Hey guys.

What's everyone's opinion on...
INT. HOUSE - LATER
INT. HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
INT. HOUSE - MINUTES LATER
INT. HOUSE - DAYS LATER
INT. HOUSE - SAME

I recently wrote a long sequence in a bar - which more or less uses all of them. I figured it helps to add variation to the old DAY/NIGHT.

I know you can use them as I've seen them in scripts before and I know I'm probably overthinking again. But I'm curious to know what people think.

The script I read even had INT. HOUSE - SIX MONTHS LATER as a heading. I had no idea we could get away with that one ha.


On a side note. I've experimented with secondary headings. I have no idea whether this is breaking the rules/jarring to a script reader
INT. BRAD'S HOUSE - NIGHT
BATHROOM - LATER.
I know I should probably have an action line where Brad walks into the bathroom. But if there's a time jump (later, moments later, etc) - would it matter? I mean thats still clear and crisp I'm sure. And there will be more white on the page.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ykl1x6s12xl8wab/Tavern%20Sequence.pdf?dl=0

Here's my tavern sequence. I used a full header for one outside scene and thats roughly it. I hope it flows. Readers can only take in so much information at once - which is why I'm trying to come up with new ways to break it up and keep you reading. That's also why I'm starting to drift away from giving everyone an age and just suggesting it "Old Cop", "Young Cop", etc.

If you're in the exact same place (Slug), you can use a Mini Slug of LATER or MOMENTS LATER.

You would not use it in a full Slug, though.

Using it as a Mini is fine, but understand in a filmed version, it's usually tough to show that time has passed, and mere "moments" passing is even tougher.

I've used SAME and MOMENTS LATER a handful of times.

It was my training (and probably doesn’t mean anything) that LATER, MOMENTS LATER, And SAME should only be used in sub headings. Only Morning, afternoon and evening or Day nigh should be used in full headings.

Quoted from Dreamscale Using it as a Mini is fine, but understand in a filmed version, it's usually tough to show that time has passed, and mere "moments" passing is even tougher.

I've seen this done a few times with a matched shot dissolve that includes some timekeeper (clock, position of the Sun, burning cigarette, etc.). (As an aside, how would one indicate that in a script? MATCH CUT seems to imply it's not a dissolve.)

Assuming it's important to the story how much time has passed, the clock thing would come off as cliche, so I'd make something that's "in character" for the setting to show the passage of time. T2 had a nice shot of Ahnold standing sentry at night, dissolved to him standing in the exact same position during the day. Very in-character for the franchise and simultaneously unrealistic (he should be walking a patrol route with random changes).

The timekeeper could be any object that belongs in the scene... a beer going from full to empty, a pot going from calm to boiling, a plate going from full to scraps, etc.

Quoted from Dreamscale If you're in the exact same place (Slug), you can use a Mini Slug of LATER or MOMENTS LATER. You would not use it in a full Slug, though. Using it as a Mini is fine, but understand in a filmed version, it's usually tough to show that time has passed, and mere "moments" passing is even tougher.

The script I read used "Later, Moments Later, Six Months Later" in full headers. Its done really well on Blacklist too. Admittedly, it was the first time I've seen DAY/NIGHT used as well. I always thought the only things you could get away with are Day, Night and Dawn.

But yeah. I guess if its a good story well told - you can get away with whatever. Hmm. Perhaps because it was a spec the writer was more concerned about an engaging read. But at the same time, the professional script reader would probably find such a thing jarring. So yeah. I'm stumped.

Quoted from FrankM I've seen this done a few times with a matched shot dissolve that includes some timekeeper (clock, position of the Sun, burning cigarette, etc.). (As an aside, how would one indicate that in a script? MATCH CUT seems to imply it's not a dissolve.) Assuming it's important to the story how much time has passed, the clock thing would come off as cliche, so I'd make something that's "in character" for the setting to show the passage of time. T2 had a nice shot of Ahnold standing sentry at night, dissolved to him standing in the exact same position during the day. Very in-character for the franchise and simultaneously unrealistic (he should be walking a patrol route with random changes). The timekeeper could be any object that belongs in the scene... a beer going from full to empty, a pot going from calm to boiling, a plate going from full to scraps, etc.

Cool. I suppose I just need to make sure the scene's always moving. Full beer to empty. Naked to dressed. Abit like choppy editing.

Quoted from The Dark Horse Cool. I suppose I just need to make sure the scene's always moving. Full beer to empty. Naked to dressed. Abit like choppy editing.

This is getting further afield from your question, but another method to show the passage of time is the Series of Shots. You can think of it as a montage that follows a single subject (like the suicide scene in A Few Good Men, though the point of that particular scene was to recite the letter as a voiceover).

So long as it is clear what's going on... who cares?

Thanks Dustin.

Yeah - clarity rules the day.

I read this the other day for anyone going through similar formatting troubles -
https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/reader-question-is-there-a-current-screenplay-formatting-norm-3be60aa343e

I think i'll stay away from SAME, MINUTES LATER in a main header. I think it's best the reader knows its day/night. Also, I also can't help but feel too much format jargon kind of pulls you out of the read. Same reason, I prefer "Same Time" as opposed to "Same". I immediately think "same" what?


But yeah. Thanks for your help guys.