[Quick Summary: An unpredictable English ex-con comes to L.A. to kill the man whom the con thinks killed his daughter.]
I like to see how other writers use literary devices because knowing about a tool isn't the same as knowing how (and more importantly, when) to use it.
For example, in today's script, writer Lem Dobbs uses the "flash cut" as a device to peer into a character's present thinking (i.e., subjective mental state).*
A good example is the scene below:
- Wilson is a criminal who has an estranged daughter Jenny.
- Jenny left the UK and moved to California and died.
- Jenny's boyfriend at the time was Valentine.
- Wilson thinks Valentine killed Jenny but doesn't know why yet.
- Valentine is now living with Adhara. This scene occurs at their home when a party is about to begin.
- All these flash cuts are from Wilson's POV. Nothing has happened yet.
- Note how it gives the audience a SUBJECTIVE feel what Wilson is thinking.
INT. HOUSE
Valentine turns to greet Adhara who's come downstairs looking great.
ADHARA: Gee, for someone who doesn't like buffets...
VALENTINE: Do you see me eating?
FLASH CUT:
WILSON, walking toward Valentine. Something in his face says violence is imminent.
VALENTINE glad handing more guests.
WILSON
watching.
FLASH CUT:
WILSON. Again, walking toward Valentine. This time his hand reaches into his jacket. For the gun.
WILSON
hands Ed his drink.
ED: Where you going?
Wilson says nothing. Starts to move inside the house.
ED: You're not gonna do nothin' in front of all these people...
FLASH CUT:
WILSON. Getting closer to Valentine.
VALENTINE. Oblivious.
WILSON. Closer. The hand is coming out. With the gun.
WILSON
Part of the way across the living room. Wearing the same expression we saw int he first flas cut: violence.
VALENTINE
chatting away.
WILSON
closer.
FLASH CUT:
WILSON. Just a couple of feet away. Gun out.
VALENTINE. Sensing trouble. Turning toward Wilson...
WILSON
still moving through the crowd, getting closer. Hand reaching into his jacket.
VALENTINE
smiling, talking.
FLASH CUT:
WILSON. Five feet away. Gun extended now.
VALENTINE. Facing the barrel. About to die.
WILSON. Closer still. The crowd seems to be getting thicker. Hand still in his jacket.
VALENTINE. Still doesn't know what's coming.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: The writer used the "flash cut" judiciously. Its purpose is psychological, to create a mood, and not simply to dump information.
The Limey (1999)(9/17/98 draft w/revisions)
by Lem Dobbs
* This is an unusual purpose than other flashes of time:
- the "flash back" which takes the audience back into the character's subjective memory, or
- the "flash forward" which is most often used to show objectively what will happen in the future.
