Enter the number of scenes and average scene duration into the calculator to determine the script time. This calculator can also evaluate any of the variables given the others are known.

Script Time Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the script time. 

ST = (N * S) / P

Variables:

  • ST is the total script time (minutes)
  • N is the number of scenes
  • S is the average scene duration (minutes)
  • P is the pace factor (decimal)

To calculate the script time, multiply the number of scenes by the average scene duration. Then divide the result by the pace factor. The pace factor represents the speed at which the script’s events are portrayed relative to real time. A pace factor greater than 1 indicates that the script time is longer than real time (events are portrayed slower), while a pace factor less than 1 indicates that the script time is shorter than real time (events are portrayed faster).

What is a Script Time?

Script Time refers to the duration or time frame within which the events of a script, such as a play, movie, or television show, take place. It can be real-time, where events occur at the same pace as they would in reality, or it can be manipulated to represent longer periods, such as days, months, or even years. The manipulation of script time can be used to enhance storytelling by skipping unimportant events or slowing down time to emphasize important moments.

How to Calculate Script Time?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Script Time using the given formula:

  1. First, determine the number of scenes (N).
  2. Next, determine the average scene duration (S) in minutes.
  3. Next, determine the pace factor (P) as a decimal.
  4. Next, gather the formula from above = ST = (N * S) / P.
  5. Finally, calculate the Script Time (ST) in minutes.
  6. After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem:

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge:

Number of scenes (N) = 10

Average scene duration (S) = 5 minutes

Pace factor (P) = 0.8