![]() Too many pages with no action description ACTION ITEM: After every draft, be sure to quickly flip through the pages and look for any big blocks of action description that resemble paragraphs in a novel and break them up in to chunks of 3-4 sentences.This will keep the screenplay easier to read and also help keep the flow of the scenes moving. ![]() In general, try to keep your action statements to around three or four sentences. If your screenplay physically looks too much like a novel – with large paragraphs of action description – it will make the read much harder for the reader and chances are, important information will probably be lost in these big chunks of words. If it doesn’t, either cut down or flesh out your screenplay, accordingly. ACTION ITEM: Note the page count for your screenplay and determine if it falls within the generally accepted range(s) listed above.If your screenplay is well below or well above these generally accepted page ranges, this will be a red flag for readers. Half hour screenplays for network is 22-32 pages, half hour for cable/streaming is 28-38 pages. Hour long television for network fall within 44-63 pages, hour long for cable/streaming 55-68 pages. Most feature films fall into the 95-110 page range. If your screenplay is very over- or very under the acceptable page range for its medium, this does not bode well. The screenplay is overwritten or underwritten Ask “is there some sort of disagreement or problem or opposition within the scene?” If there isn’t any conflict yet, be sure to rework the scene so there is. ACTION ITEM: Check each scene idea in your screenplay and make sure there is some sort of conflict happening in each.Regardless of type, without conflict your scenes will be flat and uninteresting. ![]() Differences in opinion, pursuits of different agendas, and tense interpersonal moments are just a few examples of interpersonal conflict. It means dramatic conflict, regardless of the genre. The audience wants to see conflict of some sort in every scene, not everyday events or behavior – those are boring! This does not necessarily mean conflict like screaming or fist fighting (although it often does). This is the screenwriter forgetting that we are writing (and watching) heightened life, not real life. You’d be surprised at how many screenplays lack conflict in a majority of their scenes.
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