Script question

[Kyleman]

Okay, so I'm finally getting my script going for my WWII film, as I've never really filmed with a script, I have hardly any experience using one. So yes, all the films I have posted so far have been unscripted. Anyways, I was wondering as an approximate guess. How many pages of script would make a 15 minute film? Thanks!

[1]

It's roughly 1 page / minute.

I use Sophocles (http://www.sophocles.net/)as a good script-writing software.
You should probably get used to how to properly write a script, as there are certain rules that can't really be deviated from, such as font, style, formatting, verbiage, etc., etc.

[kafeero]

If you do not want to buy script-writing software then take a look at Celtx. It not only has script writing features but other preproduction tools.

BTW
1 how come your join date says Dec 1969?

[ChannelReviews]

Robert Rodriquez's script for El Mariachi was 40 pages and it was a 70 min movie.

Conversly Kevin Smith's outline for his version of Superman Returns was 80 pages while the average outline is 1-3 pages.

It all depends on what you want and PERSONALLY....I wouldn't worry about screenwriting software. Your vision is in your head and you just need to write it down in such a way as the people who are helping know what you want done, and what do you need pro-writing software when all the people working are amatures?

DV is cheap so just shoot and shoot and when in doubt.....slow mo. :hv20-smilie77:

[ddavidd20]

Robert Rodriquez's script for El Mariachi was 40 pages and it was a 70 min movie.

Conversly Kevin Smith's outline for his version of Superman Returns was 80 pages while the average outline is 1-3 pages.


of course it can vary with every scriptwriter as there are good ones and there are bad ones. but what he was asking for was a general idea for script length in a 15-minute film, not that they can always be different from one another.
the general rule of thumb in screenwriting is 1 page is equal to (more or less) a minute of screen time.

Writing in proper formats and using proper font (Courier 12 font is used for timing purposes), also factors into this idea. Of course if you don't plan on writing out alot of specific shots in your script where there isn't dialogue, then it could certainly pan out to be a very short screenplay for what the length is. But any thoroughly, complete screenplay should be more or less 1 minute per page (at least for dialogue).

[jmorton]

Here is the script for a 5 minute fight scene:

"Officer John McClane kicks the crap out of Karl."

So you see: the material also has a lot to do with script length.

If the director has a clear vision of what he / she wants then this can be communicated on set to the actors even though it is not specifically written on the page.

JM :hv20-smilie03:

[mattias]

I wouldn't worry about screenwriting software. Your vision is in your head and you just need to write it down in such a way as the people who are helping know what you want done, and what do you need pro-writing software when all the people working are amatures?
because it lets you estimate the length of the film, which i believe was the point of the exercise. if you write in "proper" screenplay form the 1 minute per page is surprisingly accurate. it doesn't work for other formats, it obviously doesn't work for outlines, treatments and synopses.

/matt

[Kyleman]

Thanks guys! Yeah I've been using Celtx, which it's really good for a freeware program. I have been writing out every shot in dialog because I'm working amateur camera operators some of the time, since I'm also acting in this movie I can't be behind the camera the whole time. So I figured I would write around 20-25 pages.

[musicjules]

i have a 50 page script for the 6minutes length for the HV20 short contest ....

[Kyleman]

Wow, yeah I've got some typing to do.