length of comedy screenplay

[derek smith]

From articles ive read and people ive spoke to...the Screenplay for a Comedy is normally between 90-110 pages...im current screenplay which is a comedy, will be around the 125 page mark....now does this matter, as I am wanting to direct this, and am going to be looking for investors..should I try and cut the page length down, as long as I don't harm the story etc?????

 

[derek smith]

What's your inciting incident? The reason why we're watching these people today, not yesterday or tomorrow? I know there's plenty of disagreement on where that should be, but I like to get it in the first 2 pages.

inciting point, is the guys decision to turn to crime...but the moment that triggers the decision is best left to 15 minutes or so in...but the opening scene, will feature the villain, and heavily impact the final third of the film...basically the film is set out:

Villian commiting Bank robbery
Introducing the protagonists and his friends
showing protagonists and friends money issues
inciting incident
protagonists turn to crime
protagonists decide to give up on crime
protagonist blackmailed by antagonist for final robbery
protagonist train seek advice on robbery
robbery
climax

 

[mlesemann]

If you want to put your inciting incident that far in (I disagree with the decision but it's your choice), then I'd put the villain's bank robber on page 1 or 2, to catch the reader's attention.