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Question From The Resident Noob on Script Length

VBoheme

VBoheme

So I'm working on my first screenplay, right? I've written fiction before, so that much isn't new to me. What I haven't been able to really nail down is the length of a script. I know the actual runtime will be up to how speedy people are with the lines and how directing works, so forth. So...guidelines from you experienced types?

Little background of what I'm working on at the moment (which might change a little...ok, a lot)

Genre - drama
Cast - small, looking to be 4-6 at this point
Feature-length (Neighborhood of 60-90 minutes)
First time directing too (Yeah...sink or swim, right?), so probably not heavy on ambient/transitions/fancy stuff

More or less experimenting right now, so keeping things flexible.
 
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Feature length screenplays are generally 90 - 120 pages, 1pg = 1min.

Read scripts of films recently released in the last few years: http://www.imsdb.com/latest/
Then watch the films, then watch them on DVD with the director commentary turned on, then compare the film to the screenplay.
Understand how much changes from script to screen. https://docs.google.com/document/d/...b2JunU/edit?authkey=CJXH2tEH&authkey=CJXH2tEH
Be prepared to rewrite depending upon how the situation changes.

Download Celtx 2.9.1. Free: http://download.cnet.com/Celtx/3000-13631_4-10850080.html

Learn formatting: http://www.scribd.com/doc/12721428/Professional-Screenplay-Formatting-Guide

Understand fiction writing and screenplay writing are almost diametrically opposite.
In fiction writing you blab and blab and blab as much as you possibly can.
In screenplay writing you cut and cut and cut as much as you can.

If you can't see it then don't write it. WTH someone is thinking and feeling is UNFILMABLE.

Don't use any descriptive words in the action lines ending in -ly or -ing.
Put just anything you want in the dialog lines. Be easy on accents.


Read these threads:
http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=47035
http://www.indietalk.com/showthread.php?t=47120

Then just go digging through these:
http://www.indietalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=43&order=desc

Since this is first time directing consider your resources: locations, talent, budget, equipment.
Write for what you do have.
Don't write pie-in-the-sky for what you can imagine.

FIRST - consider WHERE the final product is to be seen, youtube or film festivals, and then budget accordingly.

You should seriously consider making several shorts before fooling around with a feature.
It's just common sense.
You will learn more from writing/directing/producing five 4min shorts than four 5min shorts, and a helluvalot more than if you shot two 10min shorts, and a 20min short is about worthless - self-education-wise.

In fact, just watch a bunch of these: http://www.shortoftheweek.com/films/
 
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Thanks! That's what I was looking for.

Though I have to say - fiction isn't just all blabbing for sake of page count. I side with Mies (and Hemmingway, naturally), "Less is more." Twilight. Prime example. Less of that = more culture. :P

But I do agree, writing fiction and writing for film are different. Film is visual, fiction is not. Film is collaborative, fiction is not (for the most part). Not exactly a hard concept to grasp ;)

But yeah, I've gotten Celtx (love it, btw) and working on teaching myself formatting as I go along. The written editing is the easy part. And I'm not a stranger to editing. Probably should've mentioned that. Audio and some video editing.

As far as working with what you have - yup. Agree exponentially. Why I'm keeping my options open at this point, even with the writing. And on that tangent, I am considering shorts, just more or less meh about it at the moment. I don't have many ideas that work with the short concept, although it's not like I lean toward 2-3 hour epics either. That said, I am considering/keeping options open.

All that said - good stuff. Appreciative. :)
 
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Feature length screenplays are generally 90 - 120 pages, 1pg = 1min.
Click to expand...

Of what Rayw said, this is rather an important part and needs emphasizing, particularly if you're looking to on-sell your script.

Reading other successful scripts can help you understand the ebb and flow of what you should aim to have. Great scripts have a different feel than most unsuccessful scripts.
 
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I remember reading somewhere about cheating page counts too. If I remember the link, I'll post it back here.

Basically the gist of the article was that it was easy to extend or cut your page number between about 20+ or 20-
There's a number of ways you can do it:
- Add (or get rid of) CUT TO: before each scene. This will give you an extra space per scene you have. Or it will get rid of a space if you already have it in there.
- Cut back sentences so that they make one less paragraph. Same goes for dialogue. If you can do this to most your lines, you can save about 5 - 10 pages. Alternatively you can also extend sentences, if you're trying to make extra length.
- (CHEAT) increase the spacing ever so slightly haha
 
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VBoheme said:
So I'm working on my first screenplay, right? I've written fiction before, so that much isn't new to me. What I haven't been able to really nail down is the length of a script. I know the actual runtime will be up to how speedy people are with the lines and how directing works, so forth. So...guidelines from you experienced types?

Little background of what I'm working on at the moment (which might change a little...ok, a lot)

Genre - drama
Cast - small, looking to be 4-6 at this point
Feature-length (Neighborhood of 60-90 minutes)
First time directing too (Yeah...sink or swim, right?), so probably not heavy on ambient/transitions/fancy stuff

More or less experimenting right now, so keeping things flexible.
Click to expand...

If your going to direct, disregard script length.
Using cheats or Cole & Haag instead of Warner Bros standard or whatever doesn't matter. Screen time is in the eye of the Director.

I've got a copy of Inglorius Basterds that I snagged when it was being shopped in 'o8. It's 165 pages.

However, if you're writing a spec, readers like shorter scripts.

Also, CUT TO: and other transitions do not belong in a Spec script, unless they are ABSOLUTELY needed, so a shooting script is generally longer than a reader (spec) script
 
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