Page Estimation Skill

Invocation Triggers

Apply this skill when:

• Estimating screenplay length
• Calculating runtime
• Tracking page count
• Validating target length

The Page-to-Screen Rule

Standard Formula

1 page of screenplay ≈ 1 minute of screen time

Genre Adjustments

Why It Varies

• Action-heavy scripts: More white space, faster pace → shorter pages
• Dialogue-heavy scripts: Dense pages → longer runtime per page
• Visual storytelling: Less text, more subtext → varies

Estimation Methods

Method 1: Element Count

Rough estimate based on script elements:

Scenes: 60 scenes × 1.5 pages avg = 90 pages
Adjustment for dialogue density: +10%
Estimated: ~99 pages

Method 2: Word Count

Total words: 20,000
Average screenplay: 180-200 words/page
Estimated: 20,000 ÷ 190 = 105 pages

Method 3: Structural Estimate

Act One (Setup): 25 pages
Act Two (Confrontation): 55 pages
Act Three (Resolution): 25 pages
Total: 105 pages

Method 4: Scene-by-Scene

Most accurate:

| Scene | Est. Pages |
|-------|-----------|
| 1 | 2 |
| 2 | 1.5 |
| 3 | 3 |
| ... | ... |
| Total | X |

Fountain Page Count

Title Page

• Always counts as page 1
• Not numbered in output
• Adds ~1 page to total

Scene Headings

• Each scene heading takes ~2 lines
• 55-60 lines per page standard
• Many short scenes = more page overhead

Dialogue vs. Action

• Dialogue: ~35-40 lines per page (narrower column)
• Action: ~55-60 lines per page (full width)
• Heavy dialogue = fewer scenes per page

Elements That Add Length

• Dual dialogue (takes more vertical space)
• Parentheticals (extra lines)
• Transitions (blank lines before/after)
• Page breaks (forced ===)

Target Lengths

Feature Films

Television

Short Films

Tracking Template

Page Count Log

## Page Tracking: [TITLE]

### Current Status
- **Total Pages:** [X]
- **Target:** [Y]
- **Variance:** [+/- Z]

### By Act
| Act | Pages | Target | Status |
|-----|-------|--------|--------|
| One | X | 25 | [over/under/ok] |
| Two | X | 55 | [over/under/ok] |
| Three | X | 25 | [over/under/ok] |

### Historical
| Date | Pages | Change | Note |
|------|-------|--------|------|
| 2025-12-20 | 85 | -- | First draft start |
| 2025-12-25 | 102 | +17 | First draft complete |
| 2025-12-27 | 98 | -4 | Trim pass |

Runtime Calculation

Formula

Runtime (minutes) = Pages × Genre Factor

Calculator

Pages: 105
Genre: Thriller (0.95)
Estimated Runtime: 105 × 0.95 = 99.75 minutes
Formatted: 1h 40m

By Scene

| Scene | Pages | Runtime |
|-------|-------|---------|
| 1 | 2 | 2 min |
| 2 | 3 | 3 min |
| ... | ... | ... |
| Total | 105 | 105 min |

Adjusting Length

Too Long

1. Cut scenes: Remove non-essential scenes
2. Combine scenes: Merge scenes with similar purpose
3. Trim dialogue: Reduce line count
4. Tighten action: Cut verbose descriptions
5. Enter later/leave earlier: Trim scene edges

Too Short

1. Add character moments: Deepen relationships
2. Expand key scenes: Give weight to important moments
3. Add B-story: Strengthen subplots
4. Develop obstacles: More complications
5. Add breathing room: Moments of reflection

Red Flags

• Feature spec over 120 pages: Instant rejection risk
• Feature spec under 90 pages: Feels slight
• TV spec off by more than 5 pages: Format unfamiliarity

Quick Reference

Scene Page Estimates

Structural Landmarks (110-page feature)

Validation Checklist

• Total pages within target range
• Acts properly proportioned
• No single act dominates
• Pacing feels appropriate
• Runtime estimate matches target