Presently, the sweet spot for page count for features is 95-105 pages. I've been told the Industry is reluctantly to read anything over 125 pages. And the studios require scripts to be brought in between 105-120 pages. But there are so many movies now that are decimating the 2-hour mark. Best Picture winner, OPPENHEIMER and THE AVENGERS: ENDGAME are over 3 hours. Even SMILE, a horror movie, is just shy of 2 hours.
For writers, does page count matter to you? Do you set a page count goal?
For producers, how important is page count in a script you are producing? Why is it important?
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Page count matters to me, Francisco Castro. I usually have a goal of 90 pages, especially Horror and Thriller. That's usually all I need to tell a story. A lot of indie producers and indie directors want scripts that are around 90 pages.
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For me, it matters. I'm mindful in keeping the page count around that 95-105 page mark. Or slightly longer. Around 110. Especially since I write a fair amount of horror-thrillers. My first drafts tend to run a bit longer (closer to 120) but through rewrites and editing I get them to where they need to be.
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It depends if it's good or not... and where you are in the eco system.
If you're unproven, keeping it under 110 is about right.
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Eight feature scripts: Page counts range from 93 to 117.
95 pages appear to be the norm for me.
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While some movies merit longer scripts, Ghost in the Shell (considered one of the most cerebral movies ever made) is only 83 minutes long.
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Page count matters if it is a spec screenplay because many producers won't read screenplays that are too long. Don't confuse production screenplays that were never spec screenplays.
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If you cross 110 pages you’re just creating a roadblock for yourself. All of those epic films you mentioned at 3hrs are made by established filmmakers that don’t have to worry about that because the films gonna get made.
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Francisco, I try to shoot for a top of 110 pages...but I'm happy if I can keep a screenplay from reaching 120.
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Whoever has skin in your writing (rep, producer, talent) write what they think is best. Now if you're making your own indie movie based on your spec script, do a breakdown/shooting schedule; and look at all the scenes & days needed to shoot. Only then you will understand page count
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I prefer between 110 and 115 because it provides me room to adjust some scenes:)
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My current WIP, 3rd or 4th draft, is about 119. I’m hoping to cut it down to 108-110. The struggle is real. But that’s the job, right?
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I've been on something like 30 meetings this year and these days everyone is asking for under 100 pages. More like 90 to 100, closer to 90, and that's for places like Netflix and Amazon and so on, especially if it's a comedy or horror.