I'm in the process of writing a new script. It's progressing considerably slowly but still progressing nevertheless. I haven't quite had the time I'd like to work on it. Anyway, I'm about 45 pages or so into it and I feel I may have run into a problem, though I'm not quite sure.

The first act is almost entirely dialogue but around the 30 page mark, the dialogue ceases almost completely. I've planned out the script in its entirety and there are only a few lengthy dialogue scenes to come. There are, of course, a few exclamations here and there but they do little for the story.

I realize dialogue adds a considerable amount of bulk to a script. How much harm can a lack of dialogue possibly do to a script's lenght? Right now, I feel I'm where I need to be in the story as far as pages are concerned. Maybe five or so pages behind what I'd prefer but no big deal. I'm concerned, however, that later, the dialogue shortage may manifest itself as a problem and get worse and worse as the story progresses.

Should I continue on and see where this thing goes or am I in need of adjusting the story?

Any comments would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Don't start editing your work until you are done.  If you do, you'll never finish it.


Phil

I'd say let it ride.  It's true that dialogue adds bulk to the script, but action adds time.  Ever see the script for The Blues Brothers?  It's like 65 pages if I remember right, really short, but with the car chases and music scenes, it's a feature length movie.

I'm assuming this is a horror script based on your past work.  

Movies are visual. If you can tell the story through the visuals, then do it. Don't use dialogue unless you have to. Remember that the art of filmmaking began almost 40 years before sound was added. They were making feature length films for about 15 years or so before. A long span of no dialogue is perfectly fine.

You seem to be worrying more about your page length than the overall appeal of your script.  If the first half takes all dialogue and the second half takes all action, write it that way.  If you start worrying about page length then you start adding in unneccessary scenes just to bulk up your screenplay.  I've done this, trust me.

Just write and worry about everything else later.

Go until it's done. You can always edit later.

Thanks for the advice, guys. I've decided to stick it out. I'll admit I'm very concerned about the number of pages as I try to stick to the one page = one minute rule as much as possible to be sure I write a feasible feature-length script. I guess that one's not going to apply to this script though. I guess if action beefs up time, I won't need to worry if this one ends up in the 70-80 page range, which I suspect it will.

Quoted from Shelton I'm assuming this is a horror script based on your past work.

You are most correct, Mike. This is yet another horror script from me and likely the last I'll write for some time, believe it or not. I think the time has come for me to try and branch out. Horror is and likely will remain my main passion in scriptwriting and I hope to right many more in the future however I'd like to try and expand my horizons following this project. My sixth feature-length will almost certainly be of another genre.

Nevertheless, Black Market is shaping up to be my most horrific, vile, and depraved script yet but still suspenseful, atmospheric, and, hopefully, focused on all the right elements of storytelling. I think it's also a good transitional script as the third act bends genres something awful and the first act is far removed from the typical horror movie setup. Hope it's well-received.