Reference

Running times

Gilgamesh estimates the film's running time from two sources: the screenplay, and the action played on the floor plan. The same rules apply everywhere: Overview, sheets, Prep, Bible, review.

The estimate from the screenplay

One page ≈ one minute on screen. A scene's length is measured in the layout of the chosen format (Settings › Project › Screenplay format), which applies the screenplay rules: fixed-width font, width per element.

The action played on the floor plan

When a scene is choreographed on the floor plan, its running time is that of its action:

• for a setup: up to the last key of its elements and its cameras (holds included), or the end of the last shot placed;
• for a scene: the sum of its setups, each one playing a part of the action.

Shots overlap (several cameras cover the same action): their durations do not add up.

Which one prevails

Depending on Settings › Project › Running time shown:

• Floor plan, otherwise screenplay (the default): the action played when the scene has one, otherwise the estimate from page count;
• Screenplay only: always the estimate from page count.

Gaps

The estimate remains a reference. Beyond a 30% gap:

• between a scene's action and its estimate;
• between a shot linked to a passage of the text and that passage's duration;

the gap is shown as an alert, on the Floor Plan and in the review. A gap warns, it blocks nothing.

The intended running time

In the Overview, the intended running time is your target; it is compared with the film's estimated running time.