Screenwriting : Feature Films- Number of Scenes by Kirsty Louise Joyce

Hi Kirsty,

Maybe there's some data analysis of every screenplay over the last 10-20 years that can give you this answer, but I think it is more important to focus on writing an emotionally engaging story and what ever number of scenes are required for that story, you can work out in your outline.

Scene numbers shouldn't be a metric that shapes your story, just a result from it.

Kind Regards,

Eoin

Thanks Eoin O'Sullivan, this is how I have previously approached it to be honest. Not really thinking about the number of scenes. It just struck me that there may be a recommendation or a suggestion. Kirsty

NARRATIVE TUG and and MAY trump page count, I would know from page one. That said, I would not read it, further, I can guarantee an edit of 20 to 30 pages would sacrifice NOTHING of the story. The writer, if married to every word, no worries, but it is a novel not a screenplay. A Spec back in the day COULD have A LOT OF PAGES. Not anymore; folks are on the hunt for superior wordsmithing skills, coupled with a great AND fresh hook. Because that is what the buyer buys: THE HOOK. Read Insidious, a perfect example. Start your scenes when they are ALMOST OVER. Respectfully, babz

No. There no suggestions or recommendations as to the number of scenes needed to get from opening to ending your story. I've seen/read scenes that go on for 4 pages or more and I've seen/read scenes that are as little as 1/8 page.

No set number of scenes for a feature. 90 page live-action script usually 90 pages or so. Animation longer, TV animation is often about 2 pages a minute (Animaniacs, for example).

A feature film has around 60-70 scenes

That’s Robert McKee

There is no expected amount of scenes per script. That is driven by your story, look at Buried (2010).

The common wisdom is 1 pg per min

I think in sequences which may contain a number of scenes.

If you are counting the number of anything you are focusing on the wrong things.

Thanks Craig D Griffiths yes, as mentioned in my earlier comment response, I usually don't but it was just something I wanted to ask in case there is a recommended number that industry professionals look for. I realise now it was probably a stupid question!

I believe the industry execs are more interested in seeing the beats fall into place than the number of scenes.

Kristy - it's not a stupid question at all.

Kirsty far from a dumb question. I am keen to kill as many myths as possible that producers are worried about anything other than a great page turner.

They may feel a scene has gone a bit long or that the tone seems to be dragging. But these are not based on some arcane engineering discipline. It is based on the the emotional response your art has produced.

Sorry for making you feel that your question wasn’t valid. It was. I hoped to raise a flag warning people away from things that aren’t writing. Things that can trick a writer into thinking about something other than writing the best story possible.

Speaking as a story analyst, the number of scenes in a script is irrelevant if they contain conflict, reveal your characters, and move the story forward.

Generally, the shorter the scenes the quicker the pace. But there is nothing more tedious than reading a series of short scenes without any narrative purpose.

Hope that helps, Kirsty Louise Joyce :)

I'd say the short the better is more important, as mentioned above.

Scenes or sluglines?