Congratulations!  You’ve written your book!  Applause!  Applause!!  That’s a big deal and you’re a star!!  Now, you want to make that book into a movie so we have to adapt to movie rules.

The first thing you have to realize is that movies are visual.   Books are about what people are thinking and feeling.  Many words and often pages are used to describe the visuals.  The reader “sees” the book in their own way. 

Movies are about what you’re seeing.  Literally, a picture says a thousand words.  Example: The word “Mansion” is vague.  “Haunted Mansion” is a completely different picture! (Notice what you are thinking and feeling now.)

Next, scripts have to be in the correct format.  Bottom line, your work won’t even be considered if it is in the wrong format.  Final Draft is the software industry standard.  However, there are constantly new free versions you can use.  

A basic rule for a new screenwriter: For a feature, 90-120 pages.  No longer than 120 pages EVER and preferably around 112 pages.  (SLAM DUNK is 114 pages).  A page in the correct format is about a minute of screen time.  Your movie cannot be longer that two hours.  Why?  The theater owners want to have as many showings a day as possible because they are in the business of renting seats for each movie screening.   The more screenings, the more seat rentals, the more money they make.  With a 90-minute feature, an extra screening can be added. They will love you!!…