Yep, I tend to write within a week too.
I was once given two weeks to write a 90 minute screenplay, planning and writing but that's not the norm.
Strictly for a sitcom pilot: Planning 2 months / writing 1 week / editing 2 weeks is about my normal turnaround. Other episodes fall into place quicker because the work was done in the planning stage.
I'd like to know how well I'd do with a proper 'do or die' deadline.
I reckon I could have a good near final draft done in a month easily. Maybe less.
Incidentally I'm getting sick of this bloody pilot now, I'm editing it at the moment.
I edited it, then the producer cut it down, then I re-edited his edit.
I just want to write some more episodes now!
Quote: SlagA @ March 3, 2008, 9:58 PMYep, I tend to write within a week too.
I was once given two weeks to write a 90 minute screenplay, planning and writing but that's not the norm.
Strictly for a sitcom pilot: Planning 2 months / writing 1 week / editing 2 weeks is about my normal turnaround. Other episodes fall into place quicker because the work was done in the planning stage.
Just out of interest, during this period what percentage of that time are you working on the script? I took months to plan a pilot because I was working 9am-6pm everyday and doing an hour every other day and then full weekends. 
Then I read a book and replanned everything again!
Quote: ContainsNuts @ March 3, 2008, 10:04 PMJust out of interest, during this period what percentage of that time are you working on the script? I took months to plan a pilot because I was working 9am-6pm everyday and doing an hour every other day and then full weekends.
Then I read a book and replanned everything again!
Er, the planning was an hour or a day throughout December 06.
That's from nothing to characters, set ups, jobs, age, relationships, and a basic plot.
Then I started writing - again a few hours a day (well, evening as I have a full time job) from Jan to April - with that came extensive replanning as I essentially wrote the first two episodes. So those 4-5 months yielded two episodes.
In that same December I also planned another sitcom from scratch, and wrote that. So looking back I got 2 pilots planned and written, and a second episode taking shape with loads of material in those 4 months.
Is that productive? Looking back, it seems it.
I think it is. For example, my pilot idea was a few years ago but i never got round to planning it. Then I did in 2006 and I could only do it at weekends because website designing is just as creative at times and I couldn't manage both.
I then came up with another sitcom idea and a sketch show and found myself drifting between the lot, but progressing more than if I spent all my time on my original pilot. In fact when I was doing my pilot I kept on having ideas for the other stuff and vice-versa.
At the moment I'm writing for a show and doing web shites, then in April I plan to take a couple months off to finish my projects. Boyed by your stories no doubt!
Quote: SlagA @ March 3, 2008, 9:58 PMYep, I tend to write within a week too.
I generally find that when Im ready to write it comes out quick too; the last full episode I wrote was completed within two days; just working during work breaks and the evening! Of course it needed a lot of work after that, but the initial episode came out fast.
Its interesting to hear how people spend ages planning things out before starting to write, as I almost never have. Ill generally start writing as soon as the basic show idea forms in my head.
IN seefacts meeting story, he mentions Media as a No-no. May I heartily endorse this and add a personal thought. I am getting a huge number of scripts about celebrities on the slide or trying to make a comeback. This is the biggest cliche: I know how the thinking goes. They are losers, they are flawed, they will be interesting. The trouble is; they aren't. Once you are off the ride, it's over. No one really CARES about minor celebs, and in this media saturated world I really can't see this playing well with broadcasters. NUff said.
Thanks Marc for the advice!
Seefacts, how many pages do you reckon for a sitcom...30 mins
Quote: bushbaby @ March 4, 2008, 12:44 PMSeefacts, how many pages do you reckon for a sitcom...30 mins
Well if it's in the more American style (dialogue in the middle, actions go all across the page, in Courier New font) about 35 - 40.
The more English BBC style it's about 40 - 45. No more than 50.
Oh, right thanks
Quote: Seefacts @ March 4, 2008, 12:58 PMWell if it's in the more American style (dialogue in the middle, actions go all across the page, in Courier New font) about 35 - 40.
The more English BBC style it's about 40 - 45. No more than 50.
Mine tend to come in around 50-55 pages, in Final Draft BBC Sitcom format. Then again, in any pilot script I always include one scene that could easily be sacrificed for the sake of time. I like to put in a scene that is intended for the reader, usually one that explains something about my main character(s) more, but isn't crucial to the plot and could ultimately be dumped.
I always do my own table read prior to completion and don't just rely on page count. My new script opens with a monologue which only takes up 2 pages, but would probably take over 3 mins screen time. I've other scenes which take up a number of pages but are fast-paced dialogue and read less for screen time.
I take on board the principle that it's a good idea to be able to show you can tell your story within the 30 mins, but I wouldn't be too masochistic about it. Your first draft will never be the final draft anyway.
There's no substitute for the "read aloud". I've been using the Scriptsmart screenplay format which approximates to 1 min per page, but as others have said some pages can be quick and snappy but others are slower. Number of pages depends on a lot of things, so the best thiing is to read it out loud and time it. It's only fair to the person you are sending it to.
Don't know if this has been asked or mentioned, but:
Seefacts, what did you wear to the meeting?
Quote: Winterlight @ March 25, 2008, 10:10 AMDon't know if this has been asked or mentioned, but:
Seefacts, what did you wear to the meeting?
A grin, probably.