I am trying to write a screenplay that is enough for a full length movie. When I finally finished it yesterday, it was only 22 pages. I tried to spread my characters personalities as much as possible, but only got to 37 pages. What am I doing wrong? I know my screenplay is possible to be much longer, but I must be doing something wrong.

For a feature, your script should be clocking in at around 90-120 pages, so at 37 pages, your script is basically a short.

It's difficult to tell you what you're doing wrong without reading what you've written so far (you might not have done anything wrong - maybe your story is just better suited as a short).

The only real advise I can offer is that you read a bunch of feature scripts. There are plenty on this board and even more on the main site. Read and learn basically. Read and then go back to your own script and try to identify where the wheels come off.

Good luck.

Rob

Thanks for the help. I am aware that for a feature my script should be 90-120 pages long.

My story is definitely not suited to be a short. I know there are other elements I can add to it, but not sure what.

I will surely read many scripts on this site. I have been a member for quite awhile now, but never really needed help with anything until now.

Is it properly formatted?

There's only a minutes action on each page of a script, so there should be an awful lot of blank paper.

If it is, the chances are that you've not got any subplots running under the main stiry and that kind of thing.

Or it could be that it's just not enough of a story for 90 minutes.

I'd post it in the WIP section, so we can get a better look.

You might be trying to rush into things too quickly, I understand the things you said with your characters. I used to have the same problem. Try to maybe make us get to know the characters better? It is hard to tell without seeing it.

Good luck.

My story is really simple and it does suffer from not a lot of subplots. I have tried to find a way to put in a subplot, but it is very difficult.

As for the characters, they are very one dimensional. I mean, there isn't really a whole lot to them. The only character that has a whole lot of a back story is the main one. But I have literally flushed out his entire life.

As far as I can tell from what I've readed on the thread so far, it seems that:

a) You have one dimensional characters, which means that you are only taking care of the action and you lack of character development in the story.

b) You have no subplots, which means that you are only working the main plot, and it may be relate with the first problem.

and c) As Dec noticed, it may be a formatting problem, too. Check out some scripts on the download section or use a formatting program like Celtx to write your script.

Hope that helps!

Dude, write down the scenes you do have and look a that as a skeleton to build on. You should see some opportunities. Ask yourself a couple of questions: What is the character's biggest flaw? What could happen that would be the hardest thing for him to deal with? These should help get you kickstarted. Either that or put your script down for awhile and let it percolate in your mind for a week or two before writing on it again. Or you have (gasp) writer's block. Work on something else for awhile.

That's all I can add based on your short query.

Good luck.

Gary

I actually have been thinking about this post since it popped up yesterday morning.  At times, I was laughing, and couldn't figure out exactly what was going on here.  I don't mean that I was laughing at you, but was laughing at the situation itself.

Check this out...You say you've got a feature screenplay in your head and have finished it, and it turned out to be 22 pages.   With some tinkering, you got it to 37 pages, which is almost twice as long!.  You know what I mean?  22 to 37 pages is quite a difference, but nowhere near feature script length.

You know you need at least 90 pages (or close).  So you know that you're still only 1/3 of the way there.  This is crazy!  How can this be?

You say you have 1 dimensional characters and a simple story with no subplots.  Those are not positive things, but they're not make or brake, either.  Lots of movies/scripts have 1 dimensional characters and very simple stories, but they still manage to run at least 90 minutes.

Grade made a great suggestion.  Let's take it a step further though and put together an outline.  It can be a very simple outline, but you need to see on paper, exactly what your story is and where it goes.  So, try it...start with a skeleton of your scenes, like Grade recommended, and then fill in some details below each scene (like an outline).  How long is your outline?  How many different scenes do you have?  How many characters do you have (and are there both antags and protags)?  Do you have conflict?  Do you have resolution?

Try this and get back with us.  Hope it helps!  Good luck.

You might also try fleshing out all of the characters. By creating backstories and everything related to their lives, you can often come up with the additional scenes and subplots you're looking for. After all, these people came together somehow, right? They have a purpose in existing in the same place. You could take a few steps before your story is starting and fill in a little with the character points. Typically the stories that are light on the plot are heavy on the characters and vice versa.

The outline is a great idea as well, but look at your other characters and give them a life. That might be just what you need.

Quoted from George Willson You might also try fleshing out all of the characters. By creating backstories and everything related to their lives, you can often come up with the additional scenes and subplots you're looking for. After all, these people came together somehow, right? They have a purpose in existing in the same place. You could take a few steps before your story is starting and fill in a little with the character points. Typically the stories that are light on the plot are heavy on the characters and vice versa. The outline is a great idea as well, but look at your other characters and give them a life. That might be just what you need.

Excellent advice George.
Fleshing out the characters would definately give you more to work with. That way subplots could be incorporated because character reactions etc  would create a richer story.

I second what George said, too... or third that... or whatever LOL

I'll 4th it, but it's not going to increase the script by 50-60 pages...and if it does, we're talking about a script that is 2/3 fleshed out characterization.

I'm interested in hearing answers to questions I posed.

I'm in the don't add flesh until you have a skeleton camp on this one.

Do you have a beginning, a middle and an end?  If you're only at twenty-two pages before you started padding I don't think you do.

I think I'm with Lakewood here.  Adding 70 pages of padding doesn't sound like a great story...