How accurate is the page-per-minute rule?
Every screenwriting book I’ve read, class I took, and
basically the first rule I learned says:
ONE PAGE OF A PROPERLY FORMATED SCRIPT = APPROX. A MINUTE OF SCREEN TIME.
I know one page of say a battle can last five minutes whereas one page of quick dialogue my last ten seconds if the actors talk fast… So my question is, is this rule true?
Has your 120 page script been a 2 hour movie or was it more like 90 minutes?
My main reason for asking this is I want to make my own low-budget movie. And the best tips I get say keep the script 90 pages or shorter. And to make it a play (dialogue heavy, one location).
However, from my short film experience and being an editor, I saw a 90 page script of a friend be only 55 minutes when edited. And I know Kevin Smith’s CLERKS was 164 page script, but is only a 90 min movie because of the dialogue.
So, how can I find an accurate length of the movie before I shoot it. Or should I have a 130-page script if I want to make my own feature? How do the big boys figure out if there’s enough actual screen time on the pages?
– Matthew Kaplan
New York City
Your instinct is right: the one-page-per-minute rule of thumb doesn’t hold up to much scrutiny. True, most screenplays are about 120 pages, and true, most movies are around two hours. But the conversion rate between paper and celluloid is rarely one-to-one .
That’s why when a movie is in pre-production, one of the script supervisor’s first jobs is to time the script. She or he reads through the screenplay with a stopwatch, estimating how long each scene will play, then adds up the total running time. Generally, they go through the whole script twice, averaging the times.
How accurate is the script timing? Well, that depends on how well the script supervisor has factored in the director’s style. Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain featured long, contemplative shots of the heroes herding sheep, which another director might have dropped altogether. But generally, the script timing is in the right ballpark.
Although a script supervisor has more experience, you can time a script yourself. My advice would be to read the dialogue aloud, while trying to pad for non-spoken moments. It’s easier with some scripts than others.
As far as my own films:
Go was 126 pages, but came out at 103 minutes — without any major scenes left out. It wasn’t play-like, but the pacing was quick.
Big Fish was 124 pages, and 125 minutes long. To my recollection, only one significant scene was omitted, so the page-per-minute rule came close.
Both Charlie’s Angels movies went through so many drafts during production that an accurate page-count is impossible. But the first drafts were around 120 pages. The original film was 98 minutes; the sequel was 106. The pacing was obviously quick.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: 128 pages, 115 minutes.
Corpse Bride: 73 pages, 76 minutes.
Filed under: Big Fish, Charlie, Charlie's Angels, Corpse Bride, Go, QandA
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March 22nd, 2006 at 9:30 am
Mr. August,
Can you suggest any resources for what you consider to be proper industry-standard format rules in screenwriting? I’ve read a whole host of books on the subject (many of which came highly recommended in trade publications, etc…), and none of them seem to agree on a single format.
I’m a new, aspiring scribe, and truly want to be following the rules enough to garner interest in my work (and legitimacy as a decent writer).
Thank you for your time! ~Devin
March 22nd, 2006 at 2:49 pm
Good question Devin. Thanks John!
March 22nd, 2006 at 5:02 pm
Forget about screenwriting 101 how-to books. Read scripts. Tons of scripts! It will teach you everything you need to know about writing movies. Incl. format.
March 22nd, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Thanks Johnny.
I don’t come from a writing background (well, it’s not what my college degree is in – it’s actually a BFA in Studio Art), but I have always had a large vocabulary and a flair for creative writing. So it’s daunting when entering the territory of true writers. I started out reading “Screenwriting 101â€? style books, and quickly found them to leave far more questions than answers – none of them seemed to agree on a singular set of rules, and many of them contradicted one another greatly. I eventually did as you suggested… started reading actual produced scripts. That has been the best education for me thus far. I realized I wasn’t too far off with my own style in comparison to well known scripts out there. I may be onto something!
All I can do is keep writing, and hope for the day that someone either tells me that I suck, or that my work is good and they would like to help me start a new career.
~Devin
March 22nd, 2006 at 5:56 pm
Always wondered the same thing. Informative as usual. Thanks!
March 22nd, 2006 at 11:08 pm
Hey Devin, an excellent question as when your script is purchased, it will be taken to the script services department of the studio that purchased it, retyped and reprinted in standard format – and guess what, if your margins are realy wide, and your courier font is 10 points, for example, your 120 page script will suddenly be 154 pages. That happened to someone I know, by the way. Quite the shocker. The only book I ever found that told me the basic format was a small book printed years ago called “The screenwriters handbook”, published I think in 1978, that I picked up in a garage sale, I think, in the late ’80’s. It was filled with exciting little tidbits like:”a writer uses his eyes to watch and his ears to listen – now go write!” Which basically made me want to throw the thing out the window every time I opened it up. But it also said – margins each about an inch from the edge, character about three inches in, etc… close enough so thta what I wrote looked like my first screenplay. Here are the exact specs. from the WB script services department:
You write in the font called: COURIER. Font size 12 Your Slugline (location) is capitalized. It starts with EXT. (for exterior) or INT. (for interior). Then a word or two on the location (HARRY’S BAR) then a dash and the time the scene is shot ( – DAY) left margin 1.25 right margin 7.25
Then double space between slugline and narrative. Narrative is short description that sets the scene or action. It is upper/lower case and single spaced. left margin 1.25 right margin 7.25
double space between character and narrative.
character (full caps) left margin: 3.25
parenthetical (upper/lower case) (it is an emotional direction to actor – as in – “upset� that is kept in parenthesis. Use it rarely if at all. It distracts from the read and annoys actors) left margin: 2.75 r: 7.25
dialogue (upper/lower case) margin l: 2.25 l: 6.25
transition: align right, full caps, end with colon.
That’s basically it. but unless you’re using a typewriter out in your barn, and you write in any of the major screenwriting softwares, they will basically format your script correctly for you.
Sorry John, didn’t mean to hijack your site. Love it and must have gotten carried away. Phil Morton Screenwriterbones.blogspot.com
March 23rd, 2006 at 9:58 am
Thank you Phil!
I really appreciate your time and input (you covered a lot of ground).
I’m currently using Final Draft 7 software, which claims to pre-format your work for you (I hope, at least!). I have read that it is one of the programs considered viable by professionals in the industry.
Also, I was wondering if there is a ‘magic number’ of pages in any given script? My current spec is almost 127 pages long. Is that considered too long? Does it have to fall at 120 pages or less? I’d hate to slice it down, but I will if it will count against me.
Thanks again! ~Devin
March 23rd, 2006 at 2:28 pm
I’ve hewed to the Nicholl Fellowship guidelines (http://www.oscars.org/nicholl/format.html), mainly because it’s clearly explained in a sample script (http://www.oscars.org/nicholl/script.pdf).
Pretty much the same as Phil’s WB format, but the Nicholl Fellowship margins are 0.5 inch (0.25 on each side) tighter.
It’s like Catholics and Protestants.
March 23rd, 2006 at 3:09 pm
Well that’s a heck of a relief.
March 23rd, 2006 at 4:45 pm
Devin, I’m certainly no expert, or even an amatuer yet, but I would say not to worry about the rules of scriptwriter. As long as the format is in the general ballpark of what it’s meant to be so its easily readable by the people who read 100 scripts a week, you should be ok. The main thing is to make sure your story and writing are good enough that they want to read it.
Good luck with your writing!
March 23rd, 2006 at 8:34 pm
Devin–
Sometimes it depends on who you’re writing for. If you’re submitting to contests, 127 pages is too long. In fact, many contests won’t let you submit anything over 120. As an Austin Film Festival contest reader, I’ll put a script back on the shelf if it’s too long and let someone else trudge through it. If you have periwinkle card stock and spiral bounding, I’ll put it back because I already know you haven’t done any research and your script probably lacks effort too. If your script title eludes to it being a “vampire” script, I’ll probably put it back because I’ve already read five of them. It’s a sad reality, but yes, these are negative knocks on a script before anyone has even had a chance to read the story, no matter how good it may be.
Now if you’ve already got an “in” and can submit straight to agents and producers, then you might be able to get away with a lengthy script. I’d still stay away from the periwinkle card stock though.
March 23rd, 2006 at 10:54 pm
Scriptweaver brings a great point. Periwinkle? Do people do that? JESUS. Three holes and brass brads people, it ain’t complicated. As to length – he’s dead on. Keep it 120 or LESS. Not that your script might be great at 127 – but because you’re not known. John A. is, so he can go longer because people know that what he has to say is of value, even if his script is over 120. If your script is over 120 they’ll assume you’re a sloppy writer.
As to a minute a page, this is one of those Hollywood myths that has become folklore. But yes, if you average it all out, yes perhaps it’s close. If you script is a mix of action and thoughtful witty banter, yes, good chance. If it’s My Dinner with Andre and it’s all – you’ll be more at 30 seconds a page. If it’s all blistering action, you could be at 79 pages and have a 100 minute movie. You can use it as a very very loose rule. Phil Morton http://www.screenwriterbones.blogspot.com
March 24th, 2006 at 7:15 am
Genre matters. Comedies as a rule should be lite. ~100 pages.
March 24th, 2006 at 8:23 am
Leif,
I thought the same thing when I started, that the story was more important than the format. I was only half right. To take the story seriously, you have to present yourself as serious. That means proper format. Does that mean stress over it? No. If you play with the rules a bit, but still have a good script, you might get away with it. But don’t push your luck, it’s hard enough to get someone to read your script when it’s done right.
Basically this leads back to John’s seminar about being professional. Even amateurs need to be professional.
March 24th, 2006 at 8:49 am
Oh boy… losing seven pages is going to suck! But given that I am still a nobody in the industry, I’d better get her down to 120.
Thanks for all of the advice — wish me luck! ~Devin
March 24th, 2006 at 9:49 am
Losing seven pages will be easier than you imagine, Devin… once you start to recognize just how little you actually need to do the job the way it actually needs to be done.
I’m a non-repped non-sold non-nuthing struggling wannabee just like 90% of the people out here, but I do know this much: I now ENJOY that first pass edit where I get to go at my just-completed first assembly (“vomit draft”) with a meat cleaver and a burning need to carve down the page count. If you’re coming from a creative writing background, I can all but guarantee you that your first stabs at screenwriting will be wordy and far too “novel-esque.” Read scripts– read as many as you can stomach, and pay close attention to the minimalistic descriptions you find.
And as Bill Witliff said last year at the Austin festival, “be careful about puttin’ a whole lotta stock in any advice, ‘cuz it’s all mostly bullshit anyway.” ;-) . . . wordy B
March 24th, 2006 at 11:09 am
Thanks Brett.
I know the pages will probably melt away once I remove flowery descriptions and find short-n-sweet ways to express them. I guess it’s better to have too much than too little!
How many scripts have you written (just curious), and what were the genres/topics?
Come visit my blog, if you like (http://devinbennett.wordpress.com)… I’m creating a space for aspiring scribes (like myself) to open up and exchange thoughts. So far, I’ve gotten some good responses.
Take care, and thanks! ~Devin
March 29th, 2006 at 8:57 am
SUCCESS! My 127 pages are now a skinny 116. It flows much more naturally, and loses none of the visual/dramatic impact.
Thanks for all your help and suggestions.
~Devin
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:37 pm
I just wanted to know about script timing and the script layout. I’m starting to write scrips and I want each page to be 1 minute screen time. But what I’m not sure about is lets say I have written half a page and that half a page is roughly 1 minute screen time do I then go straight onto the next page or does every page have to be fully covered because you can write 1 minute screen time with just a few lines if you wanted so writing a whole page might be like 5 or 10 minutes screen time, can you start a knew page even if the previous page is only have done or do you have to fill every page from top to bottom.
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:34 am
I just wanna say reading all your remarks and comments makes me feel so much better knowing i’m not the only one lost. I have been asking the same question for the past 3 months and one thing i have learned is I just have to get started and it should all fall in place. Like everyone else i feel i have a super idea for a screenplay. But this is the first time in about fifteen yrs that i’m putting pen to paper other than song writing.It feels good.
Thank you all