Just curious about something. I usually roam around the horror genre. There i saw a script that was 137 pages.

So, I was just wondering what have you heard about page length when it comes to any genre but particularly horror?
I read 90-120 standard range, and a singe page comes out to about a minute of screen time.

Also, does page length weight in on wether you'd read a script?


BLB

When I first started writing, a whole 20 months ago, the standard seemed to be 110 to 120 pages. But it seems to have dropped to 90 pages. I've read scripts from people that are 75, and that would have seemed crazy to me a couple years ago, but not now. 75 to 90 pages is easy to read, which is a huge advantage. And is also much cheaper to film, with less scenes. I think it's a good page number for horror.

Yeah, I know it varies amongst genres. If a page a minute rings close to true than 75 to 90 pages (1hr 15min - 1hr 30 min) sounds about right for horror. And you are right reading 75 to 90 pages is way easier, but reading a good story makes that much easier.


BLB

My script frostbite is 116 and it's doing really, really good... I've been in talks all month over it.  You hafta remember, a 97 page script is too lean to make cuts on.  Leave some fat so long as it taste good... I'm very optimistic, after the people i've spoke to, that frostbite will be picked up.

That's great news Baltis, well done, kudos. Nice to hear positive news from writers.

Quoted from Eoin That's great news Baltis, well done, kudos. Nice to hear positive news from writers.

Appreciate it.  I'm certainly holding my cards very close right now, but it's certainly starting to get more and more buzz  -- Believe it or not, I think the Page Awards had a lot to do with it, too.  Virtually no contacts until the script started doing well there, now I'm talking to a guy about it on a weekly basis.

If ever a script did deserve to be made in this genre, it's Frostbite.  I truly believe this embodies everything horror stands for.  Past, present and future.

Quoted from Baltis. My script frostbite is 116 and it's doing really, really good... I've been in talks all month over it.  You hafta remember, a 97 page script is too lean to make cuts on.  Leave some fat so long as it taste good... I'm very optimistic, after the people i've spoke to, that frostbite will be picked up.

Congrats Baltis! I'm rooting for ya!

I've read scripts that were less than 90 pages, but felt like they would never end. I've also read scripts that were so good, I didn't want them to ever end. It's all about story...however, most of the time, people are so in love with their story, they think everyone else will be too...

FROSTBITE!!!!!!!!

YES!!!!!!

We want Frostbite!!!!

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Congrats Baltis. I would like to read Frostbite if possible. If not, mind giving us a log line.

Dark Entrance is at a crisp 65 pages = 1 hr and 5 mins. lol. I can add more to it, but I refuse to at the moment so I can think about what I'm going to add. But for now, I'm happy with 65 pgs.

Gabe

"Stranded in the mountains of Colorado, a fractured family on the mend must put aside their differences to survive the attacks of a creature unlike any on earth."

While the script entered into PAGE was 116 pages, the actual final draft is 105 pages -- That is the version I'm sending out, and will also be resubmitting to Page should I be lucky enough to advance into the finals on August 15th.

We'll see -- But regardless of how well it does or doesn't do in Page from here on out, there is enough buzz about it now and enough hands on it that I've got an option or two hovering about.

The thing that sets it apart, as I've been told, is you actually care for the people you're suppose to care about and hate the people you're suppose to hate, but as soon as the middle man comes in you throw all of those emotions out the window and start thinking about  the group as a whole -- about how they're going to survive.  Good guy, bad guy, whatever... They're not near as bad as what they're up against.

It truly is a damn good script.  I love it more and more every time I read it or tweak it...

I work Development for multiple production companies here in town.
When it comes to horror, 97 to 105 is generally considered the sweet spot.
A full script with room to work down is more attractive than a 90 page twig.

But, in the end, it comes down to narrative tug and compelling pages.
A super high page count will likely get you thrown in the cold case trash pile.
I don't read anything over 130 pages unless I know the author or I'm paid to care! ;D

Keep writing and rewriting.

Regards,
E.D.

Great to hear, Baltis.

I agree with you to Pia content matters a hell of a lot, but I will say when it comes a an author I'm not familiar with and I see 130 plus pages, I have pause.

BLB

For amateurs, I think the sweet spot is 90-110 pages. Most paid readers/gatekeepers would weigh a script in hand if it's more than that range and you already have a ding if it's too long. It's not fair, but it's one of those pro vs amateur rules.

Then again I read Tarantino/Sorkin scripts all the time and they're usually 160-170 pages. However, they've earned it and they're really good. Just finished Django Unchained at 166 pages and I actually didn't want it to end.

I'd stick with the 90-110 pages and not get dinged before the reader opens the script. Keep it tight and let your prose determine your fate.

Nice one Baltis. Always liked the page awards got to round 2 myself not good enough for the quarters thr feedback alone is awesome...
Good luck would love to read it

Mark

Quoted from Baltis. "Stranded in the mountains of Colorado, a fractured family on the mend must put aside their differences to survive the attacks of a creature unlike any on earth." While the script entered into PAGE was 116 pages, the actual final draft is 105 pages -- That is the version I'm sending out, and will also be resubmitting to Page should I be lucky enough to advance into the finals on August 15th. We'll see -- But regardless of how well it does or doesn't do in Page from here on out, there is enough buzz about it now and enough hands on it that I've got an option or two hovering about. The thing that sets it apart, as I've been told, is you actually care for the people you're suppose to care about and hate the people you're suppose to hate, but as soon as the middle man comes in you throw all of those emotions out the window and start thinking about  the group as a whole -- about how they're going to survive.  Good guy, bad guy, whatever... They're not near as bad as what they're up against. It truly is a damn good script.  I love it more and more every time I read it or tweak it...

that sounds awesome. i'd love to read it.

Baltis and Dreamscale should combine their scripts into one.  Call it "Fade to Frostbite".

On a serious note I really don't wanna start a new thread but I've noticed diffences in the title page.  Is there an industry standard these days or does it even matter?

Examples I've seen:

                 TITLE                       Title                    TITLE
                   by                           By                       By
             Joe Smith                 Joe Smith              Joe Smith              

If memory serves, Fade to White, and it's been a few since I brushed up on it, was a slasher -- These two scripts couldn't be further apart if you slapped Romantic Comedy on one and Black Exploitation on the other.

While very few have read Frostbite outside of Adam Levenberg, who helped me tremendously early on with it, the Page Award people and now, more recently, a few producers -- I can assure you these scripts are nothing alike... Hell, even the location I used was made up.  Frostbite is certainly Drama/Horror... Probably more Drama than horror, to be honest.

Quoted from Baltis. If memory serves, Fade to White, and it's been a few since I brushed up on it, was a slasher -- These two scripts couldn't be further apart if you slapped Romantic Comedy on one and Black Exploitation on the other. While very few have read Frostbite outside of Adam Levenberg, who helped me tremendously early on with it, the Page Award people and now, more recently, a few producers -- I can assure you these scripts are nothing alike... Hell, even the location I used was made up.  Frostbite is certainly Drama/Horror... Probably more Drama than horror, to be honest.

It was a joke.  And a GOOD one at that.  Both horror movies, both take place in Colorado.  Any-who... moving right along.

Any thoughts of my title page question?

You can write your title page any way you want to, as long as you don't throw in goofy fonts and sizes.

Fade to White is a drama as well - at least in the long drawn out bar scene.

Quoted from Dreamscale You can write your title page any way you want to, as long as you don't throw in goofy fonts and sizes.

Thanks.

I just recently read the script entitled Clownfish.  Author put a period after the title.   I'm not even gonna ask why.

Quoted from Baltis. While very few have read Frostbite

i'm game to read it whenever it becomes available...i dont believe i have read any of your stuff.