Flashback use

[GonnaBeFamous]

I know flashbacks are abused but I'm using one in my horror script as a way of showing what happened in the past that will later be used by the killer(wont know till about 2/3 of the way why the character flashes back). Is this a good idea or should I just have this intense scene as one big action packed opening scene? I'm starting to think It would be better that way cause it's pretty intense emotionally I think and my new opening scene after my revise is kinda lame(they are just talking about trivial stuff as they walk along the college campus)

[TheRuleofThirds]

How much of it can you tell through actions and mannerisms of the character without the flashback?

[GonnaBeFamous]

You know I just thought that if I used it as my opening scene that somehow I would have to have still come across as being the past, so would I have to say in scene 2, SUPER: 1 year later ???? I'm thinking thats how I could do it......

[GonnaBeFamous]

How much of it can you tell through actions and mannerisms of the character without the flashback?

It's about a accident that happened 1 year earlier. The only thing I could show was her looking at a news article, but thats a waste of a good and emotional scene. my scene shows no actual impact (To keep budget down for the sake of my other scenes in the movie) its all before and after the car crash and the emotions behind it. I would keep it like that in the opening scene too and maybe have scene 2 say SUPER: 1 year later? Is that appropriate for a horror film??? I like to bend the rules a little for creativity sake. :)

[maestrowork]

An exception to the "first act" best practice: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Flashbacks are scattered throughout the entire movie. While I find some of the flashbacks distracting, they are presented at just the right place, to give insight to a major character that makes the ending more poignant and relevant.

[TheRuleofThirds]

It's about a accident that happened 1 year earlier. The only thing I could show was her looking at a news article, but thats a waste of a good and emotional scene. my scene shows no actual impact (To keep budget down for the sake of my other scenes in the movie) its all before and after the car crash and the emotions behind it. I would keep it like that in the opening scene too and maybe have scene 2 say SUPER: 1 year later? Is that appropriate for a horror film??? I like to bend the rules a little for creativity sake. :)
It's cliche for a horror film, if that's what you mean.

Why don't you use the dialogue in the opening scene walking on campus to tell the story without giving it away? Then I'd say if you wanted to use the flashback later in the script, like towards the end of Act II, then go ahead. Don't use it to open your movie, though...it's just not right.

[scripter1]

If this action kicks off the events of your story and then is brought up and referred to again there will be no reason for a flashback.

The reason flashbacks are problem areas for many writers is they try to use them as plot patches intead of planned story elements.
"Oh gee, I need this info in there so I'll just flashback, plug it in, problem solved."

WRONG.
The flashback must compliment the structure and pacing of the script.
It must provide us with information we haven't or can't learn in any other way.
They can be very effective especially when we see how the person experiancing it reacts to it.

I suggest you write the event as the opening of the script.
Then consider it, study some scripts that use flashback, and come back and see what you want to do.

Then again, it is all in the execution. We can't give you an aye or nay answer until we've read the script, or at least a snyopsis.

[GonnaBeFamous]

It's cliche for a horror film, if that's what you mean.

Why don't you use the dialogue in the opening scene walking on campus to tell the story without giving it away? Then I'd say if you wanted to use the flashback later in the script, like towards the end of Act II, then go ahead. Don't use it to open your movie, though...it's just not right.

Yeah I decided not to open the movie with a flashback because it would appear more as a action film then a horror film LOL plus I have my first murder in by page 3 anyways. I will however keep my flashbacks in the film though(I'm getting low on pages anyways and i would lose even more if I cut out them). And I'll use your suggestion about using the story in the opening scene without giving it away. It will be hard, but I guess I'll try that. FYI its not just one flashback, I split it into 3 showing the beginning, and 2 for after the crash so one will be in ACT1 , the other 2 will be in ACT 2.

[GonnaBeFamous]

One more thing I have about 18 pages btw first and second killing of film, is this bad if it turns into a blood bath later on? I noticed halloween H20 doesn't have much killings in the first 25 pages.....

[NikeeGoddess]

actually, a lot of horror flicks start out like that since Friday the 13th set it as a horror standard

well, actually it was done way, way before in a Bette Davis flick where she beheaded her boyfriend with a hatchet during a party

[l.stormgaye]

In my latest manuscript, much of the story happens in the past whereby the moderator brings the reader up to speed. So, what I'm doing is probably not so much flashback as it is backstory.

[GonnaBeFamous]

I'm revising as I speak, here is how I have it now.

I now reduced it to 2 flashbacks both are in ACT 2. I'll try to have some insight in the dialogue on scene 1 but keep it extremely vague, this will be tough and I don't have a clue as of right now what to say on that, i'm quitting for today. :)

[GonnaBeFamous]

If this action kicks off the events of your story and then is brought up and referred to again there will be no reason for a flashback.

The reason flashbacks are problem areas for many writers is they try to use them as plot patches intead of planned story elements.
"Oh gee, I need this info in there so I'll just flashback, plug it in, problem solved."

WRONG.
The flashback must compliment the structure and pacing of the script.
It must provide us with information we haven't or can't learn in any other way.
They can be very effective especially when we see how the person experiancing it reacts to it.

I suggest you write the event as the opening of the script.
Then consider it, study some scripts that use flashback, and come back and see what you want to do.

Then again, it is all in the execution. We can't give you an aye or nay answer until we've read the script, or at least a snyopsis.


The killer sort of explains stuff towards the end in the showdown and the detective looks something up too. I think after reading what you say I don't need a flashback at all, I'm scared to get rid of the two because I dn't think I could get my script to even 90 pages without them because I'll be struggling hard as it is(I've cut out so much crap lately).

[TheRuleofThirds]

I'd say for minimal use of flashbacks, take a look at Minority Report. There's only one and it's a dream sequence.

[GonnaBeFamous]

I decided not to change the dialogue on scene 1 my reasons for not are; I want the first scene to be upbeat for preparation of the killing on scene 3, I'm going to be flashbacking around 20 and 50 so why bother bringing it up on the first page too subtly?