First time screenwriter: is 90 pages okay?

[Lord Garth]

I've been working on a script for the past five-and-a-half years. It broke down into two-and-a-half years of developing (with downtime of about a year in that period). Then I spent two years writing the first draft. It came out to 92 pages but for every page I wrote, there was a page I cut.

After the first draft, I had the script peer-reviewed, cut out 33 pages, then added what amounted 44 new pages, bringing the total page count to 103.

Then I trimed those 103 pages, I've trimmed 13 pages, and it now looks like my second draft -- which is almost completed -- will be an even 90 pages.

The second draft took only six months to write, compared to the two years of the first draft. The third draft should take even less time to wrote but there needs to be a third draft because the script is still very rough.

Without going into specifics, I'm thinking a shorter script means less days to shoot, thus less budget. It can also be run in theaters more times -- if I ever got to that point. It's a long shot but I should act like it'll happen.

The way it's ultimately going to look, when all is said and down, I think the first act will be 25-30 pages, the second will be 45-50 pages, and the third act will be 20 pages. Definitely 90-100 pages total.

Should I stick to 90 pages, or try to go for 100-110?

 

[Admiral_Young]

I've read scripts that are that length...first drafts though. The average length of scripts seems to be around 120 pages.

 

[Lord Garth]

I could do 120 pages, I just don't want 30 of them to be fat.

What's the average length that's been acceptable?

 

[Admiral_Young]

I really don't have any idea. A quick google search and I found this...maybe it'll help:

http://jamesvektor.hubpages.com/hub/Script-Format-Screenplay-Length-Selling

 

[Lord Garth]

It said everything I thought.

Specifically, the "sweet spot" is 95-105 pages. Thanks.

 

[Trekker4747]

The right length is the length of time it takes you tell your story. One page of a screenplay is about one minute of screen time so you have in your hands is about a 90-minute long movie. Ideally.

Keep in mind the first draft of a screenplay is almost never the final draft of a screenplay that'll make it to screen and changes and edits are expected to be made. "Realistically" it should be a bit longer to allow for edits, however, if adding more to it would changing the pacing you have planned in it or just be overly padding it which would stand out more than its length.

I'd say you're good to go unless you can think of something to add that'll make a real actual positive impact to it.

 

[Faldor]

90 minutes is an alright length for a feature but anything shorter and you'll have a hard time finding traditional distribution and as Trekker4747 says you'll want room to cut things down in post production.

 

[Professor Zoom]

I would say it's also a question of what genre of film you're writing. And how you're writing your stage directions. And dialogue. (It's true, the rule of thumb is 1 minute per page, but sometimes, if the dialogue is short, it can run faster.)

Take a look at scripts in the same genre and compare length.

 

[Trekker4747]

It's also important to get this thing copyrighted to your name now. I think in the U.S. right now the minute you write something the copyright is yours the minute you make it without any formal process needing be done. But you'll want "something" to fix this to you so if you do send it out, something happens, and someone makes money off your work without you getting anything you have something to point to.

One good way to do this is to have friends and family members whom you trust read it so they can claim along with you when it was made. I'd also recommend mailing yourself a copy of the script by certified mail and never opening the package.

Also keep in mind, more than likely, this script will never be made or see the light of day unless you plan to produce it independently or through independent film makers. If you send it to Hollywood producers they'll mostly look at it to see how competent you are with screen writing and how good you are and then likely keep you in mind if a project needs done or they'll toss you something to pick at.

And before you can even send it out you need an agent.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

It's also important to get this thing copyrighted to your name now.

Nah, it's quicker, easier and cheaper to register it with the WGA.

I think in the U.S. right now the minute you write something the copyright is yours the minute you make it without any formal process needing be done.

WGA reg is good for 5 years. He's golden if he does this. Besides he'll have to wait 90 days to even get his copyright certificate. I only put in the formal copyright on my novels. I do a WGA reg on my screenplays.

 

[Professor Zoom]

It's also important to get this thing copyrighted to your name now. I think in the U.S. right now the minute you write something the copyright is yours the minute you make it without any formal process needing be done. But you'll want "something" to fix this to you so if you do send it out, something happens, and someone makes money off your work without you getting anything you have something to point to.

The moment of creation is when a copyright is created, yep.

One good way to do this is to have friends and family members whom you trust read it so they can claim along with you when it was made. I'd also recommend mailing yourself a copy of the script by certified mail and never opening the package.

This you don't have to do anymore.

It's also important to get this thing copyrighted to your name now.

Nah, it's quicker, easier and cheaper to register it with the WGA.

A registration with the WGA though isn't the same at registering Copyright with the US. If you want to sue someone for infringing copyright, it needs to have been registered with the US Copyright office.

It is faster and cheaper, and affords MOST of the same protections. If you have registered with the Copyright office, there are legal minimums you will collect if you can prove copyright violation.

I think in the U.S. right now the minute you write something the copyright is yours the minute you make it without any formal process needing be done.

WGA reg is good for 5 years. He's golden if he does this. Besides he'll have to wait 90 days to even get his copyright certificate. I only put in the formal copyright on my novels. I do a WGA reg on my screenplays.

Technically, copyright is from the moment of creation, so he could still sue someone if they infringed without registering, it's just he might not get a lot in return.

In the end, registering with the WGA is a good idea, 99% of the time no one is going to steal from you.

On the agent front, they might ask you to sign a release before they read it, basically protecting them if, say, one of their clients happens to write something similar you can't sue the Agency. In other words, they are covering their asses.

 

[TheMurph]

Is this a screenplay you plan on selling on is it one you plan on directing? I wrote a 30 page short and when I filmed it the run time jumped to around 40 minutes because of atmospheric shots I used. So, that might be something to keep in mind, could be shorter script wise but end up longer in the final version.

 

[Lord Garth]

If I don't respond to something, assume I agree. All I'd be saying is "yup, okay, you're right." I'll be addressing points and questions that need to be answered or explained.

Also keep in mind, more than likely, this script will never be made or see the light of day unless you plan to produce it independently or through independent film makers. If you send it to Hollywood producers they'll mostly look at it to see how competent you are with screen writing and how good you are and then likely keep you in mind if a project needs done or they'll toss you something to pick at.

I have some back up plans but my main goal is to show that I am indeed a competent writer. I also have ideas for other scripts that I'll be working on. These stories should take less time to write now that I have a better idea of what I'm doing.

And before you can even send it out you need an agent.

Yup.

I just broke my own rules! I'm only responding this one time to something that requires a "Yup, I agree, you're right," response.

Is this a screenplay you plan on selling on is it one you plan on directing?

This particular one would be selling. Some of the other ideas I have might be ones I'd direct myself.

If I can't sell it as a script, I intend to convert the story into prose and sell it as a novel.

 

[JustAFriend]

Back when I took scriptwriting classes (a loooonng time ago) the standard was 1 page/minute.

Nothing is produced for 90-100minutes, so you need to keep at it.
Remember that stories are usually >cut< so a bit over 120 pages is no problem.

 

[Australis]

If the script tells your story, and tells it completely, then 90 pages is long emough. Plus, as a new writer, producers look favourably at someone who can deliver a fine tuned script in as few pages as possible.

 

[Professor Zoom]

If the script tells your story, and tells it completely, then 90 pages is long emough. Plus, as a new writer, producers look favourably at someone who can deliver a fine tuned script in as few pages as possible.

And to be frank, even if you sell your script, to like a studio, they will hire someone else to rewrite it. That's the nature of the business. You might get rehired later... but... there's a very good chance they will buy it and get someone else to rewrite it.

So, yeah, tell your story as complete and efficiently as possible, get your foot in the door...

There's a great book by Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant, that has a lot about the business of film writing.

 

[BillJ]

Whether it's enough or not, it's ninety pages more than I've written on my screenplay.

 

[Professor Zoom]

Whether it's enough or not, it's ninety pages more than I've written on my screenplay.

You better get started....

 

[Lord Garth]

I just finished the second draft of my script. It's now 101 pages.

The third draft will probably be a bit longer, so that negates my origuinal questions about whether or not 90 pages would be satisfactory.

 

[Rush Limborg]

The right length is the length of time it takes you tell your story.

Bingo.

I actually have a screenplay completely written out. It's dialogue-heavy--but rather like a Tarantino film is dialogue heavy. And yes--with precious few exceptions, it's all necessary to the story.

It's just over 237 pages long. That may or may not be due to the font I'm using. (I haven't converted it to the obligatory "Courier" font, yet.)

I'm probably going to direct it myself....