I'm new to screenwriting and wanted to ask other, established or beginner screenwriters as to what they would do if at the beginning of the screenplay there is a flashback to an event and then halfway through the story the scene occurs. Would I write the scene the same both times including the dialogue or leave out certain parts?
Screenwriting : Flashback Scene by Brett Hoover
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Would that be a flashback or a flashforward?
I suppose it would be a flashforward. The flashforward begins the screenplay and the actual event occurs in the middle of the screenplay. It doesn't feel right to write the same words twice or the same scene twice especially since each page and each dialogue is so important.
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So I imagine the flashforward at the beginning of your script is actually current day? If that's the case, you would simply start your script as you normally would, then after that opening scene you would transition to a flashback where you're telling the beginning of the story that would then flow through until it catches up with your opening scene, which would be halfway through your script. You could use FLASHBACK though I'd be more inclined to simply use a SUPER and indicate that this is, I don't know, 1 MONTH EARLIER or 6 MONTHS EARLIER or 2 YEARS EARLIER or whenever your story starts from the second scene. Does that make sense?
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Depends on the story. But mostly leave it the same. I am guessing you want the audience to recognise it.
Thank you all for your great advice. I'm now on my second draft and that particular scene just didn't sit right with telling it twice. It just felt so repetitive. I'll definitely use each of your advice to better the scene. Once again thank you.