Length

[pansy]

What is the minimum page length a screenplay can be to be considered a feature?

Do the Golden Globes and Oscars have a page-length requirement that differes from an industry standard?

Pansy

[NikeeGoddess]

the awards you speak of have absolutely nothing to do with page length.

there are no hard rules -- just guidelines that should be followed
most features are between 90 and 120 pages. comedies and horrors tend to be shorter than dramas and thrillers.

but this is a question you shouldn't need to ask. why? because if you took the time to read a bunch of screenplays then you'd know the answer. read, read, read script after script after script.

don't take this personally, it's directed to anyone who decides they want to write for the big screen. how can anyone think they can write a screenplay if they haven't read one or one hundred of them?! if one reads only one novel and then declares, "i'm going to write the next great novel." and you ask, "oh yeah, what's your favorite novel and why?" and they could only say, "well, i've only read one so i guess that's it." then you'd think they were nuts... ahem, i mean completed deluded and naive. the same applies to anyone who wants to write a screenplay. you have to read them to understand them and the simpliest questions will be answered. you can't just watch movies and expect to be able to write one either.

okay - i'm done with my morning rant. as you were!

[dgl]

There are no real rules, though if I paid $10 to see a film that turned out to be 40 minutes long, I might get a little ticked off. Conventional length often depends on genre:

Dramas often hover around 110

Comedies 90-100

Horror 90-100 (or less)

Animation can be under 90


Some films are so light in story they come in really short. I don't know how long the screenplay was, but I believe the last Deuce Bigalow was 75 or 77 minutes. Some might call that mercifully short.

I think anything under 75 minutes is really stretching the term "feature." 90-110 is a good ballpark to shoot for.

[zagoraz]

Ah, the quest for the perfect page count...

Anything over 120 and you probably won't get anyone to read it. Anything under 90 and they'll wonder why the heck you ran out of story. Keep it between 95-105 and you're golden...

[pansy]

the awards you speak of have absolutely nothing to do with page length.

there are no hard rules -- just guidelines that should be followed
most features are between 90 and 120 pages. comedies and horrors tend to be shorter than dramas and thrillers.

but this is a question you shouldn't need to ask. why? because if you took the time to read a bunch of screenplays then you'd know the answer. read, read, read script after script after script.

don't take this personally, it's directed to anyone who decides they want to write for the big screen. how can anyone think they can write a screenplay if they haven't read one or one hundred of them?! if one reads only one novel and then declares, "i'm going to write the next great novel." and you ask, "oh yeah, what's your favorite novel and why?" and they could only say, "well, i've only read one so i guess that's it." then you'd think they were nuts... ahem, i mean completed deluded and naive. the same applies to anyone who wants to write a screenplay. you have to read them to understand them and the simpliest questions will be answered. you can't just watch movies and expect to be able to write one either.

okay - i'm done with my morning rant. as you were!

I appreciate the rant, but I do read scripts. Lots. I felt I ''needed'' to ask just in case I missed something. Has nothing to do with being lazy about research.

My question was specifically about awards, and is there a page count they use to decide which films to consider. Will a 79 page feature be tossed from consideration simply because it is one page shy of the regulations?


As you were, deluded one.

[NikeeGoddess]

i did answer that:
the awards you speak of have absolutely nothing to do with page length.

makes me wonder why you would think it mattered. they don't read the script. they watch the movie. they don't know how many pages it has or even care. if the movie is great and worthy of an award how can it being 92 pages or 132 pages make a difference?


<<<the NikeeGoddess just shakes her head>>>

[Plot Device]

My question was specifically about awards, and is there a page count they use to decide which films to consider.

My understanding of awards is that they have to divide the categories into "feature length" and "short" and that judgement is determined by the number of minutes long that a film is. Pages of a script can generally determine how many minutes long that a film winds up being, but a director can certainly lengthen or shorten the final edit.

So the question BEHIND the question seems to be .... what is the cut off for the number of minutes in length to qualify as a short or as a feature?

And the answer is ... um .... I'm not sure. :D I think I read that little factoid a few years back, and I thnk it was something like 49 minutes (I think) but I really don't recall.

Gimmie ten minutes and I might be able to find an answer somewhere on the net. :)

[Plot Device]

Okay, I found a sort of an answer on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feature_length

"The definition of minimum length varies from 40 minutes (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences rule) to about 80 minutes."

So it seems that the cut-off for Oscars is 40 minutes or more is a feature, while 39 minutes or less is a short. (I have no idea what the Golden Globe or BAFTA standard is.)

Meanwhile, that 40-minute length seems to be the standard in stage plays also. I used to do drama competitions in high school, and we went to the state drama championships one year. And one of the mericless rules they had at that level of competition was that the play needed to be no more than 40 minutes in length. The judges LITERALLY had a stop watch on us! If our play went over 40 minutes by even one second, we were disqualified.

BTW, here's another Wiki article on short films:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_film

Aside from awards, another way to measure movie length is through the eyes of a movie theatre owner. I don't think too many theatre owners would be willing to screen a film that was 42 minutes long and try to con the public into thnking it was a "feature." So the exhibitors probably have a different standard all together. I suspect 75 minutes might be it. (And if I recall correctly, the second "Men in Black" film was just 88 minutes long.)


Getting back to page-length, one page usually equals one minute. I would try to write a script no shorter than 65 pages (65 minutes) to try and get it to fall into the realm of "feature length" for consideration by a producer/director (the kind of producer/director who would be able to stretch things out to 75 or 80 minutes). But 90 pages is still the industry minimum.

[scripter1]

a fellow drama competitor!

Fun isn't it!


In all seriousness, it isn't a bad question, not when you just want to know a fact and a little something more about award shows.

A difference of five to ten pages isn't going to improve your chances of getting a golden guy. It's quality, and people's opinions.

New screenwriters need to focus on getting a great story that people will embrace. And then they need to get it written in such a way that it gets read. That means industry standard.
Page count is between 90 - 120.

[pansy]

i did answer that:


makes me wonder why you would think it mattered. they don't read the script. they watch the movie. they don't know how many pages it has or even care. if the movie is great and worthy of an award how can it being 92 pages or 132 pages make a difference?


<<<the NikeeGoddess just shakes her head>>>

It matters because industry standards do not always come into play for awards or competitions. Good example might be the Olympics. The rules athletes need to follow for competition are going to be different in the Olympics than say a national meet.

It matters because I WAS CURIOUS as to how the GGs and the Oscars decide which films to consider for awards, and, like many competions with too numerous choices, where lines are drawn to limit the numbers. Of all the films made each year, from US to Japan to the 'Stans, there might be a few benchmarks employed.

And I would assume they do read the script since there are awards for best orginal and best adapted.

Pansy

[pansy]

Okay, I found a sort of an answer on Wikipedia:

A million thanks. I looked there but probably put in the wrong key words.

Intersting info, and exactly what I was looking for.

Kudos!

Pansy

[pansy]

[quote=scripter1;1323369]In all seriousness, it isn't a bad question, not when you just want to know a fact and a little something more about award shows.quote]

Which is all it was. Nothing to do my own aspirations to write the next GG or Oscar winner.

Though I wouldn't be surprised !!

P

[NikeeGoddess]

now why wouldn't you aspire to write an award winning script?!

<<<the NikeeGoddess still shaking her head>>>

[scripter1]

of award shows what qualifies the film is when it is finished and put out for viewing. A film has to be released by a certain time. So, some studios who know they have an Oscar type story will either rush it or hold it in order to qualify.

There are certain types of films that lend themselves to the Oscars. The serious Dramas and the big epics, and the smaller Indy films that have risen to the top.

I've heard rumors that the Acadamy doesn't actually read the scripts for best screenplays and adaptations. They just are aware of the film.
I am sure some members take it more seriously then others.

They are likely other qualifications that I am not aware of.

[xhouseboy]

<<<the NikeeGoddess still shaking her head>>>

Not everyone's as 'knowledgeable' as you, Nikee.

A little humility goes a long way.

Why it wasn't so long ago that you chided me for making the 'mistake' of converting my work into pdf, stating that you could think of no valid reason as to why this was required. An assumption that was obviously based upon your own lack of experience.

<<<xhouseboy still shaking his head at NikeeGoddess's arrogance>>>

[Plot Device]

(Momentary derailment)

a fellow drama competitor!

Fun isn't it!

Did you do high school or college competitions? Or summer camp/workshop kinda stuff? And did you also have to do the 40-minute thing?

[NikeeGoddess]

tangent alert!
i give everyone the permission to ignore me as paying attention to a nobody wannabe is not required. it's just that i think i'm some kind of goddess ;) maybe it's because when i respond people must tell me how my response is crap or the delivery of my response is crap. you bring me to the top. it's all your doing.

okay - as you were - back on topic which is not me

[scripter1]

in the High School drama club and yes, we had to be 40 min or under.
We never had a strong program, guess kids in my area wern't very dramatic, but we never placed high enough to advance.

I remember one year we had a group that was real mellow. One kid just drawled out his lines and we were all like "Speed it up! Speed it up.!"
Just for fun we did the play in super speed and cut it down to like 15 minutes.



Just be patient with Nikee. All that head shaking has addled her brains.

[pansy]

now why wouldn't you aspire to write an award winning script?!

<<<the NikeeGoddess still shaking her head>>>

I do everytime I sit to write. But again, that wasn't why I asked the question.

'Pansy slams his / her head against a wall'

PANSY
Ouch! What is she talking about? Ouch! What is she talking about? Ouch!

NikeeGoddess shakes her head.

NIKEE
Dork!


P

[pansy]

of award shows what qualifies the film is when it is finished and put out for viewing. A film has to be released by a certain time. So, some studios who know they have an Oscar type story will either rush it or hold it in order to qualify.

Any idea what that cut-off date is??

p

[pansy]

in the High School drama club and yes, we had to be 40 min or under.
We never had a strong program, guess kids in my area wern't very dramatic, but we never placed high enough to advance.

I remember one year we had a group that was real mellow. One kid just drawled out his lines and we were all like "Speed it up! Speed it up.!"
Just for fun we did the play in super speed and cut it down to like 15 minutes.



Just be patient with Nikee. All that head shaking has addled her brains.

At the risk of another Nikee rant (smiley face here), do plays use scripts made for movies, or is there a major re-write involved to format for stage?

P

[aspiringwriter]

The industry standard is no more than 120 pages... of course you can write a 100 page script and it ends up being a three hour movie :)

My last screenplay was a drama at 112 pages

[dpaterso]

At the risk of another Nikee rant (smiley face here), do plays use scripts made for movies, or is there a major re-write involved to format for stage?
Major rewrite. Check out the Playwriting forum.

-Derek

[pansy]

What inspired the question? This short, 8 minute film. Check it out.

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2801548/channel/shorts

Pansy

[pansy]

Major rewrite. Check out the Playwriting forum.

-Derek

Thanks. I will.

P

[pconsidine]

Any idea what that cut-off date is??

pI'm pretty sure it's a week before the end of the year. Here's a link to the official rules from last year.

http://www.oscars.org/79academyawards/rules/rule02.html

[squalid]

In the world of motion picture distribution and exhibition there are hard and fast rules.

Any movie under 90 minutes is considered a short. Yes, there are films exhibited that are considered features with running times of under 90 minutes and they are never shorter than 75 minutes. They are the exception.

So, since rule of thumb is one page of screenplay = 1 minute of screen time, go figure what the minimum length of a feature length screenplay would be.

[WorldPlanter]

the awards you speak of have absolutely nothing to do with page length.

there are no hard rules -- just guidelines that should be followed
most features are between 90 and 120 pages. comedies and horrors tend to be shorter than dramas and thrillers.

but this is a question you shouldn't need to ask. why? because if you took the time to read a bunch of screenplays then you'd know the answer. read, read, read script after script after script.

don't take this personally, it's directed to anyone who decides they want to write for the big screen. how can anyone think they can write a screenplay if they haven't read one or one hundred of them?! if one reads only one novel and then declares, "i'm going to write the next great novel." and you ask, "oh yeah, what's your favorite novel and why?" and they could only say, "well, i've only read one so i guess that's it." then you'd think they were nuts... ahem, i mean completed deluded and naive. the same applies to anyone who wants to write a screenplay. you have to read them to understand them and the simpliest questions will be answered. you can't just watch movies and expect to be able to write one either.

okay - i'm done with my morning rant. as you were!

This seems to be a harsh response coming from someone who writes with several capitalization, punctuation, & spelling errors.

[pansy]

I'm pretty sure it's a week before the end of the year. Here's a link to the official rules from last year.

http://www.oscars.org/79academyawards/rules/rule02.html


Excellent link. Thanks

[Plot Device]

in the High School drama club and yes, we had to be 40 min or under.
We never had a strong program, guess kids in my area wern't very dramatic, but we never placed high enough to advance.

I remember one year we had a group that was real mellow. One kid just drawled out his lines and we were all like "Speed it up! Speed it up.!"
Just for fun we did the play in super speed and cut it down to like 15 minutes.


Cool! :cool:

Okay, here's the end of my derailment:

My inner-city high school had a dirt poor program full of highly talented kids and one very talented teacher, and we had no money at all. Just lots of drive and high aspirations. We went to competition every year, and we often blew away the rich white (slacker??) kids from the suburbs. We were always the only drama team at the competitions with minorities (a pretty good mix of white, black, Hispanic, and Asian), and the other teachers from the suburban schools always commended our drama teacher for getting a mixed group of kids to work so well. The suburban teachers said they have tried to get minority kids involved in their drama troups but the kids weren't interested (I personally think the suburban minority kids were afraid). The year we won, when we heard our team get announced as the winner, we all ran up on stage like a bunch of maniacs, receiving our awards and hugging each other with lots of whoops and hollers and even some crying, and one of our team-members up on stage was even picked up into the arms of two other kids and they spun him around a few times. And again the suburban teachers commented to our teacher that they rarely see such enthusiasm, and also appreciated the ethnic diversity of our group and how close we all obviously were to each other.

My experiences in drama club were among the best meories of high school I had, and easilly one of the best character-builders I undertook. The stuff I learned from there has to this day helped me a great deal with the overall shape of my writing.

[Plot Device]

In the world of motion picture distribution and exhibition there are hard and fast rules.

Any movie under 90 minutes is considered a short. Yes, there are films exhibited that are considered features with running times of under 90 minutes and they are never shorter than 75 minutes. They are the exception.

So, since rule of thumb is one page of screenplay = 1 minute of screen time, go figure what the minimum length of a feature length screenplay would be.


Hey, Squalid, is there a link for this info? Thanks! :)

[The Lizard]

I think the exception to the rule was Gangs of New York. It is 150 pages.

Then there's the one of mine that's 80 pages but pro script assessment scores it up there with Cold Mountain. The assessor said "Hey, just add another court scene!"

The most difficult thing, when a script is crisp at less than 100 pages is to NOT dilute it with waffle just to make up the space. More depth to the Hero's Journey can help flesh it out.

[pansy]

Makes a big difference if you are also the director and/or producer, or have been hired to write a particular piece.

Most of the above listed rules apply only to specs.

A

www.alexwhitmer.wordpress.com (http://www.alexwhitmer.wordpress.com)

[pconsidine]

Advice from a professional reader:

http://rougewave.blogspot.com/2007/02/page-count-101.html