundated with all manner of variations on the above suggestions. Let the fun begin.
        Last edited by DavidK; 05-30-2012, 05:05 PM. Reason: .
        "Friends make the worst enemies." Frank Underwood

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        • #5
          Re: Flashback and time lapse?

          Thanks! By time lapse, they're sitting and one character is writing a list, but there's only a few bullet points. After the time lapse, the shot shows multiple pages filled with bullet points.

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          • #6
            Re: Flashback and time lapse?

            John sits at the table to write a list. He starts jotting down bullet points on a blank sheet of paper.

            TIME PASSES

            When he's done, John has filled sheet after sheet with his list of bullet points.

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            • #7
              Re: Flashback and time lapse?

              This details how to format flashbacks.

              http://scripttoolbox.com/special/flashbacks.html
              http://www.screenreads.com/formatting - The free screenplay formatting guide.

              My book on formatting, Your CUT TO: Is Showing!, is now available on Amazon.com.

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              • #8
                Re: Flashback and time lapse?

                That's perfect! Thanks!

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