How would I write a scene that happens in the past?

[Israel Romero]

Example:

I wrote a scene, and then I want to write another scene that happened before the first one, so that this last one would lead to the first one. Basically, the first scene is the last one in the chronology of the script.

Thanks.

 

[J.R. Hudson]

How would you write it ?

Make a script note. Use a title.

Why over think these things ?

 

[Randall_Oelerich]

Maybe take a look at the screenplay Memento, that has reverse order scenes:

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_(film)#Film_structure

Script
http://www.google.com/search?source...S364&=&q=memento+screenplay+pdf&aq=f&aqi=&oq=

 

[jc10182000]

are you talking about structure? it's more than just a script note, especially if you think you might be submitting this script to someone else.

 

[Gohanto]

Memento does it well, but also consider how it's going to play out on screen.

Does the audience know you're jumping into a scene that happened before the last scene? Or is there clue in the middle of the scene?

For example, in Memento it isn't clear to the audience that the 2nd "color" scene happened before until...

Leonard glances fearfully at the door, then looks at Teddy.
He THRUSTS the barrel of his gun into Teddy's mouth and WE
ARE AT THE SHOT FROM THE END OF THE OPENING SEQUENCE. Teddy
panics, shaking his head, trying to talk around the metal,
but GAGS just as Leonard pulls the trigger.

If want your audience to know instantly, writing "Flashback" in the scene description isn't going to come through in the finished film. In that case possibly something like
SUPERIMPOSE: 20 MINUTES AGO

 

[Israel Romero]

Does the audience know you're jumping into a scene that happened before the last scene? Or is there clue in the middle of the scene?

They might get a clue, it won't be explicit.

Thanks everyone for replying.