I finished writing a new Jurassic Park script a few weeks ago (its taken me this long to get back online) that comes in at 160 plus pages. That's not really the problem, the problem is that it takes until around page 40 for the dinosaurs to show up since I spend the time before that creating the characters and story. I'm fixing some things for a second draft and I was wondering if I should shorten the first 40 pages so that the dinosaurs show up maybe around 30 pages or around there. I'd like some opinions on whether or not to do that.

Also, I got a USB stick recently and I was wondering if when you download screenwriting software (i.e. Celtx) if it can be put into a USB stick. That way I could download it at a friends and then upload it onto my PC. I still don't have the internet yet. Can it be done?

You should have the dinosaurs appear in the first fifteen or twenty pages.  People who read this script want to read about the dinosaurs, not the people.

Can't help you regarding the computer question.


Phil

Regarding the writing program, it can be done. I did it with Celtx. On the site, simply make the file download location the USB, then when you get to your computer, move the file, open it and install the program. Easy as cherry pie on July 4th.

Congrats on finshing the script. Good luck with the editing.


Matt.

Befor you start your second draft, put the script away for a month.  Give yourself time time to clear your head.  Start another script or read some oter from here.  It's easier this way.


Phil

I can't believe Phil did not make a snide comment relating to this thread title.

Perhaps he is maturing after all...

Put dinosaurs in your very first scene, Vrante.  Construct a grabber for your readers right up front.

Then people will have more patience for the character-building scenes that follow.

Think 3-dimensionally Vrante.  Incorporate all of this character developement (which is important) into the action scenes with the dinosaurs.  People reveal their true nature in a crisis.  The story as well can evolve through the course of the script.  Don't just deal with all this character/plot stuff up front and then brush it aside once the dinosaurs show up.  Let it all happen simultaneously.

I don't mean for this to be a snide comment. But why waste all this time writing a script you can never sell?

Unless you've already attained the rights and just didn't tell us, a writer can't adapt someone else's work, or use someone else's characters, without permission. You may not be using the books as a guideline, but using the title JURASSIC PARK, which is probably a registered trademark is probably against the law.

Anyway, enough of the legalities. Congrats on getting to 160 pages - that's insane, but I just don't want you to waste all that time.

Quoted from ABennettWriter I don't mean for this to be a snide comment. But why waste all this time writing a script you can never sell?

http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-cc/m-1173541317/

I'm glad that Jonathan's been able to sell some of his work. What does that have to do with Vrante infringing on someone else's copyright?

It's like me writing a Batman script. It'll never sell because I don't have the rights to write it in the first place.

Read through the thread and take note of the script that Jonathan sold.

Anyone can write anything they want. However, you cannot sell it with out permission. If you wrote the most awesome Batman script ever and a studio REALLY wanted to make it into the next blockbuster, they would attain the rights before they'd buy it.

It is probably harder to get anyone to read it than if it's your own original idea, but no one can stop you from writing whatever you want.

*opens mouth, inserts foot*

My bad, yo.

Quoted from bert I can't believe Phil did not make a snide comment relating to this thread title. .

I laughed my arse off when I read the title to this thread, guess I got a filthy mind!

Actually, any production company can purchase any script they want.  And we, as writers, can write whatever we please.  

Now, with that being said, the studio with the rights will be the deciding factor.  With that aspect, you really have no control over the situation.

The point, Vrante, is that you should write what you want to.  Using other people's characters will make it an uphill battle, but not an impossible one.

As far as your page count problem, my first draft of "Green Lantern" was 170 pages.  The second draft clocked in at about 147 pages and the third clocked in right at 119 pages.  The more you work with the script the more you can see places to cut or condense the story.

Quoted from bert I can't believe Phil did not make a snide comment relating to this thread title. Perhaps he is maturing after all...

And I can't believe that you--

Ahhh, shut the hell up you stupid muppet!  The joke was too obvious!


Phil