On Jan 7, 11:28 pm, Duggy  wrote:   
   > On Jan 8, 1:28 pm, "David E. Powell"  wrote:   
   >   
   > > Hate to ask a silly question, but in JMS' book on script writing, the   
   > > TV film is mentioned as usually being 120 mins. in length, with a   
   > > 101-110 page script.   
   >   
   > 120min air time or 120min programme time?   
   I was thinking air time. It is tricky as some Network TV movies run 3   
   hours with ads.   
   > 120 min sounds like the time with ads.  2 hours exactly so the next   
   > show starts on the hour/half hour.   
   Yes, that's what I was thinking. I was trying to figure in the ads,   
   etc. and wondering if 101-110 pages could do it. Thank you very much   
   for your response, it's something I was trying to get around as far as   
   time vs. script length.   
   > > However I have noticed that many TV films these days are 90-94   
   > > minutes. I believe that IMDB lists both "In The Beginning" and   
   > > "Thirdspace" at 94 minutes.   
   >   
   > With 26 min of ads.   
   >   
   > > So I was wondering what the usual length is for those scripts? I am   
   > > guessing 48 + 24 = 72 pages, approximately? I was going by the hourly   
   > > drama requirements of about 48 pages.   
   >   
   > The general guide is a page a minute, so 94 pages for 94min of   
   > programme to fill a 120min slot.   
   > Hense the 48 page script to for a 48min show to fill a one hour slot.   
   Thank you! That works, and I get it now :)   
   It seems the 120 min block allows for more time than I was thinking!   
   > > I also wonder if one of the   
   > > tricky things in page length relative to minutes is camera shots or   
   > > effects shots that may have descriptions longer in relation to the   
   > > dialogue than the percentage of time they actually take in the   
   > > finished film.   
   >   
   > Yes, action takes less script room than dialogue.  It's a guide, not a   
   > rule.  Experience will help, but even JMS talked about episodes going   
   > over or going under time when filmed...   
   >   
   > > I also wonder if they are usually in four act structure   
   > > or if they go to five? 120 minute telefilms were mentioned as being   
   > > six to eight acts in length.   
   >   
   > I think those acts are determined by how many commercial breaks there   
   > are.  Act ends, go to commercial, new act starts.   
   OK. I was sort of used to thinking in terms of four act or five act   
   play formats. I see that one could split the act breaks for commercial   
   within the "acts" thematically.   
   Thank you again!   
   David   
   > ===   
   > = DUG.   
   > ===   
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