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How to Jump From One Scene & Back Again in a Screenplay

Moving from scene to scene and back to an earlier time frame is easy, once the craft of screenwriting has been mastered. Writing a screenplay follows a specific presentation format which has stringent rules. A screenplay must be set out in a sequence of scenes, which have location headings, scene directions, dialogue and scene transitions.



Once a writer is familiar with the screenplay format and terminology used, the plot can be moved in the desired direction to tell the story.

Things You'll Need

  • Screenwriting guide
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Instructions

    • 1

      Write transition instructions to move scenes along. Pertaining to all listed references, start the screenplay with the first transition of "FADE IN" positioned in the top left-hand margin. (You must end the screenplay with the final transition "FADE OUT"). Write the scene heading, two lines below. For example, "INT. HOTEL LOBBY -- NIGHT (2010)." Write some scene directions beneath the scene heading to describe the scene and to discuss any unspoken action. Write dialogue in the scene. Type "CUT TO," two lines below the finished scene, at the right-hand margin.

    • 2

      Write the next scene. Write the scene heading, starting with the interior or exterior, place and time directions. For example, "EXT. STREET -- DAY." By this scene, you can see that the next scene has moved to an outdoor street scene, the next day, unless it indicates a specific date in the future. New scenes are an automatic structural device to move the story forward in a linear direction.

    • 3

      Return to a previous scene or time frame by writing transitions below the scene, beside the left-hand margin. With reference to the Scriptologist, use "BACK TO" or "BACK TO SCENE" or "FLASHBACK." Another transition which is useful in the opening title sequence is "SERIES OF SHOTS." This lists a series of separate shots which allows the camera to switch rapidly from one scene or frame to another.

Screen Writing

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