I am in the middle of writing the first draft of a sci-fi action movie, similar in genre to "Independence Day." The "middle" of the story is coming in at around 75 pages. While first drafts are often longish, the genre inherently tends to long page counts. First, to make action easily readable in a way that the reader can "see" the movie, you have to keep paragraphs down to two or three lines, and use lots of Shot Headings to guide the reader's visualization of the action. There's tons of action in this, so that means lots of Shot Headings and white space on the page. The second, and main, reason for the high page count is the large number of characters. The story tracks not only the protagonist, but several sets of intersecting subordinate characters. Each significant character must be set up, developed through story beats and character arcs, and paid off. And each must become involved in the action of the sci-fi or "disaster" premise. The talky or dramatic ensemble story ("Crash", for example) carries similar demands, but it is the combination of action AND ensemble that results in the longest page counts. Conventional wisdom recommends that scripts come in at around one hundred pages. The big-action sci-fi or disaster ensemble will necessarily require between one twenty and one forty pages. This brings up the issue of "How Much Action Detail Should You Describe in an Action Screenplay?" I'll address that in the next blog entry. -- David Warfield ...read more

The Screenwriter at Home -- Before our baby came along, I kept whatever crazy writer hours that suited my whim at the moment. Generally, I either got up early and went straight to work or I slept late and did most of my work after "business" hours, and into the evening well past midnight. At present, I am working at home, where my wife and 11 month old baby also happen to live. Here's the schedule: On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I get up early and take the baby for two or three hours. Usually Meg (my wife) uses this time to get extra sleep. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, I get up when I want and do whatever work I want. Saturdays are often reserved for working on the house, yard, etc. Sundays are family day and whatever happens, happens. We have lunch at noon, and try to have dinner together at around six. One or both of us cooks, and then I usually take the baby (Sara) for a shower while Meg cleans up. I read to Sara for a bit and Meg takes over by seven or seven-thirty for bed time. So my work hours realistically are every other morning, and every afternoon, and some on weekends. I often work at night after baby goes down, but then that is the only time Meg and I have to be together, perhaps watch a movie, or you-know-what. I can't stay up too late (as in my previous life) because every other morning I have to get up early! When you figure in the inevitable errands, accounting, and other stuff that constitute our daily lives (including numerous irresistible play with baby breaks), I am not getting in enough work hours! Meg is breast feeding and we're not using day care or babysitters (yet) so it is difficult to get uninterrupted work time, and it does lead to occasional tension. Writing is not "typing," if it were it would be so easy! Sometimes I have to walk around in the yard, or lie on the couch, or take a shower, whatever, in order to come up with an idea or breakthrough. But as soon as I emerge from my pocket-doored office, I am usually handed the baby and asked to hold her for a "minute," which often turns into an hour. In the past, I have usually had an outside office, but I am reluctant to do that now. Our house is in the country and it's so great being here with my family. And, I am not the most rigorously disciplined writer in the world! All that said, I feel now I will have to draw sharper boundaries if I am to be as productive as I need to be. No more Mr. Nice Dad??? -- David Warfield ...read more