Would you mention the flashback in the slug?

For example:
EXT. FLASHBACK - A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN - DAY

If that isn't right, could someone please correct me? I've never written a screenplay before, I want to make sure I get it right. :)

I think you would do it like this:

EXT - BEAUTIFUL GARDEN - 1945

connie

I've been doing some for a feature I'm working on

EXT.- A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN-- DAY

Six months ago (or whatever time frame)

I don't know if it is right or wrong. I'm not sure there is a right or wrong with that as long as your intention is clear. My reasoning for doing this way is that the scene still has a location and a time of day that need to be described in the slug and any mentions of change of date is a costume/set dec/ make up thing that should be described where you usually describe the location/costume/characters for a scene. Plus you can go into the details that make this flashback important. But that is just my thoughts and I am not a professional.

I believe the correct way to signify a flashback is to write 'Disolve to" at the left margin.

According to the BBC, it should be formatted like this:

EXT. - A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN - DAY (FLASHBACK)

:)

Aibhinn

---
Find the next word. Write it down. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. --Neil Gaiman

According to 'The Hollywood Standard' ( a formatting guide)

FLASHBACK - INT. FUNHOUSE - NIGHT (with flashback underlined, damn HTML tag)

same goes for Dream Sequence, Memory Hit, Memory Flash, or 's Imagination.

The flashback can also be ended three ways:
1) Simply moved to the next scene
2) Like a scene transition: END DREAM SEQUENCE (again underlined)
3) Finally, the next slug line ends with (BACK TO PRESENT)

The latter two are useful when the flashback is more than one scene

Hope this was helpful

I work mine in like Aibhinn suggests, then I specify which scene is a return to present day - like so --

EXT. RUSSIAN TRAIN STATION - DAY (FLASHBACK)

Niko waves goodbye to Lena as his train pulls away.

EXT. LONG BEACH HARBOR - NIGHT (PRESENT DAY)

Niko keeps walking, angry.

EXT. RUSSIAN DACHA - DAY (FLASHBACK)

Niko and Lana approach, arm in arm. They see Niko's father order a man out of the dacha, furious. They stop.

EXT. LONG BEACH HARBOR - NIGHT (PRESENT DAY)

Still walking, Niko crushes his cigarette.

Those mentioned above can be used, but it's a good idea to specify WHEN the flashback is.

EXT. RUSSIAN TRAIN STATION - 1952 - DAY

or

EXT. RUSSIAN TRAIN STATION - FIFTY YEARS AGO - DAY

would both work.

You want to signify something crucial like that in the slug line, because that's how the scenes will later be broken down during production. So, noting that this scene is the 1952/"fifty years ago" scene is a great help when someone goes out to scout a location or begins to design the wardrobe, as well as when filming begins.

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