I wrote my pilot script (55 pages) in about 3 weeks, and then spent a long time editing it—about a month.
Right now, I'm writing a feature film script. I have about 65 pages ready, and I've been working on it for over a month. This is because I was also editing my pilot script. This script follows a tight pace and structure, has smart dialogue, and requires deep thought, as it's complex—it's about the collapse of a personality.
I'm interested to hear your opinion.
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Oleg Mullayanov I'm always interested in hearing others approaches but it always makes me feel like I am really doing it wrong haha. I write in short bursts (4 to 5 hours at a time) but not every day and sometimes not every week. I really like to tumble ideas for scenes, Acts etc....over in my head quite a bit before I get in front of a keyboard. I create the visual scene in my mind and place people in different situations, places mentally and really let it settle in and then one morning I wake up and think 'it's time' and just let it spill out of me. Then once it is on paper I really edit, rewrite and shape it before I move to the next burst. I did manage to complete 2 new pilots this week that I had been tumbling around for weeks.
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Thank you. Congratulations on completing two pilots.
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Congratulations, Oleg Mullayanov! It depends on the script. Some scripts take longer to research and outline, and some scripts take longer to write. I like to research and outline a feature in 1-2 weeks, write the script in 2-3 weeks (I rewrite as I go), and rewrite it in 2-3 weeks.
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Do whatever works for you, Darrell Pennington. Congratulations on finishing two new pilots this week!
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Usually it takes me 2 weeks but it all depends on the content
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Professionally, I work fast. Usually, within two weeks from soup to nuts. That's typically around a week getting the treatment in shape and then a week writing what will be 99% the final draft.
I wrote a script in a week that attached an Oscar nominee.
Took me five weeks to adapt a book.
It's meaningless, though, and comparison tends to make people think they are either too slow or rush too much.
The fact is motivation hits different and can be subject to non-artistic factors such as financial reward and opportunity. Then there's sheer practice, which makes a huge difference. I've been at this fourteen years now, the last half of that being writing professionally. My first feature script took me a few months to complete.
All that really matters is staying in the game.
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Hey Oleg Mullayanov. I'd say don't rush the process; creativity flows at its own pace. Wishing you all the best as you continue this exciting journey!
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I was up to one episode a week (traditional TV time) but once I got paid, all hell broke loose and it's only 3 days to Thursday and Wednesday has chores. so this week we'll probably be doing a rerun for anime with the artificial voice of Episode 2.
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Good news! The collapse of one personality means another one can come in and take over. Does your script contain that or will that be for the sequel?
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True story. I was up to 60 pages of script when my system crashed and I lost everything. I was angry at myself but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. So with the story still fresh in my mind I rewrote the same screenplay in one month. But this time it was 95 pages and a much improved, fully-completed screenplay. Hope this helps.
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MOVIE: Sensibly assume two to three months to complete a full draft. or first 'Lay Down' as I call it. Or don't be sensible.
PILOT: You could bang one out in a week, but I would most strongly advise against that idea. If you work on it every day for three to six weeks that's good effort. Obviously, it might take you another month to flesh out the series, write a synopsis and design a pitch.
It depends on you, and your experience, and the idea, and the genre, and the idea, and the research needed, and the idea, and the annoying fact you need to stop to eat occasionally.
Alternatively, it might take you ten years.
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Everyone is different and every piece is different Oleg Mullayanov . I would strongly suggest not comparing yourself to any responses you may receive. There have been times when I finished a piece in two weeks and others much longer. Don't give yourself a deadline based on what someone else has done.
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Most scripts in 1-2 weeks. Others on / off for months. One script I started 5 years ago and wrote 30 pages quick....then came back to it 3 years later.
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It varies. And honestly, it should. I wrote one feature script in 8 days and finished rewrites in 4. I wrote another that took a month and I'm not done rewriting it yet. Yet another took a couple weeks for each.
I have a novel I started 15 years ago that I still haven't finished a rough draft on. I have 3 I wrote in as many years (all terrible except the incomplete one, which was trying to be a screenplay. I'm no novelist. I just didn't know it then.).
Don't try to measure your speed. Write as you write. There's no metric to gauge it. It's as individual as we are and comparisons won't really serve you.
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Ooo, collapse of personality sounds cool.
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Writing a script takes me about two months.More or less.
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I try not to take longer than 60 days; my last two scripts each took maybe 21 (my fastest yet!).