• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Screenwriting.io

Screenwriting.io

Answering basic questions about screenwriting.

  • Answers
  • About
  • Ask
  • Index
Generic filters
Exact matches only

What is the best way to handle flashbacks or dream sequences in a screenplay?

Tagged: formatting, presentation, scene headings, screenplay, screenwriting, script, scriptwriting, structure, terms

If you want the viewer (and therefore the reader) to know that a scene is or is part of a flashback or dream sequence, add the tag in brackets after the header.

INT. TOM’S BEDROOM – DAY [FLASHBACK]

If you don’t want the viewer to be immediately aware, omit the tag.

This advice also applies to any other alternate world that could crop up in a screenplay. If your story is about a writer and we occasionally enter the world of the novel she is writing, append those scene headers with [NOVEL].

With all formatting advice, your goal is to be as clear as possible without interrupting the flow of the screenplay, keeping in mind that your reader is acting as your viewer. If you are unsure, try to remove yourself from the process, read what you’ve written as though you are a third party, and see if it makes sense.

### More from johnaugust.com
* [Flashbacks and dreams](http://johnaugust.com/2003/flashbacks-and-dreams “Flashbacks and dreams”)
* [Keeping track of time](http://johnaugust.com/2008/keeping-track-of-time “Keeping track of time”)
* [Can I go beyond DAY and NIGHT?](http://johnaugust.com/2009/beyond-day-and-night “Can I go beyond DAY and NIGHT?”)
* [The Hollywood Standard](http://johnaugust.com/2007/hollywood-standard “The Hollywood Standard”)

Answer Index

script scriptwriting screenplay screenwriting formatting terms film structure presentation business writing software TV WGA Final Draft characters length guild credits FDX FDR union scene headings dramatic theory outlines adaptations arbitration pdf highland fountain producers guru managers Celtx Movie Magic rights pitching awards agents short film iPad iPhone festival directors musical

Primary Sidebar

Switching from Final Draft to Highland 2

Switching from Final Draft
to Highland 2 – Get the PDF

© 2023 Screenwriting.io — All Rights Reserved.

  • Answers
  • About
  • Ask
  • Index