Screenwriting : Duration of an assignment... by Felix Agyeman Boahen

When I wrote screenplays on assignment I would usually be allowed 90 days for a first draft and two weeks for the rewrite. If there were more rewrites that would take more time I would charge by the hour.

And is that 90days too early or it's just an average working period???

The 90 days is what they gave me to finish it. Obviously that is something that could be negotiated but I believe 90 days is plenty of time for a professional screenwriter to complete a first draft.

All things are negotiable with a carrot & a stick but 90 days ought to be adequate.

If the story is outlined well, and you have no prior distractions keeping you procrastinating, 90 days for a first draft sounds accurate. Although, some big screenwriters have told stories of having fallen over four months. No pressure.

So it doesn't matter the genre and the complexity of the story??? I thought some genres will still demand more than 90days.

Well, that's well said... I have to get the gears working... I'm being slow... Very slow.

Thanks to everyone.

From my experiences the cheaper the producers, the quicker they want drafts.

Now the opposite which is above my pay grade and talent: there is a writer in my neighborhood who’s won an Emmy, Tony & Obie awards and he told me he had a year to adapt a screenplay. He ran out of time and the producer gave him another year to finish... and paid more!

Ninety days is the usual but every screenwriter wanting to turn pro needs to be able to write good material fast because there's always the chance of last-minute rewrites.

There is no right or wrong though. No pattern. It's the arts combined with a highly organic business mentality.

My first assignment took me six weeks from concept to first completed draft, second four weeks, third one week, fourth two weeks, fifth one week, sixth two weeks. You get faster with practice and the right motivation.

There's plenty of highly acclaimed writers who sometimes need a lot of time too and others who've turned scripts around overnight due to demands/inspiration.

Different parts of the industry operate in different ways. Everyone obsesses with the big studio stuff while the bulk of material is being produced by production houses, and indie outfits churning out films for TV/DVD/VOD etc.

Go at the pace you need to go at to stay motivated and produce quality material. Stressed out writers are often poor writers.

Great talk, CJ and MaxXx... Your points are well understood...

But hey Wu, what do you mean by 3 weeks???

Wu, you might be a damn hardworking writer... But yet still there are some concepts you can't complete with that 3weeks... Trust me.

Hey Wally - how many have gone up on the big screen?

When you say 90 days, do you mean if you work on it full time? Because, personally, with my full time day job, the kids and all the responsibilities I have, I can barely write 1-2 hours a day, and I'm not sure that I could write a script in 90 days. Not for now, anyway.

Wally. The question he asked was, “for how long it should take to finish an assignment as a hardworking screenwriter?” Are you saying you write screenplays on assignment in just 3 weeks?

Evelyne, if you're following the thread, some said it is negotiable... If you're really the studio's first choice, I'm sure they can compromise with your condition... But it still depends, on how badly the studio needs the script and the time they need it.

I know, but I was still wondering. ;) Let's just say that 90 days full time and 90 days part-time is not quite the same. ;)

Like I said, Evelyne, if you're really the one they want to work with they can give you a much time, if only it won't affect their initial plans on the project.

Evelyne Gauthier. If you accept an assignment you accept the terms and condition. It doesn't matter if you work on it part-time or full-time as long as you finish the First Draft when it is due. If you don't finish on time the agreement will normally spell out what happens.

As per what Dan says, the usual 90 day turnaround time is a deadline only. How much time you spend on the project is up to you.

What a lot of union writers find frustrating is they'll hit the deadline, submit their material, and then hear nothing because, as soon as the prodco acknowledges receipt, payment is due.

2 weeks maximum. Just stay focused until it is done.

Hi, Felix Agyeman Boahen. I would take 1 week outlining the script, 1-2 weeks writing it, and 1-2 weeks rewriting it. Probably 5 weeks at most. If the director/producer already had an outline, I would write the script and rewrite it in 4 weeks at most.

Felix Agyeman Boahen, yes, genre and complexity of story affect the time it takes to finish an assignment. Sci-Fi and genres that require a lot of research would take longer to finish than a Comedy or Drama that didn't require a lot of research.

I would say spend approx. 3 hours on it per day with a day off every 3 days to reflect on it. Keep your client informed of the status of the project at least once a week. It shouldn't take you more than 4 weeks to finish it at a reasonable pace. Remember to enjoy the work, too!

Thanks everyone... That was really helpful.

You're welcome, Felix Agyeman Boahen.

I think it's always good to set goals. Give what you feel is a realistic timeframe and if you need more time let the producer know.

Hey, you are getting paid for multiple drafts, right?

Wu, it seems you're claiming to be the fastest writer ever... That's good for you... But that doesn't really count, the script's quality is all we looking at.

I like your hardworking... keep that up.

I've got it done, guys... Hahaha!!!

I wanna thank everyone... Everybody... You're so awesome... Without you I don't think I would be receiving so many calls from last night after submitting the final draft...

They are working on a date for my presentation of the script with some few executives.... I'm fuck'n happy...

Thanks everyone... You've really helped through the journey...