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echo: babylon5
to: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated
from: David E. Powell
date: 2011-01-07 19:28:08
subject: A silly TV movie writing question....

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.

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.

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. 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. 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.

Apologies if this is really inside baseball, it is kind of fascinating
though. :)
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