Reading this thread yesterday, I was actually thinking the same thing Jeff did. Part of the reason is because I have a similar situation in a current script. Not about the slugs, but about showing movement in time.

One thing that really helps is if you have another part of the storyline you can break away to. For example, Jeff is exploring a cave system in the Alps looking for the ancient source of Jaegermeister. We want to create the sense of him exploring for some time before something happens. How do we do that?

One way is to break away to Stevie getting a Beatles haircut, and then return to Jeff in the cave. We still don't know from that how long he's been in the cave, but at least some time has presumably passed.

Maybe we show his candle has burned to a nub. Or his flash batteries are weak. Or he's exhausted.

The script I am in now is told all from the perspective of one character's POV, so the time leap issue is a pain in the but plug.

Quoted from leitskev Reading this thread yesterday, I was actually thinking the same thing Jeff did. Part of the reason is because I have a similar situation in a current script. Not about the slugs, but about showing movement in time. One thing that really helps is if you have another part of the storyline you can break away to. For example, Jeff is exploring a cave system in the Alps looking for the ancient source of Jaegermeister. We want to create the sense of him exploring for some time before something happens. How do we do that? One way is to break away to Stevie getting a Beatles haircut, and then return to Jeff in the cave. We still don't know from that how long he's been in the cave, but at least some time has presumably passed. Maybe we show his candle has burned to a nub. Or his flash batteries are weak. Or he's exhausted. The script I am in now is told all from the perspective of one character's POV, so the time leap issue is a pain in the but plug.

Well put.

Changing locales is the best way to show time passing, as long as something has changed in the scene when you go back - longer hair (wouldn't work for me, as mine doesn't grow all that much   _, bear growing, clothes ragged, etc.

Just put up a score of the Niners next win - that could mean a year has passed

Another thing: let's say you actually DO want to show Jeff wandering he cave for a length of time where nothing happens. The sense of time can be recreated in the actual script writing. There are different ways to do this. It's not perfect, but the reading needs to recreate at least a little sense of the pacing.

INT. THE JAEGER CAVE -  LATER

Jeff's candle is down to a nub. He lights another one and pushes on.

Careful where he steps.

Stalagmites dripping water.

A spooked nest of bats.

He squeezes through narrow passages.

Ducks under more stalagmites.

His expression growing more pained and lost.

He checks his book of matches: one left.

INT. YELLOW SUBMARINE BARBER SHOP - DAY

Stevie points to the 60s photo of McCartney on the wall. The smiling BARBER nods.

INT. JEAGER CAVE -  LATER

Jeff's candle near its end. Desperation on his face.

He ducks into a

CAVERN

Sound of dripping water.

On wobbly legs he hurries.

Reaches where the water pools. Bends and cups his hands to the dark water.

A little taste. A big smile.

From his pocket, a shot glass. He breaks into a dance.

Quoted from stevie Just put up a score of the Niners next win - that could mean a year has passed

Love this

Lol and I love Kev's scene!  Although, like my buddy Jeff, I have no hair too!

rewrite:

INT. YELLOW SUBMARINE BARBER SHOT

Stevie, his head so smooth you can see your reflection, pointed longingly at the McCartney hairdo.

The barber smiles. Reaches under his sink...

LATER

EXT. YELLOW SUB BARBER SHOP

Stevie skips out wearing a fishbowl shaped wig and a cat-eating grin.

IMHO, this is an editor's choice, not the writer's. Sure it might help if you cut away to make it easier for the reader, but this is what b-roll is for. The editor cuts away to something else and when we get back to the scene there's something there showing us time has moved. Like the candle burned down or the beard growth.  I personally would just write LATER and then show some change, small or big depending on time, then trust the editor to find something suitable to make that transition.

"stalagmites" rise from the floor..."stalactites" drop from the ceiling.

Leitskev,

How about Jeff looking at his watch to show how long he has been in the cave?

Using the watch requires 2 things: first, it requires to shots, the before and after. That's bad on film I think. And it a;so require the audience to remember what the first time was.

Maybe Jeff has an oxygen tank and the meter is low.

Quoted from MichaelYu Leitskev, How about Jeff looking at his watch to show how long he has been in the cave?

That works, as long as the watch shows the date, as well, assuming we want days to pass.

Sometimes, you'll see a character write in a journal...sometimes with a VO...showing (and telling) that time is passing.

Another way would be to have a long line of babes of different Nationalities all lined up and each time we return to the scene, we see Jeff engaged with a different one, further up the line, and the babes he's already serviced, passed out, or just in ecstasy on the cave floor behind him.

Jeff would have to add DEAM FLASH to the slug.

Quoted from leitskev Jeff would have to add DREAM FLASH to the slug.

Most certainly bro!

Quoted from leitskev Jeff would have to add DEAM FLASH to the slug.

How about...

"WET DREAM FLASHBACK"  

Or if the scene involved Stevie in the cave, you could simply have a bunch of dudes with moptop hairdos, and have him making out with each of them with googly eyes, as he runs his hands through their thick hair.