There are a million variables, but as an aid to the newcomers here how about we post the page length of our first SPEC scripts. Maybe also include how many pages they ended up becoming after polishes.
With minimal research, those who're new to screenwriting already know that 90-100 pages is the new norm. It was probably up to 120 back in the 1990s, and 110 in the noughties. The reasons for this decline are many, and nobody's going to turn down that PERFECT script that's a bit outside the range.
But no matter, let me start by disclosing my own stats:
Script #1: 110 pages out for first read; present version at 105
(You can also tell a bit of story about the evolution your script went through, if it's relevant and, hopefully, interesting!)
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Since I have a detailed database and can generate numbers on almost any metric, I'll also say that the average of the first third of my scripts was 110 (this included a few 125-page epics), the middle third came in at 105, and the most recent third of my output's been 95.
Some of you know that I'm the guy that keeps editing/polishing my own old stuff, so the fact that my average is still dropping precipitously must mean that my older stuff is just plain overwritten. I've used every trick in the book to shorten these older scripts, but they're still coming 10+ pages longer than my newer stuff. What's the difference? Genre? Too talky? Dunno.
I do know that the pre-writing outlining stage for my first script was a whopping 8-page outline. I remember at the time thinking, "What a waste of time; oh well." But I learned quickly. By the mid-third of my screenwriting output, my outlines were coming in at about 40-50 pages. I've attested many times to the fact that a detailed outline (for me) makes writing the final script a lot easier. Perhaps they help make for tighter writing? Probably.
So, let's see what everybody's first SPEC script was, eh?
With minimal research, those who're new to screenwriting already know that 90-100 pages is the new norm. It was probably up to 120 back in the 1990s, and 110 in the noughties. The reasons for this decline are many, and nobody's going to turn down that PERFECT script that's a bit outside the range.
But no matter, let me start by disclosing my own stats:
Script #1: 110 pages out for first read; present version at 105
(You can also tell a bit of story about the evolution your script went through, if it's relevant and, hopefully, interesting!)
_______________________________________________
Since I have a detailed database and can generate numbers on almost any metric, I'll also say that the average of the first third of my scripts was 110 (this included a few 125-page epics), the middle third came in at 105, and the most recent third of my output's been 95.
Some of you know that I'm the guy that keeps editing/polishing my own old stuff, so the fact that my average is still dropping precipitously must mean that my older stuff is just plain overwritten. I've used every trick in the book to shorten these older scripts, but they're still coming 10+ pages longer than my newer stuff. What's the difference? Genre? Too talky? Dunno.
I do know that the pre-writing outlining stage for my first script was a whopping 8-page outline. I remember at the time thinking, "What a waste of time; oh well." But I learned quickly. By the mid-third of my screenwriting output, my outlines were coming in at about 40-50 pages. I've attested many times to the fact that a detailed outline (for me) makes writing the final script a lot easier. Perhaps they help make for tighter writing? Probably.
So, let's see what everybody's first SPEC script was, eh?
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