Mine right now hovers between 99 - 102 pages through the process of adding and editing out. I understand comedy should generally be on the lower limit, but does adding action to the genre mix force this script away from this rule? Because I'm going to have a very hard time editing out full scenes without changing the nuts and bolts of the story. I have previously been able to shrink it down from 111 to 99 pages, but only through shortening and tightening action descriptions and dialogue and cutting out bits of scenes. I can't find a full scene worht cutting out.

Should I accept a 100 page script or attempt to shrink down?

Opinions vary, as always. Comedy is seen by many as less worthy than drama. Adam Sandler certainly does not help this.

A script should be somewhere between 90 to 130 pages. The shorter, the better. If you've got the thing down to less than 120 then you've done it.

It's hard to edit your own scripts and it's hard to rewrite them. Best stick it in a drawer for a couple of weeks then come back to it with fresh eyes. You'll see it in a different light.

Alternatively stick it up here and let all and sundry have a look. I'm sure they'd have no trouble finding a scene or two that they would cut.

R

R's got it right.  The shorter, the better.  Honestly, I don't think there's anything wrong with a 100 page script.  But you'd be surprised how big of a difference it makes opening up a script and seeing a 99 page count vs. 100.  I'm not going to lie, I groan a little when I start to see the count creeping past 100.  Might be worth knocking it down even just a page to hit that 90-99 sweet spot.  (And this is hypocritically speaking as someone who has a 110+ page script on the boards now.)

Quoted from rendevous Opinions vary, as always. Comedy is seen by many as less worthy than drama. Adam Sandler certainly does not help this. R

Ha!

The Adam Sandler Serum equation is born.

Every minute that Adam Sandler oozes dialoge meant to be funny, feels like ten minutes of wannabe real comedy.

My personal take for comedy is 85 to 95 pages.

Give or take a few pages given the action element.

Unless you're a funny fucking writer. ;D

Shawn.....><

I honestly think it's silly to pre judge scripts on page length. Sadly this is done... a lot. So you have to adapt. To me anything under 130 pages is reasonable. I think 90 pages is what people think of as acceptable when you're writing a comedy script. When they see a number under 100, they think it's lean and easy to read. Which a comedy script should be.

If I like a premise, I would be willing to read a 130 page comedy script. But since it's very hard to get people to read your story you have to give them all the incentives you can. Page length is one of them.

I kind of agree with Demento. I don't even see a problem with an 85 page script, but some will assume it's thin. I think 100 to 110 is a good place to aim for, but if it comes out longer or shorter, all that matters is whether the story works.

I will say that if the script is on the long side, and the early pages have a lot of ink, the reader might assume it's overwritten and form a negative opinion. So keep those pages white!

However long it takes to tell the story.  Leave out scenes you don't need, only use scenes that progress the story.  No padding required.

Superbad - 119 minutes
The Hangover - 108
Bridesmaids - 132
This is The End - 107
Crazy Stupid Love - 140
Nebraska - 115
The Heat - 117
We're the Millers - 110
Anchorman - 104
Ted - 106
21 Jump Street - 110
Pitch Perfect - 112
Ride Along - 100
Neighbors - 97

Quoted from Gary in Houston Superbad - 119 minutes The Hangover - 108 Bridesmaids - 132 This is The End - 107 Crazy Stupid Love - 140 Nebraska - 115 The Heat - 117 We're the Millers - 110 Anchorman - 104 Ted - 106 21 Jump Street - 110 Pitch Perfect - 112 Ride Along - 100 Neighbors - 97

Are these actual runtimes of the movies or pages in the script?

If these are movie runtimes, keep in mind, many movies have titles and credits (before and after in some cases) that take up to an additional 10 or more minutes, so runtimes can be deceiving.

Quoted from Dreamscale Are these actual runtimes of the movies or pages in the script? If these are movie runtimes, keep in mind, many movies have titles and credits (before and after in some cases) that take up to an additional 10 or more minutes, so runtimes can be deceiving.

And the dialogue versus action ratio in every script. Even which program the writer uses to write the script. They all have an effect on how long the script's going to turn out. Dialogue heavy scripts = more pages. Action heavy scripts = less. I wouldn't necessarily put much weight on how long the script turns out -- if it absolutely needs to be long, then fine. But thinking to yourself "Comedy's should be 85 pages!" helps nobody.

I was just including those film times as some examples.  I don't know how long the script pages are, except I think Superbad ran about 120 pages if I recall correctly.

As a side note, my action feature is beginning filming this summer in New Orleans, and I remember the director asking me to cut several pages from the script with this simple formula:  We can shoot three pages a day.  Each page with this budget (appox. $40 million) cost $50,000.  You cut 5 pages, you've saved us $250,000. And he also informed me that a page full of dialogue would be about 40 - 45 seconds (rather than a minute), whereas a page full of action could, depending on how much action is involved could be anywhere from 1-3 minutes, maybe even more.  The page a minute guideline is only an average and nothing more.

I've written two comedy features recently that I'm hoping get picked up as well -- one is 97 pages, the other is 102.  I think if your story is compelling, it's actually funny and the characters jump off the page at you, then producers won't get a crap whether it's 85, 90 or 102.

Gary

Quoted from Gary in Houston As a side note, my action feature is beginning filming this summer in New Orleans, and I remember the director asking me to cut several pages from the script with this simple formula:  We can shoot three pages a day.  Each page with this budget (appox. $40 million) cost $50,000.  You cut 5 pages, you've saved us $250,000. And he also informed me that a page full of dialogue would be about 40 - 45 seconds (rather than a minute), whereas a page full of action could, depending on how much action is involved could be anywhere from 1-3 minutes, maybe even more.  The page a minute guideline is only an average and nothing more. I've written two comedy features recently that I'm hoping get picked up as well -- one is 97 pages, the other is 102.  I think if your story is compelling, it's actually funny and the characters jump off the page at you, then producers won't get a crap whether it's 85, 90 or 102. Gary

Are any of your features availabe to read?   I'd like to take a look.

Caleb, the action feature isn't because I have a non-disclosure agreement with the producer which prohibits me from sharing the script with anyone not involved with the production.  Pretty standard fare.

The comedies are vomit first drafts, but when they're in shape, I'll probably post them on this site just to get some feedback.  One of them was written with Mark Moore (Irish Eyes).  You can see some of his work elsewhere, including "11:07", which I know was recently filmed.  I know his script is on the site, but I'm not sure about the film. I've seen it, and it's brilliantly done.  The other was done with Rick Hansberry, who has a film called "Alienate" coming out in August, I think.  You can look him up on his IMDB site.

But hopefully there will be something to put out there soon.  Thanks for asking.
Gary