A “high concept” idea is one that can be easily and succinctly explained. It was originally coined ironically, in opposition to “high art,” which is why to some the term is counter-intuitive. A good (albeit extreme) example is Snakes on a Plane — the title itself explains the idea. ### More from johnaugust.com * [Pride […]
How many pages should each act of a screenplay be?
Unlike plays and television scripts, which explicitly indicate their act breaks, most feature screenplays don’t print act breaks anywhere in the script. But in everyday discussion, screenwriters generally talk about movies having three acts. SCREENWRITER Crap. I’m at page 38 but I’m nowhere near the end of the first act. or SCREENWRITER Boom! Page 90, […]
Is there a standard screenplay format?
[Yes.](https://screenwriting.io/what-is-standard-screenplay-format/) There are slight variations based on the type of screenplay (i.e. feature, dramatic teleplay, [multicamera sitcom](https://screenwriting.io/how-are-multicamera-tv-scripts-formatted/), etc) and writer preference, but there is most definitely a standard screenplay format, which includes a standard [font, spacing, indentations, and more](https://screenwriting.io/what-is-standard-screenplay-format/). Examples of properly formatted screenplays can be found in the [johnaugust.com library](http://johnaugust.com/library). Scriptwriting software such as […]
How many pages is a screenplay?
Most feature length screenplays are between 90 and 120 pages. The prevailing wisdom is that one script page in standard format equals one minute of screen time. Comedies tend to be shorter, while dramas tend to be longer, but there is no steadfast rule. ### More from johnaugust.com * [Can my script be as short […]
What does an outline look like?
Unlike screenplay formatting, there is no official standard. Generally, an outline provides a breakdown of how a story will play out. Outlines can take different forms based on many different factors including purpose, level of detail, method of creation, and writer preference. Some are incredibly detailed, listing every beat. Others give only very broad strokes. […]
What is scale?
“Scale” is the minimum a WGA signatory can pay a screenwriter — whether it’s purchasing a spec script or hiring a writer to work on a script. Each type of job (e.g original screenplay, outline, rewrite) has a set price. These rates are the subject of WGA negotiations, and change every year. In features, rates […]