How to determine scene length ??

chump · Jan 6, 2009

In your opinion...how should an unseasoned writer determine the parameters of scene length ?

Seems to me as though most writers have their own particular style, but what should be the maximum length for any given scene of a spec script which is aiming to impress a professional reader or agent ?

icerose · Jan 6, 2009

No more than seven pages. Ever. Get in late get out early is the best advice I can give you. Don't go to the scene at the beginning and show us and don't show us the end of the scene either.

Joe270 · Jan 6, 2009

In one of the stickys at the top of this page is a link to a well-known screenwriter's screenplay guidelines, Roger Somebodyorother, I can't recall the name.

That'll give you a really good idea of expected rise and fall of action, drama, romance, etc. for any scriptwriting task. It really works well for me. I have it written on paper with another guy's ideas, which sorta mesh, and I use that for outlining the project.

If I can find it quick, I'll paste it here, but I have little luck with searches.

http://www.writersstore.com/article.php?articles_id=68

It's not Roger Somebodyorother, it's Michael Hague. I like his thoughts on screenwriting.

Take it or leave it, for what it's worth. Everyone comes into their own ideas of how things get done in five acts.

chump · Jan 7, 2009

Thanks for your reply

icerose said:
No more than seven pages. Ever. Get in late get out early is the best advice I can give you. Don't go to the scene at the beginning and show us and don't show us the end of the scene either.

So what your saying is mix it up a little ?

Maybe a real long scene should have a filler or two in between...to break it up and gel it together ? Take the monotony out of the overall feel ?

Could this work ?

All feedback helps !!

chump · Jan 7, 2009

Great link !!

Joe270 said:
In one of the stickys at the top of this page is a link to a well-known screenwriter's screenplay guidelines, Roger Somebodyorother, I can't recall the name.

That'll give you a really good idea of expected rise and fall of action, drama, romance, etc. for any scriptwriting task. It really works well for me. I have it written on paper with another guy's ideas, which sorta mesh, and I use that for outlining the project.

If I can find it quick, I'll paste it here, but I have little luck with searches.

http://www.writersstore.com/article.php?articles_id=68

It's not Roger Somebodyorother, it's Michael Hague. I like his thoughts on screenwriting.

Take it or leave it, for what it's worth. Everyone comes into their own ideas of how things get done in five acts.

Thanks a lot...this looks like a good reference point !!

The more the merrier !!

Hillgate · Jan 8, 2009

I'd echo the 'arrive late, leave early' advice.

In addition, once you've worked out why you need a scene in the first place, don't make it any longer than you need to to achieve whatever you're trying to achieve, even if you're already in late and leave early. Sometimes 3 pages can be reduced to an eighth of a page, or cut.

Plot Device · Jan 8, 2009

chump said:
So what your saying is mix it up a little ?

Maybe a real long scene should have a filler or two in between...to break it up and gel it together ? Take the monotony out of the overall feel ?

Could this work ?

All feedback helps !!

There's basically no such thing as "filler." You have only 110 pages to work with. Every line on every page counts.

As for "monotony" -- why does even one moment of your screenplay feel like "monotony?"

chump · Jan 8, 2009

As for "monotony" -- why does even one moment of your screenplay feel like "monotony?"[/quote]

To me, not one bit of my screenplay is monotonous, but I feel a single scene lasting for a whole 7 mins would be. I try to restrict any given scene to a max of 3 pages. If for some reason it lingers on any further than that, then perhaps mid way through I would CUT TO -

An alternative scene to may be break up the monotony, and fill the gap with an alternative angle on the storyline and then CUT TO -

The scene in question later.

I particularly hate long scenes. A fast flowing approach to any given script is what I set out to acheive !! 3 mins max for me !!

stuckupmyownera · Jan 8, 2009

I once wrote a 22 page scene.
I agonised over it a lot but in the end I kept it that long - it seemed right for the circumstances. The characters were trapped and waiting to be rescued. Plenty happened - it wasn't like they were just sitting there looking at each other, or just talking - so in my mind it was sort of broken up into smaller scenes anyway, by the various little events and developments along the way, but it was still just one continuous scene in one place.
I thought it was a great scene. But hey, what do I know?

icerose · Jan 8, 2009

7 minutes is definitely not required on any scene in any script, it's just the most common roof I've seen.

3 minutes is about right for longer scenes, and you should definitely never have filler. Make every scene fight for it's space. A lot of times when I have longer scene types, I will cut back and forth between something else going on so I don't have to show the whole freakin scene. It helps keep it from getting bogged down. But if you're waiting for a scene to end so you can get the heck out, it's too long.

chump · Jan 8, 2009

Mmmm...suppose your both right ! I stand corrected on the filler approach, as every scene should have a definite purpose to play with any given script ! Just like to break up the long drawn out circumstances that a character can find themselves in...suppose filler ain't exactly right, it's just what I like to call them, for my own purpose that is !

And if your characters are trapped within a certain situation then what can you do, that's the predicament their in !

Just like the film "THE DECENT"...a bunch of thrill seekers trapped in cave trying to find their way out...or "PANIC ROOM"...where Jodie Foster is cocooned within her own cell...trying to survive !!

I suppose if the glove fits then the screenplay should where it !!

Just seem to be at a point where I'm trying to write a short narrative intro to a feature that I'm working on...where I need to show a bit of history of my two protagonists...both from different angles...but from one point of view...make sense ?

A montage don't seem to fit...so I've resorted to writing smaller scenes cutting to different circumstances which they've both encountered together beforehand, and narrating it through the voice of one single character...his point of view, who will be the soul survivor of their latest escapade !

Any suggestions to this dilemma ?

I started of with ten pages and have managed to whittle it down to five, but as it will be the second point within the screenplay, I just want it as short as poss, and still be able to show the main elements of their history, as it is crucial for the audience to be able to identify with their dilemma and the capabilities which they possess !!

Joe270 · Jan 8, 2009

'Series of Shots' might work. It gives more meat to each short sequence.

I'd like to add just a bit to Ice's good words here:

Make every scene fight for it's space. A lot of times when I have longer scene types, I will cut back and forth between something else going on so I don't have to show the whole freakin scene. It helps keep it from getting bogged down. But if you're waiting for a scene to end so you can get the heck out, it's too long.

If the scenes are overlong, no one will read it. If it does get made, the overlong/repetitive stuff will wind up on the cutting room floor. (Just watch some deleted scenes in your fav movies, and you'll get the idea pdq.)

Don't let them edit your tale for you, do it yourself.

chump · Jan 8, 2009

Joe270 said:
'Series of Shots' might work. It gives more meat to each short sequence.

I'd like to add just a bit to Ice's good words here:

If the scenes are overlong, no one will read it. If it does get made, the overlong/repetitive stuff will wind up on the cutting room floor. (Just watch some deleted scenes in your fav movies, and you'll get the idea pdq.)

Don't let them edit your tale for you, do it yourself.

Yeah tried that too, just don't know how to narrate over this method, coz each scene has to tie into a certain passage of the narrative...a story that has to be told !

See your in Vagas...well my boys are getting themselves into trouble on the West Side...the real West Side...Soul Sista's and Gospel...a mile from downtown, can yuh relate ?

Joe270 · Jan 11, 2009

well my boys are getting themselves into trouble on the West Side...the real West Side...Soul Sista's and Gospel...a mile from downtown, can yuh relate ?

Are you referring to West Las Vegas? I'm in West Las Vegas at least once a week.

In a rather odd twist for those who don't know, West Las Vegas is a historic area which lies to the East and north of the strip.

It got its name because it was west of the railroad, the main form of transportation back when the area was developed.

platinumscript · Jan 15, 2009

scene/screen time... it should vary in length. short/short/long/real short/not real long/medium/short short------Just as scenes should vary as night/day/... dialogue/action... positive/negative aspects of characters---unless, of course ---night/day is impossible ala phone booth--panic room etc.

The main thing is to not have gnarly blocks of text--- 3-4 sentences to a paragraph max is cool. Break up w/ dialogue or device. The pro readers gird themselves and are predisposed to loath reading a script bogged down with walls of text. I go back and break 'em up no matter what. These guys are looking for any reason to ash-can. Nobody wants to be slapped by the powers that be above them so they look very hard for ways to exclude a script, so 'the boss' can't ruff 'em up. job security.

How to determine scene length ??

chump

icerose

Lost in School Work

Joe270

chump

chump

Hillgate

On location

Plot Device

A woman said to write like a man.

chump

stuckupmyownera

Mostly lurking

icerose

Lost in School Work

chump

Joe270

chump

Joe270

platinumscript