scene lenght issue

[apprentice1]

hi,

I just wrote a 5 t0 6 page long PINCH POINT 2 and the that lenght is bothering me. it is crucial 2 the story being the pinch point, but am still worried. should I find a way to get it down to 4 0r 5 pages. oh yes, a MAJOR revealation occurs here. it's a romantic comedy and this is where our 2 lovers get seperated. thanks again

apprentice1

[captain bligh]

i don't know what a pinch point is.

u also don't give enough information regarding the situation.

if it has 2 be as long as it is, then it does.

if it doesn't, then u cut it.

6 pages is long 4 a scene tho.

bligh out.

[ComicBent]

If the scene needs to be five or six minutes long, then don't worry about it. I suspect, though, that it could be shortened somewhat.

[Deus Ex Machine]

Length is directly proportional to purpose. IOW function dictates form and content dictates length. This is one of the principles taught by George Baker at Harvard.

It's because of this that you so often read in books that the average length of a scene is two pages because most scenes rarely have the dramatic tension and visual stimulation necessary to sustain a scene longer than two minutes.

If your scene has a purpose and the necessary dramatic and visual fuel to sustain a longer scene then by all means write a 5+ page scene. But if it lacks the dramatic purpose, tension and visual variety it will feel slow and seem to drag and be aimless.

It's because of this you so often read in books that you should enter a scene as close to the dramatic high point of the scene and exit as soon after that high point as possible. IOW get in late and get out early.

Chinatown has a great 5 page scene where Gittes confronts Evelyn and learns the truth about the girl and who the real killer is. it's a powerful riveting scene full of reversals and dramatic tension and visual stimulation. It's the most important scene in the script and consequently it is the longest in order to accommodate the amount of high drama that plays out in the scene. No other scene in the film is that long because no other scene contains enough dramatic tension to sustain a scene that long.

Length also effects pacing. If every scene was the same length that would require the same level of dramatic tension and result in a predictable pattern of scene lengths. Varying lengths creates variable pacing allowing for dramatic highs and lows.

HTH

[apprentice1]

thanks again,

the CHINATOWN example is helpful and insightful. i was likely going to find ways to shorten the scene anyway.
if i can't chop it down anymore, then if chinatown can do it, i'll take a risk and do it.

(by the way) PINCH POINTS are usually pages 45ish and 75ish, they somehow reflect the theme of one's story. they keep the story on track in first and second halves of act two.

my goal is 2 get the scene down to 4 tight lean and clean pages, wish me luck.

thanks again.