Flashbacks

[Houngan]

Most types of edits I know need some kind of signal to make sure everyone knows what's going on. What kind of signal is commonly used for a flashback?

Also, do you know any fun exercises involving flashbacks? Other advice?

In my group I sometimes give a lesson, and I thought flashbacks would be a fun subject.

 

[goldfish boy]

It could be as in-your-face simple as someone saying "Flash back to--" or, if your group is very tuned in, you could just initiate a scene and indicate via dialogue that it's an earlier time. Sometimes, tag-outs are used for flashbacks.

 

[mullaney]

Tag outs, swinging doors and cut tos can all be used to flash back in time. I've often seen people simply turning to the audience and saying, "One week ago" or "Cut to twenty years before". Pick something simple and efficient that will make sense to your audience. Usually a savvy audience (and team) will simply understand that the scene you is flash back simply by context. You may need a device to practice it, but once you are competent at it, you can let go of the device.

 

[mike short]

I recently took a class that was all about how to communicate interesting transitions, edits, etc. Part of it was figuring out the signal that would communicate the move, the other part was getting everyone on the same page about that signal.

So you can easily come up with your own, and then tweak it, pare it down until it's very simple and streamlined. Because all of you will be on the same page about what it is, it'll always work.

 

[Holmes]

You can have a signal, but some people still aren't going to get it, so just do whatever feels good to you.

 

[Mr. Stampede]

I'm proud of you all for not mentioning the "doodley doo doodley doo" with the wiggly fingers.

 

[high violet]

Try the doodley doo with the fingers thing.