Screenwriting : Do you guys worry about the length of your film? by Alden Tan

The 1 page = 1 minute is a very rough rule of thumb and there are many factors that can affect the final length of the movie. The trick is, don't stress about it.

I never worry about script length, so long as my script falls between the mid 80s and mid one-teens, I'm happy.

The 1 page rule also goes for stage plays. As Pierre notes, just don't make it longer than 105-110 pages. Worry about the LARGER issues - like telling a good story.

Yea I do. Seems the new standard script length is 110 pages.

Horrors and comedies are generally under 100.

90-110. Especially if you're a new writer.

I echo what people say above. 90-110 is target. More than that it's almost guaranteed you're heavy on exposition or scene bloat. It's also a great prompt to go back and look at all your scenes to see if any start passive and change them by making them start active (scene starts in during the action).

Yes what everyone else said. 100-110 is the "new" standard, 90-100 for comedy or horror. TV movie of the week scripts are also preferred to be around 90 pages.

I make sure mine come in between 90 to 110, especially action films. This was advice from the Director I work with.

I agree! I work in the 90-110 range and usually shoot for 100. I find that keeping a good structure throughout ensures this! So i dont usually worry too much about length. I worry about good structure instead.

The one page per minute guideline is used in the initial production analysis in developing a budget estimate. Obviously this is a very rough guideline. I generally advise writers to shoot for a 100 page script, plus/minus 10%. But that's written tight.

Hey, I believe first go "Nucking Futs," on your creativity island and write it out. Everything. The feel good puke. Even if it's 140 pages of the big, fat juicy bacteria ladened whale on the beach of your hopes and dreams.

Then, on the next draft pick out the broken piece and meand them. You'll find what's needed and what of course is not. Some crap you'll save, other stuff you'll throw out. Go write! Be creative and then whittle it down like a piece of wood. Each pass on the read you'll trim the fat, economy of words, word verbage and you'll have a great therapy session with the muse in your heart. Yes, they typically say 90-120 pages. I feel if you fall in this margin you'll be good as gold. Stop worrying about what people say as I'm a native New Yorker, just begin. Begin it now! The answer is NOW! Much Love, Lovebugs RJN :)

Actually Raymond, 120 pages is considered too long these days. I try not to go over 110 if at all possible. My most recent script is 114 and I think it's still too long but my writing partner disagrees. My other recent script, a MOW drama/thriller, is 89 pages.

Raymond does make a good point and I guess that is another approach. One is just write without the constraints of "less is more", finish with a whole turkey and then start carving it down OR write with the intent of putting on page only what is necessary and as you write always be looking for a shorter/better way to write and so at the end, you've kind of already addressed the length issue. I try to do the second because I don't want to end up with a 100 page script that is 60 minutes of film.

1 page per min is the average across an entire script. Worry about length? No. If I have 130 pages I'll see the blot on a read through. Most of mine weigh in at high 90's, 105 is the biggest completed to date. I have gotten more condensed over the scripts I have written.

The one page per minute equals one minute of screen time is just a Hollywood theory that has been around a long time and a lot of producers go by it. However the theory doesn't apply to all screenplays. For example if you have a script with a lot of action in it a 85 page screenplay could equal 120 minutes of screen time because a half a page of action could use up several minutes of screen time. On the other side of the coin a 120 page script with a lot of dialogue in it might end up being a lot less than 120 minutes. Most of my scripts run between 90 and 110 pages. When I start out I break my scripts into four acts so I have an idea what page I want to be near when I finish each act.

Some like it long. Some like it short. Some like it thick. Some like thin. As long as it gets it in the right hands and makes them happy. Lots of euphemisms. Sorry, about that. It's the way I flow. Keep it clean guys/gals. Keep it clean. Get er done! Much Love alway RJN

When I first began, I'd just start writing and had no idea how long my scripts would be. Now I diagram each script in advance, listing major turning points (Act 1 to 2, and 2 to 3) and actions/events every 15 pages, so it's easier to keep within the 90-100 page range.