ASK DR. FORMAT
Is it INSERTable?

By David Trottier

QUESTION
Why do you go BACK TO SCENE after an INSERT? Aren't we already in the scene?

ANSWER
The INSERT is a special heading that interrupts the scene, and BACK TO SCENE tells us we are now back to the main action. If you didn't write BACK TO SCENE, you probably wouldn't confuse anyone, but that's how all special headings of one scene in length work. Thus, a MONTAGE or a FLASHBACK or a DREAM would follow the same convention.

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

Little Joey falls asleep.

DREAM - THE MONSTER

Little Joey hears movement under his bed. He sits up, trembles, and then leans over his bedside to take a peek.

It's the Post Golden Crisp Sugar Bear who slides out from under the bed, puts his hands behind his head, crosses his legs, and starts crooning his cereal jingle.

BACK TO SCENE

Little Joey sits up in bed and starts singing the jingle.

Rather than BACK TO SCENE, I could have written BACK TO THE BEDROOM.

Handle an INSERT in exactly the same way. The purpose of the INSERT is to draw attention to something specific, often an object, a note, or a letter.

(I should mention that in an actual script, I wouldn't rely on the Post Golden Crisp Sugar Bear because I don't own the rights to that character. I'd make up something original. The above example is just to illustrate.)

FOLLOW-UP QUESTION
Why use an INSERT in the first place?

ANSWER
These days, INSERTs are seldom used, and when they are used, it's usually for a long note or letter. Thus, you don't have to use the INSERT at all in your spec script.

Here's an example of the INSERT as it was used in the past

Big Mack opens the note.

INSERT - THE NOTE

        "It's over, Baby."

BACK TO SCENE

Yes, you should indent the content of a note or letter just like you would dialogue.

What follows is what you are most likely to see in a screenplay today.

Big Mack opens the note. It reads: "It's over, Baby."

If you want the content of the note to pop out better to a reader, write it as a separate paragraph. And keep writing!