Subliminal Flashbacks

Ron Maiden · Jul 26, 2015

i've got a character that's got amnesia, and in the course of the plot i want various events/comments to invoke sudden, almost-subliminal flashes/glimpses of what happened to them - given this would be in effect another scene, how would i do this? the usual slugs don't seem appropriate.

cheers....

dpaterso · Jul 26, 2015

I am not a guru, but I'd maybe do it with mini-slugs, e.g.

INT. STUDY - DAY

Brannigan searches the desk drawers, he finds a sealed envelope. Ah-HA!

He reaches for the letter opener.

BRANNIGAN'S FLASHBACK

The letter opener is dripping with blood.

Brannigan, looking dazed, stands over a woman's body.

It's VIOLETTA. She's been stabbed a dozen times.

He stares in horror at the bloody letter opener in his hand.

BACK TO SCENE

Brannigan slowly puts the letter opener back down on the desk.

BRANNIGAN
Hoo boy.

Edited to add:

Thoughts on flashbacks from screenwriter Bill Martell: http://www.scriptsecrets.net/tips/tip266.htm

And an article by Dave Trottier aka Dr. Format: http://www.keepwriting.com/tsc/flashback.htm

-Derek

talking to myself · Jul 27, 2015

thanks for asking this question. I'm doing the same type of thing in my script. Have re-worked the format a million times and am still not sure about it!

Ron Maiden · Jul 28, 2015

thanks DP, that seems a good way.

Subliminal Flashbacks

Ron Maiden

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