Independent Filmmaker Contracts for Film Producers, Directors, Actors, Investors and Writers

From script to sales the Investor/Producer/Writer must protect her/his film, documentary, music video, stage Project investment from concept to distribution with IndependentFilmmakerContracts.com

  • Investors Deal
  • Producers Deal
  • Directors Deal
  • Actors Deal
  • Crew Deal
  • Contact Us
  • My Account
  • Contract Categories


Home » Blog » Average Feature Film Length – Independent Filmmaking Tips For Success

Average Feature Film Length – Independent Filmmaking Tips For Success

If you are just starting out to create your feature film you may have a lot of questions. Filmmakers tend to approach making a film in many different ways. Some of them use a script or a book, while others may just go with an idea off the top of their head. The question may come up regarding how long the average feature film length should be. A better question is how many pages of script is needed to make your film the length that you want it to be.

There is no exact answer as to how long your film should be. You may have a very short script of maybe 5 – 10 pages. On the other hand your script may be 100 pages long. Then your film length will vary depending on the changes made during the film process itself.

To help determine the length of your feature film you can use the industry average: 30 seconds of footage per page of script. Keep in mind that that is a rough guess considering that long extensive spoken lines will take longer to do that shorter or fewer spoken lines. This is something to remember if you want your film length to be a specific amount of time when completed.

If you have made any films before you will already know that there is a lot of editing to be do. Changing the layout can certainly change the time frame of the film. When you shoot 60 minutes of footage it may actually end up being closer to 30 – 40 minutes of feature film.

The biggest problem most filmmakers face with their scrips is making sure that they have enough detail to create enough footage. It takes approximately 30 pages of script to make a 15 minute production. And then, if you edit out certain areas you will need to lengthen your script to meet your goal of a 15 minute film.

When you have a team of writers, or even just one, the task of editing the script is made much easier. Your job as filmmaker would include reading the script over and making notes about it which will help the writers to expand the story in the areas you want more details or information.

If you are one of the lucky ones who has the creative knack of expanding out a script as you go then the actual length of the script is not all that important. Certainly quite a few filmmakers have taken a short script and made it into an extensive feature film. Experience definitely helps a filmmaker fine tune a script and the longer you’ve been doing it, the easier it is to flesh out a script. the main ingredient to succeeding is having a good script to begin with that is creative and has plenty of detail. This can help you get a grasp of how long your feature film length will be and make the whole creation process more enjoyable.

This is the best source of filmmaking tips I’ve found outside of an expensive film school. Check out: Feature Film Length and get lots of help to make your film a success!

Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Del_Peterson

Question by : What Camcorder should an Independent Filmmaker with no money buy?
I have very little money and I would like a camera that has professional picture.

Best answer:

Answer by Rugratzzzzzzzzzzz
You get nothing for nothing, and this is very true when you start to talk about video.

A very good cheap camera (secondhand) would be something like a canon XL1s or XL2, an XL1 you would be able to get for around $ 500. XL2 possible 1000 to 1500 ish, tape based standard definition. there is nothing in that price range that will give you such high quality video.

The reason is its down to compression and codecs. tape based cameras use MPG and the compression is kept to a minimum, where as consumer cameraas compress the video as much as they can get away with and use truely awful codecs. If you are going to look at sub $ 500 then you may as well get something like a HD flip, as the quality is not going to vary much between models.

RR

What do you think? Answer below!

[wpramazon asin=”0240813189″]

A group of young independent filmmakers has undertaken the initiative of producing an independent feature film called “Kaptaan”, based on Imran Khan’s high profile life following the end of his cricket career. Join For More: www.facebook.com

Related Independent Filmmaker Articles

Filed Under: Filmmaker News Tagged With: Average, Feature, Film, Filmmaking, INDEPENDENT, Length, Success, Tips

Cart

  • ACTOR & ARTIST FORMS
    • Actor & Artist Forms Save 70% Discount ($30 per contract) on 15 Agreements
    • Actor Release
    • Actor’s Deal Save 70% Discount ($30 per contract) on 20 Contracts
    • Audience Release
    • Confidentiality Agreement
    • Extra Release
    • Extra Release for Pay
    • Group Participant Release
    • Instant Dismissal from the Set
    • Minor Actor/Model Release
    • Minor Actor/Model Release for Pay
    • Minor Actor/Model Release Independant Minor Actor Guardian Signature
    • Model Release
    • Model Release for Pay
    • Nudity Rider
    • Stunt Performer (Insurance carried by Stunt Performer)
    • Stunt Performer (Producer Insurance)
  • Crew Forms
    • Art Director Agreement
    • Assistant Art Director Agreement
    • Boom Operator Agreement
    • Casting Director Agreement
    • Construction Coordinator Agreement
    • Costume Designer Agreement
    • Crew Deal Memo
    • Crew Forms Save 66% on 15 Agreements
    • Editor Agreement
    • Gaffer Agreement
    • Grip Agreement
    • Hair Stylist Agreement
    • Make-up and Special Effects Agreement
    • Post Production Supervisor
    • Production Design Agreement
    • Property Master Agreement
    • Script Supervisor Agreement
    • Sound Mixer Agreement
    • Wrangler Agreement
  • Depiction & Copyright Forms
    • Artist/Artwork Release
    • Assignments of Rights Agreements
    • Copyright Assignment
    • Depiction & Copyright Forms Save 70% Discount ($30 per contract) on 10 Agreements
    • Depiction Release Contract
    • Film Clip
    • Film Clip Release
    • Still Photo Release
    • Use Of Literary Material
    • Use of Name/Likeness Release
    • Use of Name/Likeness Release for Pay
    • Use of Trade Mark or Logo Contract
  • Director Forms
    • Assistant Director Contract
    • Director Agreement
    • Director Forms Save 70% Discount ($30 per contract) on 4 Agreements
    • Director of Photography
    • Director’s Deal Save 70% Discount ($30 per contract) on 43 Contracts
    • Producer Agreement
  • Distribution Forms
    • Distribution Forms Save 70% Discount ($30 per contract) on 3 Agreements
    • Security Agreement (Long Form)
    • Security Agreement (Short Form)
    • Security on the Set & on Location
    • TV Distribution Agreement
    • TV Distribution Agreement (projects)
  • Merchandise Forms
    • Material Release Form
    • Material Release Form for Pay
    • Merchandise Forms Save 70% Discount ($30 per contract) on 3 Agreements
    • Merchandising (Character/Logo) Contract
    • Product Placement Release (short form)
  • Music Forms
    • Artist Music Release
    • Music Composer Agreement
    • Music Forms Save 70% Discount ($30 per contract) on 6 Agreements
    • Soundtrack Recording Agreement
    • Synchronization/Performing/Master Use & Mechanical License
    • T.V. Music Rights License
  • Partnership & Financing Forms
    • Assignment of Interest and Release (Partner Expelled from Agreement)
    • Co-production Contract
    • Finders Fee
    • Finders Fee Exclusive
    • Finders Fee Non-Exclusive
    • General Partnership
    • General Partnership Dissolution Agreement
    • Guarantee
    • Joint Venture Agreement
    • Joint Venture Dissolution Agreement
    • Partnership & Financing Forms Save 70% Discount ($30 per contract) on 11 Agreements
    • Promissory Note
    • Promissory Note with Guarantee
  • Production Forms
    • Location Release
    • Location Release For Pay
    • Producer’s Deal on 57 Contracts
    • Production Forms Save 70% Discount ($30 per contract) on 3 Agreements
  • Professional Advisors Forms
    • Accountant-Client Retainer Contract
    • Lawyer-Client Retainer Contract
    • Notarization of Document
    • Professional Advisors Forms Save 70% Discount ($30 per contract) on 2 Agreements
  • Work-For-Hire-Forms
    • Graphic Design Work-for-Hire
    • Illustrator Work-for-Hire
    • Video Director Director-for-Hire Agreement
    • Web Designer Work-for-Hire Agreement
    • Work-For-Hire-Forms Save 70% Discount ($30 per contract) on 3 Agreements
  • Writer Forms
    • Certificate of Authorship
    • Certificate of Origin
    • Writer Collaboration Agreement
    • Writer Employment Agreement
    • Writer Forms Save 70% Discount ($30 per contract) on 4 Agreements

Copyright © 2025 Independent Filmmaker Contracts · custom WP Theme by John Overall.com