Your Day

djchameleon · 11-20-2016, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paedantic Basterd

I've been playing around with screenwriting as a hobby for a while now. In the last month I started to write my first feature-length script. I've got three major characters, each with a complete character arc mapped out from start to finish, and I've got the major events planned, but there's a problem. After putting pen to paper (so to speak), my "feature-length" script is roughly 50 pages. Typically a feature of this nature is more like 120 pages (at ~1 minute per page).

Soooo now I'm like, wha'd I do wrong? Is it possible to get to the point too quickly in a story? Am I destined to write for television rather than film? Am I missing some kind of subplot to resolve in Act II?

I lost the motivation to finish it after realizing there was something fundamentally wrong in my structure and pacing for it to be so short.

I feel like the way you paced that is based off of watching UK tv series. They usually blow through things and have a super fast pacing because their series are like 6 episodes each kind of thing.

So if you want to do that type of pacing for a full length then you just have to flesh out and shove more things in to make up for the length. Act II most likely needs to be drawn out more.

**Janszoon** · 11-20-2016, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paedantic Basterd

I've been playing around with screenwriting as a hobby for a while now. In the last month I started to write my first feature-length script. I've got three major characters, each with a complete character arc mapped out from start to finish, and I've got the major events planned, but there's a problem. After putting pen to paper (so to speak), my "feature-length" script is roughly 50 pages. Typically a feature of this nature is more like 120 pages (at ~1 minute per page).

Soooo now I'm like, wha'd I do wrong? Is it possible to get to the point too quickly in a story? Am I destined to write for television rather than film? Am I missing some kind of subplot to resolve in Act II?

I lost the motivation to finish it after realizing there was something fundamentally wrong in my structure and pacing for it to be so short.

Add a car chase and a trippy dream sequence.

Ol’ Qwerty Bastard · 11-20-2016, 08:52 AM

Don't force it. Put the script away for a week or so and come back to it and try and find if there's anything you can add or elaborate on. If not, that's fine. Not everyone can start off making major motion pictures. Some topics and ideas are better meant for TV or short films. The important thing is to not waste or ruin what you've already worked so hard on just because it isn't what you expected.

The Batlord · 11-20-2016, 11:25 AM

Have an orgy in humanity's last stronghold in the center of the earth and set it to bad techno.

Paedantic Basterd · 11-20-2016, 11:27 AM

I think you're right Deej. My story gets to the point too fast for a feature, and I need to cram more events into Act II and somehow have that feel as if it'd be likely to happen, which means the events need to result somehow from the behaviours of my characters while also inciting them to change. It can't all be people sitting around and giving each other insights passively while they talk about themselves (I guess I feel like that's more or less what it boils down to on the page).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qwertyy

Don't force it. Put the script away for a week or so and come back to it and try and find if there's anything you can add or elaborate on. If not, that's fine. Not everyone can start off making major motion pictures. Some topics and ideas are better meant for TV or short films. The important thing is to not waste or ruin what you've already worked so hard on just because it isn't what you expected.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Have an orgy in humanity's last stronghold in the center of the earth and set it to bad techno.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Add a car chase and a trippy dream sequence.

All wonderful advice, especially the last two pieces.

**Frownland** · 11-21-2016, 01:45 PM

I received my 2 grams of Don Joyce's ashes today.

**Exo** · 11-21-2016, 01:46 PM

How the f*ck did you get that?

**Frownland** · 11-21-2016, 01:49 PM

Negativland’s new album will come with Don Joyce’s actual cremated remains | Consequence of Sound

**Exo** · 11-21-2016, 01:50 PM

You're f*cking weird.

The Batlord · 11-21-2016, 01:55 PM

What a ****ing coincidence. I just listened to them for the first time a couple days ago.

11-21-2016, 01:45 PM	#40656 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	I received my 2 grams of Don Joyce's ashes today. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

11-21-2016, 01:46 PM	#40657 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,354	How the fck did you get that? __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE*

11-21-2016, 01:49 PM	#40658 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	Negativland’s new album will come with Don Joyce’s actual cremated remains \| Consequence of Sound __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

11-21-2016, 01:50 PM	#40659 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,354	You're fcking weird. __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE*