Reader Question: Should I trim a 125 page spec script or not?
Nitro1976 asks:
I’m struggling with the subject of script length. I’ve read some discussions on GITS and I realize that script readers have a tough job — they want short scripts.
On the other hand, my genre is action and if you look at the script lengths of many successful movies, a page count of 115 or less isn’t possible without cutting out complete scenes/beats. Trimming only gets you so far.
Consider the following list of scripts. My own script is similar in tone and story. I listed the page count behind their names.
Aliens (120), Gladiator (121), Avatar (152), Titanic (173), Batman Begins (150), Inception (147), Dark Knight (141), Star Trek (156)
Suddenly 125 pages sounds short (the page count of my own screenplay ;) )
Considering this, would you cut scenes (although it would compromise the story quite a bit) to bring it down to 115 or leave it as is?
Thank you
I admire your instincts here:
First you’re smart to be thinking about script readers as they are Hollywood’s gatekeepers, covering every manuscript that gets funneled into the system. And in fact, one of the earliest things a script reader will do when preparing to write coverage is flip to the back page to see how long the manuscript is. Why? So they know whether they hate you (your script is long) or love you (your script is an acceptable length).
Second you’re aware of your genre — action — and what is generally expected there.
Third you’ve even researched other scripts in the genre to check out their page counts. The problem with this last bit of business is that you’re comparing apples to oranges. Those scripts are production or shooting scripts which means the project has already been set up and page count is less of an issue. Your script is a selling script which means page count is more of an issue.
I don’t know what sub-genre your story is, but if it’s not a comic book, superhero, gargantuan save-the-universe type movie, but rather a more conventional action movie, 125 pages is going to come off as long. Look at the run times for some of these action movies from 2011 [figuring 1 page per minute]:
Hanna: 110 minutes
The Mechanic: 93 minutes
Sanctum: 103 minutes
Source Code: 93 minutes
Sucker Punch: 110 minutes
[You could point to Fast Five (130 minutes), but that is the fourth sequel in a franchise, so they can pretty much do whatever they want in terms of movie length.]
My guess is if you took a poll of script readers, they would probably say you should target 100 pages for a conventional action movie, 110 at the outside.
So here you are at 125 pages and I’m telling you to knock out 15–25 pages. What to do?
You can begin by reassessing this perspective: “…a page count of 115 or less isn’t possible without cutting out complete scenes/beats. Trimming only gets you so far.”
First this assumes that cutting out “complete scenes/beats” is a bad thing. Not necessarily. If you are a professional writer, you have to be ruthless. And you start by asking tough questions. So with every single scene in your script, ask the following:
* What is the purpose of this scene?
* Have I nailed that purpose?
* Do I absolutely have to have this scene in the script?
* No seriously, can my story work if I remove this scene?
* Is there a way for me to accomplish what I want in the story by cutting this scene?
* Is there a way for me to accomplish what I want in the scene by writing it shorter?
The reality is you can always cut beats and usually scenes from a script, even if you think you can’t. That is if you are tough enough on yourself and the material. And part of what I’m asking you to reassess is that this is a negative experience. It’s not. Tough, yes. But if you’re making the story more readable, the pace quicker, the action tighter, that is actually a positive experience.
Now let’s look at the other part of your assumption: “Trimming only gets you so far.” To which I respond, “There’s trimming, and there’s trimming.” I invite you to look at these four GITS posts:
Lose orphans
Lose parentheticals
Lose transitions
Pseudo-slugs
I can almost guarantee you can cut 5 pages, perhaps 10 just by going through your script and following the above advice.
But beyond that, if you take the same ruthless attitude toward each line of scene description and each side of dialogue as you should with each scene you write, you can get there.
Here’s a visual reference for you: You’re Clint Eastwood, but instead of a gun in your hand, you have a red pen. And instead of Bad Guys, you’re hunting down unnecessary lines.
Less is almost always more when it comes to screenwriting. And that is especially true in an action script.
So should you trim your 125 page script? If you read it and honestly think it’s perfect as is, perhaps not. But if your script exists in the sphere of mere mortals, it’s almost a lock cinch that you can tighten it up, cut some fat, and get from 125 to 110 or even 100. It may be a tough process. But if you end up with a better script, it will be worth it.
UPDATE: The Bitter Script Reader was kind enough to Tweet some responses to this post. Here they are.
To the original question, “Should I trim a 125 page spec script or not?”
The answer to that question is always “yes.” If you’re asking, that means you know something isn’t necessary.
I followed up by asking TBSR, “If you flip to the back page and see that it’s 125, what’s your reaction?’ His answer:
I sigh. It’s probably a lame reaction to have, but it tells me there’s bound to be fat in the script.
That’s better than some readers who will curse your name instead. Not a good way for them to start reading your script. Then TBSR ended with this:
It’s SO easy to get a 125 pg script down by ten pgs just with economical description. Leaving it at 125 is a worrying “tell”.
So there you have it, straight from a professional script reader, albeit a bitter one.
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