The conventional wisdom within the film industry suggests that a feature spec script—a screenplay written under the speculation that it will be sold and produced—should ideally have a page count between 90 and 120 pages. A script with fewer than 90 pages is often considered insufficiently developed, while one exceeding 120 pages risks being deemed overwritten.
Sure, there are plenty of examples to the contrary, but we’re discussing basic guidelines and expectations, not set-in-stone rules.
Screenplays that adhere to this page range usually strike the right balance between depth and brevity while creating cinematic pacing that keeps script readers and audiences engaged from beginning to end.
But why does page count carry such weight, and what can screenwriters do to comply with this stringent standard without sacrificing the integrity of their creative vision? Let’s dive into these questions and discuss everything you need to know about why page counts matter.
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Does One Page Really Equal One Minute of Screen Time?
Not necessarily, no. However, it’s an age-old barometer that holds some weight.
Within the film industry, the widely accepted guideline that one page of a screenplay translates to approximately one minute of screen time serves as a useful benchmark for screenwriters, directors, and producers to estimate a film’s length from its script.
However, screenwriters need to understand that this is a generalization. Screen time to page count ratio can vary significantly depending on many factors.
Dialogue Density
Quentin Tarantino and Aaron Sorkin’s screenplays often have excessive page counts, mainly because the dialogue formatting occupies more page space. The screen time is affected by how long it takes for the performance of the actor to articulate the words on the page. Some rapid-fire dialogue can take seconds, while longer monologues, coupled with dramatic pauses and other actions, can take minutes.
Action Sequences
Action sequence descriptions can take up a lot of space on the page, too. However, the same actions depicted onscreen may only amount to seconds of actual screen time.
On the flip side, a single line of action description can also take much longer to convey than a single minute (or seconds) of screen time.
Post-Production Editing Style
The pace at which a film is edited also affects the conversion from page to screen time. A director’s preference for quick cuts or longer takes can shorten or extend a scene’s length beyond what the screenplay suggests.
Cinematic Techniques
Slow-motion, montages, or other cinematic techniques can significantly alter the timing. A single page describing a montage could represent several minutes of screen time, depending on the number of shots included and their length.
Performance and Directing Choices
The actors’ performances and the director’s interpretation of the script will also impact timing. Pauses, moments of silence, and the rhythm of the dialogue delivery can extend or compress scenes.
While the one-page-per-minute rule is a helpful starting point, filmmakers often adjust as needed to serve the story best. Some films may have screenplays that, according to the page count, would suggest a much shorter or longer runtime than the final product. It’s a flexible guideline rather than a strict rule, allowing for creative interpretation and adjustments during the filmmaking process to ensure the final film achieves the desired impact, pacing, and emotional resonance.
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‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ (2019)
Then Why Does Page Count Matter to Hollywood?
It’s a logical question: If a single page doesn’t always equal one minute of screen time, why does the page count matter?
Understanding that a 119-page screenplay won’t necessarily equate to a movie lasting one hour and fifty-nine minutes, the industry still acknowledges the page-to-minute ratio as a reasonably accurate gauge.
However, it goes beyond mere screen time estimation.
The reality is that Hollywood development departments are inundated with screenplays. 95% are either underwritten, overwritten, poorly developed, or not ready for production. To efficiently sift through these submissions, industry insiders rely on a set of indicators that signal a screenplay might not meet their standards. Page count is one such indicator.
Screenwriting, as a unique form of artistic expression, comes with its own set of limitations. Writers aiming to write a feature film must recognize that the ideal movie length, as preferred by studios, distributors, and theater operators, spans ninety minutes to two hours. Shorter movies allow for more screenings per day, thus potentially increasing box office revenue and profit margins.
Beyond that, development executives have read enough screenplays to know that screenplays running over 120 pages often suffer from issues such as:
- Excessive detail in scene descriptions
- Unnecessary exposition in dialogue
- Repetitive scenes
- An overabundance of characters or storylines
- Too much excessive content
Read More: 5 Easy Hacks to Cut Your Script’s Page Count
‘The French Dispatch’ (2021)
When you’re a novice screenwriter trying to break into the industry, you want to avoid any possible red flags within your work. One of the first things studio script readers and development executives check is the page count. If the page count reaches the high 120s and extends into the 130s, 140s, and even the 150s, then the script becomes overwritten. And if it’s not overwritten, then it is too long, which means the movie will be costly to produce. On top of that, the end product will mean fewer daily screenings which, in turn, means less box office revenue and profit margins.
Established screenwriters with a portfolio of acclaimed work, or auteurs like Tarantino, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Christopher Nolan who direct their scripts and enjoy final cut freedom, find the page count less of a hurdle. Their track record effectively mitigates concerns over excessive length because box office success, critical acclaim, and Academy Award prestige have previously validated their ability.
Undiscovered screenwriters don’t have that luxury. A high page count can detrimentally impact whether or not the script gets read. It doesn’t matter how richly filled the screenplay is with compelling characters and narratives.
In the end, there are two truths that screenwriters must embrace:
- A spec script faces higher scrutiny if the page count is excessive.
- Spec scripts with lower page counts are more favored.
This standard may seem unfair, but it reflects the unescapable industry realities regarding Hollywood development and the analytical aspects of script coverage. That is why page count matters—especially for undiscovered screenwriters trying to break into the business.
What Can Screenwriters Do to Avoid Longer Page Counts?
Here’s a list of simple tips, hacks, and directives that can help keep your page count down!
- Utilize an outline to help structure your story
- Have a page count goal in mind before you start writing
- Write to that page count goal, allowing yourself a five-page buffer either way
- Focus on broad strokes in your scene description rather than details
- Instead of multiple sentences, use fragments to communicate those broad strokes
- Embrace the “less is more” mantra
- Learn the single secret of writing great dialogue
- Use white space to your advantage
- Cut unnecessary subplots and secondary characters
- Consider smaller story windows for your protagonists
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Ken Miyamoto has worked in the film industry for nearly two decades, most notably as a studio liaison for Sony Studios and then as a script reader and story analyst for Sony Pictures.
He has many studio meetings under his belt as a produced screenwriter, meeting with the likes of Sony, Dreamworks, Universal, Disney, Warner Brothers, as well as many production and management companies. He has had a previous development deal with Lionsgate, as well as multiple writing assignments, including the produced miniseries Blackout, starring Anne Heche, Sean Patrick Flanery, Billy Zane, James Brolin, Haylie Duff, Brian Bloom, Eric La Salle, and Bruce Boxleitner, the feature thriller Hunter’s Creed, and many Lifetime thrillers. Follow Ken on Twitter @KenMovies and Instagram @KenMovies76
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