Im a little stuck still.

Im still on my first page, as for the last couple of days i havent been able to figure out how to show time change within the same scene setting. Ill explain where im at and any help would be much appreciated.

A baby bird has been dropped off at a vets and now i need to show the vet and bird forming a bond and the baby bird getting a wee bit older and becoming well again.

I have written many a scene away from the vet so we can come back and see that the bird is older and they have a bond. I have deleted every scene so far as nothing fits with the story.

HELP i really need to keep writing but until i get past this hurdle im stuck to the spot.

Is it a montage i need? If so how do i go about this without leaving the setting and coming back?

Whether or not you can use a montage depends on what else is happening in your script.

It's hard to make suggestions with so little information, but I won't let that stop me!

If all that happens in this part of the story is that the bird recovers, then fine, use a montage.

INT. VETS
MONTAGE
List the sort of action you want
Vet injecting bird
Bird in bandages, lying down
Vet taking bandages off bird
Vet putting bird on perch
Bird falling off perch
Vet injecting bird
Vet feeding bird
Vet putting bird on perch
Bird sitting on perch, crapping on vet's hand
Vet smiling at bird
Vet returning bird to owner

If, however, you have other events happening during the bird's recovery, you either show those events in the same montage segment - or you can't use the montage because it will create confusing time jumps.

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SF08: Gethsemane - Thriller
SF08: Shooting - Comedy

Good luck to you all.

There's always the helpful LATER tag.

INT. VET

Bird being sick, etc.

INT. VET - LATER

Bird being less sick, the vet caring for it.

INT. VET - LATER

The bird is well again.

Montage is usually the best way to go. espeically since "later" could mean later that day to some readers.

An answer and a question:

For screenplays: This is something I learned from reading John August's short script "God" and then watching it. And watching and reading "Big Fish."

In "God" he had a scene with the actress on the phone with God. As time went by, the film showed her in one position on the couch, then an overlapping cross-fade to another position, and same thing again. It was an effective way to show time going by, even though not much different action was going on--she was on the phone throughout.

In "Big Fish" he did a "time cut" where one scene is replace with another which is revealed as if the hands of the clock moving around the dial were wiping away the older/first scene and the newer scene was underneath, revealed.

Both worked to show the passage of time.

I'm sure there are more ways, but just choose something and KEEP WRITING! You can fix anything later.

NOW QUESTION--how do you do this with a stage play?!

Saipanwriter
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com

With a stage play, blackout and starting a new scene (where people are wearing different clothes) lets the audience know time has passed. Also, the show's program will have a list of scenes and the time/place of each one. Many times you'll see (in the program, after the cast of characters):

Act I
Scene 1: Joe's house, any typical Sunday
Scene 2: Joe's house, a few hours later

(Or "the next day," " the next week," etc.) so people know when/where the action is taking place.

In a movie you don't get to give the audience a program, but you can easily cut to a new scene and let people know time has passed through dialogue, different clothes/hairstyle/etc.
("Good morning, Carol. So how's our little bird doing today?" "Good morning, doctor. He seems to be doing okay. I think he's finally getting used to his new surroundings." "Well, I'd certainly hope so! After a week, you'd figure he would have warmed up to us already." Of course, use better dialogue than that. But you get the gist.)

:)

Criss, la Reina
www.crisswrites.com
www.xanga.com/reinacristina

Help me find a cure for cancer! www.active.com/donate/tntntx/Criss4shay

Thanks for the replies.
Im thinking maybe the montage is the way to go.
The bird is my main character (animation) and i want to show it hopping around the surgery with the vet and a few other things to show it better, and the bond they share.
Right i must get back to writing. Thank you for the help (and the inspiration to get writing again!)