Dave Trottier

Contributing Writer at Script Magazine

Produced screenwriter, award-winning teacher and script analyst. Helped 100s into biz. Author Screenwriter’s Bible.

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Articles

Flashbacks - 4 Tips to Determine When to Try Them

1 month ago | scriptmag.com | Dave Trottier

Professional readers are weary of flashbacks in the scripts of developing writers because they are often not used properly or amount to obvious exposition (sometimes called “easy exposition”). This is probably the reason you may have been told to avoid using flashbacks. You can include all the flashbacks you want if you keep the following four tips in mind.
3 Critical Keys to a Captivating Act 3

May 22, 2024 | scriptmag.com | Dave Trottier

“How thrilling! I laughed and I cried.” That’s what you want a story analyst, producer, or agent to say when they read your third act. Here are three keys to unlocking the jaded hearts of industry pros. 1. Give your protagonist ownership of the final act. I’m sure you’ve read that The Dial of Destiny flopped or at least did not perform up to expectations. How did Indiana Jones mis-dial? There are a variety of reasons, most of which are out of the writer’s hands.
ASK DR. FORMAT: Formatting 5 Common Flashback Situations

Jan 24, 2024 | scriptmag.com | Dave Trottier

Some flashbacks are tricky to format. What follows are five “common” unusual situations that I get questions about all the time. Situation #1: The storytellerYou begin your screenplay in present day, and then, in the first act, flash back to the main story which continues until the third act when it returns to present day. The above describes Saving Private Ryan and other movies that use the storyteller device to introduce and conclude their stories.
7 Tips to Being Your Own Script Consultant

Jul 25, 2023 | scriptmag.com | Dave Trottier

You’ve written one or more drafts, and now it’s time to evaluate your work. What follows are seven tips to coaching excellence. 1. LET THE SCRIPT GET COLDDo not evaluate the script the day after you finish your draft. Give yourself a week or so for the passion and emotion to level out. It’s imperative that you approach your own work as objectively as possible. 2.