How to write a good flashback (and how not to)

[@lonellfletcher]

The unnecessary flashbacks in the Aeronauts would’ve worked as part of the linear story easy. Don’t know why they thought flashbacks were better.

[@katelynbrown98]

Yeah, I can get wanting to be original by keeping things in the current by not starting at the end and then telling the whole story as a flashback. But it seems to have been choppy.

[@r3dr4te963]

Probably to make the plot conflicts/ the "threat" feels longer. Like this: 1. "OMG, we're freezing" 2. Flashback on how they secure the funding 3. "OMG, were keep going up" 4. Flashback on Amelia agreed to pilot the balloon Basically if they do it linear way, it feels dragging

[@Nethseaar]

My writing group likes to argue about flashbacks, and I think you make a great case for them as a useful tool that isn't always the right one for the job. Expect more views from them when I send your video their way!

[@davescripted3796]

You're in a writing group! That's awesome!!!

[@Mehis]

Still waiting for this channel to explode in popularity. Solid work!

[@kekW-m7h]

its too deep for mainstream unfortunately

[@C00T47]

I really hope vince creates another story. I havent finished better call saul and i am biding my time and enjoying it. His cinematography and storytelling is unmatched. Wish hank got better or at least left some money for his granddaughter Love the piano. Keep it up

[@Whimsly]

Stumbled upon this channel by accident and I'm glad I did. Informative, concise, well-edited stuff

[@Raymando]

Great video essay. Can't wait for this channel to get bigger. Keep making videos.

[@emre_d_luffy]

i came here pre 1k? damn! I've saved my seat in the subscribers scene!

[@Mysticlxl]

This video will take you places, Jennifers Body was popular but didn't get the consistent following, this video will get that for you 100%, keep up the videos and you'll be bigger than ever

[@12thDecember]

I read a lot of novels and pay close attention to how flashbacks are woven into the story. If they're done right, it's a seamless transition. If not, it can be somewhat jarring, like, "How did I get here?" I haven't watched El Camino (too violent for my tastes), and The Aeronauts was so bad I barely made it through 10 minutes. Looks like I didn't miss anything worthwhile.

[@nathanwatkins1005]

You missed a great movie by being a baby. Good luck with TV

[@midknight0693]

this is a pretty high quality video. good job 👍

[@Jerry_Fried]

1:15 “In the thinning air, the balloon is expanding and rising ever higher.” Does that make any sense? The thinner the air is, the less buoyant the balloon would be. If you put a balloon under water, whose pressure is much greater than the air’s, it pops to the surface, but it doesn’t suddenly keep expanding and rising into the air. If it were less dense than the air at ground level, it would rise until the pressures equalized, then it would bob at that height. What nineteenth century material was elastic enough to keep expanding?

[@davescripted3796]

You're totally right, but that's the reason they give in the movie. Like I said, 'based on a true story' is very alleged here

[@IIIlIIIIlIIIII]

I assume this plot point was based on modern experimental balloons (which do expand as they rise, until they eventually pop)

[@nont18411]

The Korean show “Moving” is like a special case about how to and how not to use the flashbacks at the same time. I could elaborate but it’s quite long.

[@urhorrifying1962]

YOU HAVE TO ELABORATE

[@nont18411]

@@urhorrifying1962 It’s a superhero show with two separate timelines that will combine into one plot in the end. The first 7 episodes were the present-timeline about the teenager protagonists who attended a superhero school. It started as a lighthearted love triangle story then it evolved into a more serious drama related to the conflict between North and South Korea. The story reached the height of tension in episode 7. Then from episode 8 to episode 16 or 17 were the 1990s-timeline centered around the parents (who are the real protagonists) of the teenagers in the present timeline. It’s about how they slowly discovered the dirty secret of South Korean and North Korean governments about the super soldiers project that will escalate the war and how their kids will be experimented by the military if they didn’t go into hiding. It also explains the shady origin of the superhero school too. The strength of these flashbacks (1990s timeline) is that they provided all the context and enriched the worldbuilding. The weakness is that they also take too long to conclude that once the plot goes back to the present timeline around episode 17 or 18, the tension of what left off during episode 7 was gone and some people might even forgot what happened in the first place.

[@anaximeno]

Can you talk about Bojack Horseman someday in the future? It's a nice show with many small details as well.

[@davescripted3796]

Good idea! I loved the first season then I kinda lost track. I'll have to catch up on it

[@anaximeno]

@@davescripted3796 yeah, I recommend watching the following seasons it gets even better. I remember wrongfully thinking it wasn't good after the first few episodes, but as it continues you see how good and detailed it is. There are episodes that are just amazing (you will notice when you reach them).

[@13donstalos]

Some of the absolute best film noir movies are written so as the entire thing is a flashback. E.g., "Double Indemnity." But, you know, Billy Wilder is a genius like that.

[@stevendecker6877]

W vid bro

[@Martinmd12-zt7vu]

Harakiri could also be a good example of how to use flashbacks, if you can even call them that.

[@davescripted3796]

Good reference to an awesome classic I love

[@xcelestialdemon8245]

Great video, but a flashback essay without mentioning Lost? 😢😢😢

[@davescripted3796]

You got me there ;-)

[@suyang4505]

❤❤

[@davescripted3796]

🙏😃

[@gur262]

In Castlevania the flashbacks are essentially the show being in the wrong order. It rushes out of the gate to get you on board, then feeds you more infos later once you are interested. I don't like it but i get the reasons.

[@jrdunn5052]

Sorry Dave, but the "flashbacks" in "The Aeronauts" aren't flashbacks at all, but a counternarrative, a secondary storyline intended to both contrast and illuminate the central storyline. The rules with these are a little different. Haven't seen it, so I don't know if it works or not.

[@davescripted3796]

Maybe your definition of flashback is different from mine, but bits of the past revealed in short segments are flashbacks. And of course they can contrast or illuminate the main story. What would be the point otherwise?

[@IIIlIIIIlIIIII]

If the film "starts with a flashback", and half of the runtime is "flashbacks", then you could equivalently say the balloon segments were flash forwards. I think counternarrative is more accurate at that point.

[@OO-vt8lv]

There are so many unnecessary flashbacks in Naruto

[@YourLocalCopiumDealer]

Flashbacks can also do wonders as plottwist delivery system. The anime "Taisho Otome Fairy Tale" has a flashback that completely recontextualizes a character and almost everything they said and did. The genius of it, is that nothing actually changed and yet everything did. Spoiler; Ha! No spoiler here. If you're tempted to watch it, just watch it. It's 12 episodes of interesting drama with a satisfying ending.