I just wrote a 165 page script, longest script i've ever written.
Personally I normally try to start with a first draft of around 80 pages: that way by the time I've rewritten it a couple of times it will be more like 100-110.
Have there been any successful three-hour low-budget movies? I've tried to think of one, but haven't come up with anything so far.
dogville's budget might have been pretty low.
but normally no, they're usually pretty short.
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So Matt, are you proud because it's long - or because it's great?
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
Im proud because it's great. It was hard work and I put a lot of emotion in the script. And if I may say it's best to have your first draft long from what i've heard from many writers such as Kevin Smith or Tarantino. Hell the first draft for clerks was around a 150 pages.
Having a long first draft is only helpful if you can spot the crap and cut it out. Even better is to write a shorter draft with no crap in it in the first place. Sometimes its hard to cut out the crap without taking necessary stuff with it.
Sometimes it's all good and you should be thinking Kill Bill 1 and 2 instead of one giant movie.
RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA
RJSchwarz
But if you enjoy writing, and you cannot but help and stop writing until it's the end, then a long draft is what comes. It's not how your going to situate it, it's putting it all down.
My point is to make a movie you have to cut. Some people cut after they finish their 165 pages and they fight with every cut because they love it so much. Others cut as they go. It's a matter of style, not necessarily something to be proud of or not.
If you can't find anything to cut you've got an unworkable film length. If cutting out one thread knocks you down to 65 minutes you've got an unworkable film length. Congratulations on getting so much down and ready to be trimmed but the hard part might still be ahead. Killing your darlings is painful.
RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA
RJSchwarz
That said, you do have the Tarantino option: take your 600 page script (or whatever you have) and turn it into several different movies.
I dont think there is one GREAT way to write a screenplay. Its all up to the writer and what he/she feels.
Congratulations Matt.
