I just watched a movie, not naming names, that used "in media res" or flashback from an opening high drama scene to the backstory. In the opening scene, before the flashback, the protagonists are killed, or drugged and dragged off to be killed. Then it flips back to the backstory of how they met, etc. I must admit, I got bored and hit the "back" button after a few minutes. Any guidelines come to mind for how to use it? In this case two things come to mind. 1) I figured they were dead, so why other? and 2) The flashback started years before the incident, with tons of romance (rom com) and back story being filled in. This felt "telling". Anyone else struggle with this?
Screenwriting : In medias res, when and how much? by Mike Clarke
In medias res, when and how much?
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Hi, Mike Clarke. I use flashbacks to reveal things about a character's past sometimes, but I'd rather show those things in present action or have a character talk about it.
I've put flashbacks at the start of scripts and throughout scripts. I haven't put a flashback at the end of a script, but I might try it.
I keep a flashback short unless it needs to be long. I'd rather write a series of short flashbacks than a long flashback though, and each short flashback would reveal something about a character/the story or add something to the script.
I like to give a flashback -- or a series of short flashbacks -- a beginning middle end structure.
I think the three most important things about writing a flashback are make sure it's exciting/interesting/intense, make sure it reveals something or adds something to the script, and make sure it's easy to understand.
Here's two Lounge posts about flashbacks:
www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/To-Flashback-or-Not-to-Flashback-Th...
www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Flashbacks-7
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I'm having that problem should I begin this story I'm working on with a flashback, or find another way. I may have to re-think my story.
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I like the point "lazy exposition", from the comments on the first link, which is the trap the film I was watching fell into. It is almost like it was a last minute decision to boost the opening scene, by moving the ending to the opening. I do enjoy flasbacks when they answer a question in the mainstream plot, like, "Why is this guy so obsessed with knocking three times? Or a reverse flashback like "Hodor" (loved that) in Game of Thrones. I just watched Skeleton Crew, Ep 1, (Starwars for kids) where there seems to be a pre-emptive flashback to introduce the (very scary) antagonist. It works.
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"It is almost like it was a last minute decision to boost the opening scene." I did that before, Mike Clarke. The flashback felt out of place. I haven't done it since.
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Dan MaxXx, I'm genuinely curious. I love Mike's quote. It would be especially impactful if Mike was the one throwing the punch. Please help me understand how it fits the narrative poor execution scenario.
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Jason C. Bounds, I have run into it lately too. I think it depends on the story. It may work to plant a hook. However one would need to leave the conclusion open, imho.
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This is a valid form of storytelling that is effective when used well. Fight Club comes to mind.
The popularity of this technique in recent years comes from the need to get audiences hooked early so they stay through the commercials. While a story done in the 70s or 80s may have started with a slow build, audiences have been trained by other media to be less patient now.
What IS important is giving the audience a sense of tone and genre they’re going to experience in the film. Action? Show a fight early on. Horror? Show a monster or a kill. Starting with a later scene, then flashing back is one way to do it, but there are others.