How long should your pilot script be?

Last week, I talked about the ideal length of a feature screenplay. The rules are different and much more strict for the first episode of a TV series.

Today’s post is for subscribers only. If you’re new here, I recommend checking out the free posts at this link to sample what this newsletter has to offer.

Otherwise, keep reading for my insights on the optimal page count length for your pilot script.

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There are two ways to work in television as a professional screenwriter:

1. Staff on someone else’s TV show.

2. Write a pilot for an original series, sell it to a studio, and get it made into a show.

To get staffed on someone else’s show, you used to need an episodic “spec script.”

A spec script is a written episode of a TV show that is currently on air that you wrote without anyone asking you to. The point is to demonstrate that you understand TV structure and can write in someone else’s tone and voice. For many reasons, spec scripts have fallen out of fashion and aren’t used for staffing anymore.

These days, if you want to staff on a show, you need an undeniable pilot script sample.

The first thing your reader looks at when they open your script PDF is the page count. So today, we’re going to discuss how long your pilot script should be.