Say you are asked whether you can take, oh, say 10-15 pages from your 106 page indie drama. Let's say you think 10 could be doable. Not fun, but it could probably work in the end.
In looking at that process, I realize that some things just will have to go. But I can also see how one might trim a few hanging words, close up some vertical spacing, and do other little tricks to tighten up things in order to get to the page count. I know that I'll sacrifice a lot of pleasing white space, but que sera.
Note, I'm not talking about changing indents or font size, but maybe moving a parenthetical to an action line, or little things like that.
My question is: Is [doing this] "cheating" the spirit of this request, or is it acceptable to try to get to the requested page count in stealthy ways so as not to lose what you feel you must keep?
And, if it's not too much to ask, why would a line producer care about this? How does page count even help determine a budget? Or is a request to cut pages about something else? Thanks for your thoughts.
In looking at that process, I realize that some things just will have to go. But I can also see how one might trim a few hanging words, close up some vertical spacing, and do other little tricks to tighten up things in order to get to the page count. I know that I'll sacrifice a lot of pleasing white space, but que sera.
Note, I'm not talking about changing indents or font size, but maybe moving a parenthetical to an action line, or little things like that.
My question is: Is [doing this] "cheating" the spirit of this request, or is it acceptable to try to get to the requested page count in stealthy ways so as not to lose what you feel you must keep?
And, if it's not too much to ask, why would a line producer care about this? How does page count even help determine a budget? Or is a request to cut pages about something else? Thanks for your thoughts.
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