Flashbacks within Flashbacks
and Other Curious Situations

By David Trottier

Sometimes it's difficult to format flashbacks in unusual situations. What follows are five "common" unusual situations that I get questions about all the time.

Situation #1: The storyteller
You begin your screenplay in present day, and then, in the first act, flash back to the main story which continues until the third act when it returns to present day.

The above describes Saving Private Ryan and other movies that use the storyteller device to introduce and conclude their stories. The "storyteller" (which is usually a character) introduces the story. Since that story, which is most of the movie, takes place in the past, use a SUPER (short for "superimpose") rather than a FLASHBACK. In other words, even though "the story" is technically a flashback, don't call it a flashback. Label it as follows:

SUPER: "20 Years Earlier"

Situation #2: A flashback within a story told by a storyteller
As you know from Situation #1, you would use a SUPER for the first flashback since the storyteller device is being used. Then refer to the second flashback as a FLASHBACK. In other words, format the second FLASHBACK like you would any other FLASHBACK. No reader will get lost.

Situation #3: A flashback within a flashback
This is where a character recalls a previous event in which he or she recalls an even earlier event as in Julia and Secret in Their Eyes.

The solution is to 1) use correct format and 2) be absolutely clear in your labeling and description. I'll illustrate with a brief example where the first flashback consists of more than one scene, and is therefore a flashback sequence. Notice the clearly identified characters in each flashback.

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

DORIS and DANNY trudge through the jungle swinging their machetes. Doris swings at a tree branch and liberates it in one skillful swing.

BEGIN FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

EXT. FOREST - DAY

TEEN DORIS swings her axe at a tree limb, severing it.

EXT. GIRLS CAMP - NIGHT

Teen Doris drops her tree limbs next to a campfire.

FLASHBACK - DORIS IN HER CHILDHOOD BACKYARD

CHILD DORIS, wearing a safari helmet, swings a plastic sword at the bushes, trying to cut her way through. She proudly picks up a small branch.

BACK TO GIRLS CAMP

Teen Doris proudly throws some tree limbs on the campfire.

END FLASHBACK SEQUENCE

EXT. JUNGLE - NIGHT - BACK TO PRESENT DAY

Doris tosses a tree limb onto a campfire. Danny stands behind her and puts his arms around her waist.

                      DANNY
          It's like you've been doing this
          all your life.

Doris smiles contentedly.

Situation #4: Character A has a flashback in Character B's flashback
This is rarely done because it seldom works and can be confusing. Use the same technique described in Situation #3, but define whose flashback is whose. Here's a quick example.

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

Doris and Danny trudge through the jungle swinging their machetes. Doris swings at a tree branch and liberates it in one skillful swing.

She looks dreamy-eyed at the tree branch.

DORIS'S FLASHBACK - FOREST

TEEN DORIS swings her axe at a tree limb, severing it. She smiles proudly at TEEN DANNY, who laughs.

DANNY'S FLASHBACK - BACKYARD

CHILD DANNY watches CHILD DORIS, wearing a safari helmet, swing her plastic sword at a bush. He laughs.

BACK TO DORIS'S FLASHBACK IN THE FOREST

Teen Danny laughs. Teen Doris frowns.

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY - BACK TO PRESENT DAY

Danny laughs. Doris playfully whacks him on the head with the broad side of her machete.

Situation #5: Use a SUPER rather than a FLASHBACK
In some situations, it would be perfectly fine to use a SUPER rather than a flashback. For example:

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

Doris and Danny trudge through the jungle swinging their machetes. Doris swings at a tree branch and liberates it in one skillful swing.

She looks dreamy-eyed at the tree branch.

EXT. FOREST - DAY

SUPER: "10 Years Earlier"

TEEN DORIS swings her axe at a tree limb, severing it.

And so on.

What follows is an alternate way to describe TEEN DORIS:

Doris, a teenager now, swings her axe at a tree limb, severing it.

You might use the above method if you think the actress who will play Doris as an adult will also play her as a teen.

For more information on flashbacks, see "All About Flashbacks" and keep writing!