With one click
Export a perfectly formatted traditional script.
When I hear the term “flashback” my mind immediately goes to “Wayne’s World,” where Wayne and Garth wiggle their fingers and go, “diddle-iddle-um, diddle-iddle-um” and we dissolve into the past. If only all flashbacks could be that easy and fun! If you’ve been wondering about how to write flashbacks in a traditional screenplay, both in terms of screenplay flashback format, and how to introduce them, then here are some tips I’ve come across that might help!
What is a flashback? A flashback is a moment in your story where you want the reader or viewer to flash back in time to learn something important about the character, their background, and their story. A flash back can be from any point in time that is not the present time indicated in your screenplay.
So as not to confuse your reader, though, you’ll want to learn how to indicate a flashback in your screenplay, both to go back in time and to get back to present day in your script.
Make sure your flashback has a purpose
Flashbacks should only be employed when there’s no other way to move us forward in the script without revealing or telling us something important about a character. It should reveal and clarify the motivations behind a character’s actions or choices. Before using a flashback, ask yourself if this is the best way to deliver this information. You don’t want unnecessary flashbacks that aren’t bringing much to the table, and you don’t want to overuse the device.
Pay attention to flashback transitions
The transition into a flashback, as well as the transition back to the present time, are just as important as the flashback itself. You want to go into and get out of a flashback in a way that feels smooth and isn’t jarring to the audience.
A common way to transition into a flashback is to invoke the character’s memory. You can accomplish this by having your character see something that resonates with them, having them look at a photo, or having them hear a song that reminds them of another time. For example, a family is laughing at dinner, then flashback to the character’s own family dinner, which reveals an important piece of information in the story.
Ways to transition back from a flashback could be a voice calling your character in both the past and the present or maybe have the character recreate their actions from the past in the present (ex. as a kid Jimmy dropped a cup, in the present Adult Jimmy drops what he’s holding).
How to format a flashback in a screenplay
You can format a flashback in a screenplay by using a slugline and writing “BEGIN FLASHBACK:” and then when the flashback is over, throw in another slugline that says “END FLASHBACK.”
In SoCreate, this is very simple! Just navigate to the +Transition button, click Story Transition, and choose Flashback from the dropdown. Insert this transition wherever your flashback begins, then use the End Flashback transition when you're finished writing your flashback. The flashback will appear upon exporting just as you'd expect in an industry-standard screenplay.
See the flashback example in a traditional screenplay below.
Script Snippet
Begin Flashback: Ext. Carnival - Day
10 year old Jessica sits stuck at the top of the Ferris wheel. She searches the crowd below looking for her mom.
Jessica
Mommy! Mommy!
She looks and looks, before finally
Womans Voice (0.S.)
Jessica.
Jessica turns in her seat looking for the voice.
Womans Voice (O.S.)
Jessica.
End Flashback.
Int. Insurance Office - Day
Jessica starts as she turns to see her secretary looking at her expectantly.
You could also put the FLASHBACK directly into your scene heading. You want to show that the flashback is over in the same way so you'd put BACK TO PRESENT DAY in the next scene heading.
Script Snippet
Ext. Carnival - Day - (Flashback)
And
Script Snippet
Int. Insurance Office - Day (Back to Present)
Another way I’ve seen it done is by introducing the flashback as a transition line.
Script Snippet
Int. Insurance Office - Day (Back to Present)
Jessica's gaze is caught in the window. She notices a Ferris wheel in the distance.
FLASHBACK TO:
Ext. Carnival - Day
A huge Ferris wheel stands motionless at the center of the fair.
10 year old Jessica sits stuck at the top searching frantically for her mother in the crowd below.
Jessica
Mommy! Mommy!
She looks and looks, before finally
Womans Voice (O.S.)
Jessica.
Jessica turns in her seat looking for the voice.
Womans Voice (O.S.)
Jessica.
END FLASHBACK.
Int. Insurance Office
Jessica starts as she turns from the window to see here secretary looking at her expectantly.
I’ve also seen this done with a slugline to get out of the flashback, sparing you from writing that scene heading again.
Script Snippet
Int. Insurance Office - Day
Jessica's gaze is caught in the window. She notices a Ferris wheel in the distance.
FLASHBACK TO:
Ext. Carnival - Day
A huge Ferris wheel stands motionless at the center of the fair.
10 year old Jessica sits stuck at the top searching frantically for her mother in the crowd below.
Jessica
Mommy! Mommy!
She looks and looks, before finally
Womans Voice (O.S.)
Jessica.
Jessica turns in her seat looking for the voice.
Womans Voice (O.S.)
Jessica.
Back to Present
Jessica starts as she turns from the window to see her secretary looking at her expectantly.
As you can see there are a bunch of ways to format a flashback in a script; however you choose to do it, make sure you format it in the same way consistently throughout your screenplay so it doesn’t cause confusion!
For me, the most important questions I ask myself when doing a flashback are, “Is this the best way to convey this information? How am I going to transition in and out of the flashback (is this the best place for it in the script)? When and where is this taking place?”
In my examples, I wasn’t clear on time and location; in your actual scripts, you want to make sure that you include both of those!
Hopefully, this gives you some things to consider next time when you’re writing a quick flashback.
Now flashback to now, and get writing!
You may also be interested in...
How to Write Foreign Language in a Screenplay
Hollywood, Bollywood, Nollywood … in the 21st century, movies are made everywhere. And while the film industry expands, so does our desire to hear from more diverse voices, including languages we may not understand. But with strict screenplay formatting, how do you utilize foreign language to enhance the authenticity of your story, and at the same time make it legible and not confusing? Never fear, there are a few simple ways to add foreign language dialogue to your screenplay, no translations needed. Option 1: When it Doesn’t Matter if the Audience Understands the Foreign Language...
Screenwriters, Novelists, Game Writers: Michael Stackpole Tells You How to Get an Agent
“Finding an agent is one of those questions that a lot of people ask. Everybody wants one,” Michael Stackpole explained during an interview with us at the Central Coast Writers Conference. A writer, game designer, podcaster, and regular conference speaker, Stackpole had an answer at the ready. “Once you’ve completed something, farm it out to some friends. Get them to write down two or three authors that they think you write like. Research those authors. Find out who their agents are. Perhaps meet them at a conference. Talk to them and see if their agents are taking on any new clients...
Screenwriter Donald Hewitt Tells You How to Nail a Pitch
Screenwriting is a three-part business: write your script, network, and pitch your script so you can sell it and see it turned into a film. Wondering how to pitch a screenplay in Hollywood? An opportunity to pitch your screenplay to a producer may fall into your lap on a rare occasion, but most of the time, you’re going to have to work at selling your screenplay. There are a few places to submit your screenplay, and a few things you can do to prepare to pitch your script if an opportunity comes your way. Screenwriter Donald Hewitt is going to help you get ready! Hewitt’s credits include the adapted screenplay for ...