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How to format Intercut sequence between two version of the same scene?

Hi,

In my script there's a sequence where we get to hear and experience two versions of the same scene, told from two different characters as they recall what actually happened (also in different settings). But, I don't want to divide them into two separate scenes playing them one after the other, I want to intercut smoothly between them for the sole purpose of making everything unclear about what actually happened.

Any ideas how to format such a sequence? It will basically be something like this:

INT. ROADSIDE BAR - NIGHT

Mike grabs a sledgehammer hanging above the door.

John smashes the door wide open and hangs back the sledgehammer.

MIKE
(to bartender)
I'll buy you a new one.

Etc...


Any ideas?

//thanks
 
Hmm, not quite understanding what you're trying to accomplish here. So, these two characters are recollecting the same past moment, but it's shown differently?

If that's the case, I'd consider using a voice over sequence where the two characters explain what happened, kind of like on True Detective. Just let the dialogue from the voice over carry the two different stories and you'll be able to inter-cut it better. But make sure you use it wisely. Too much will mess it up. Too little will make it pointless to even add.
 
Hmm, not quite understanding what you're trying to accomplish here. So, these two characters are recollecting the same past moment, but it's shown differently?

If that's the case, I'd consider using a voice over sequence where the two characters explain what happened, kind of like on True Detective. Just let the dialogue from the voice over carry the two different stories and you'll be able to inter-cut it better. But make sure you use it wisely. Too much will mess it up. Too little will make it pointless to even add.

Well, it's really a montage scene where we see two interpretations of how this specific event 'could have unfolded'. It's not meant to give any answers, more so to raise questions. It makes sense later on in the film, but not when we see it, but it serves a purpose to the story, to my vision (I will also direct the movie) This is more of a personal story, it's art if you like. My vision. I see it so clearly in my head, just that I can't get it out on paper.

Imagine two people, reading the same piece in a book. They are obviously going create their own unique version of what that piece would have looked like if they where in it. Imagine taking those two unique version of the same piece, and intercutting between the two, creating a seamless 'scene' but we alter every shot, like this:

A - B - A - B - A etc. (Two different stories)
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 etc. (One seamless sequence)
 
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Well, it's really a montage scene where we see two interpretations of how this specific event 'could have unfolded'. It's not meant to give any answers, more so to raise questions. It makes sense later on in the film, but not when we see it, but it serves a purpose to the story, to my vision (I will also direct the movie) This is more of a personal story, it's art if you like. My vision. I see it so clearly in my head, just that I can't get it out on paper.

Imagine two people, reading the same piece in a book. They are obviously going create their own unique version of what that piece would have looked like if they where in it. Imagine taking those two unique version of the same piece, and intercutting between the two, creating a seamless 'scene' but we alter every shot, like this:

A - B - A - B - A etc. (Two different stories)
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 etc. (One seamless sequence)

Seems like an interesting structure. Is this a movie where the whole time we're seeing two different interpretations of the same event or is this something where in the middle of the story, they're recalling this event and only for a brief moment before they move on?
 
Seems like an interesting structure. Is this a movie where the whole time we're seeing two different interpretations of the same event or is this something where in the middle of the story, they're recalling this event and only for a brief moment before they move on?

No it's just a few parts of the movie where we revisit some past events. I'll see how it plays out once the script is done, take a step back and look at the whole.

Maybe something like this:

MIKE'S FLASHBACK - INT. ROADSIDE BAR - NIGHT

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim.

INTERCUT WITH:​

JOHN'S FLASHBACK - INT. ROADSIDE BAR - NIGHT

Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate eget, arcu. In enim justo, rhoncus ut, imperdiet a, venenatis vitae, justo. Nullam dictum felis eu pede mollis pretium. Integer tincidunt. Cras dapibus. Vivamus elementum semper nisi. Aenean vulputate eleifend tellus. Aenean leo ligula, porttitor eu, consequat vitae, eleifend ac, enim.

MIKE'S FLASHBACK

liquam lorem ante, dapibus in, viverra quis, feugiat a, tellus. Phasellus viverra nulla ut metus varius laoreet. Quisque rutrum. Aenean imperdiet. Etiam ultricies nisi vel augue.


... and then just use "NAME FLASHBACK" as slugline to cut between the two?
 
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