Recommended Reading List

Kevan · Liger Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 843

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#1 The Art of Screenwriting: Story Script Markets

Author: William Packard
Designed by A. Christopher Simon
Paperback
Publisher: Marlowe & Co (February 1987)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1569249113
ISBN-13: 978-1569249116
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
Price: used & new available from $0.46 (Various prices at alibris.com)
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Screenwriting-Story-Script-Markets/dp/1569249113/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208091892&sr=1-1
http://www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/432494/used/The%20Art%20of%20Screenwriting:%20Story,%20Script,%20Markets

Writing for the stage and screen presents artistic challenges to aspiring dramatists everywhere. Through practical, proven methods, playwright and poet William Packard leads readers past personal and professional obstacles to success. This book carefully explains the mechanics of plot, conflict, structure, form, character, dialogue, film editing, and treatment. It covers the commercial side of screenwriting with sections on marketing, agents, contracts, copyright, and collaboration. The elements of technique and story are emphasized as well as script mechanics, resulting in one of the most intelligent and useful how-to books on writing for the screen.

#2 Good Scripts, Bad Scripts: Learning the Craft of Screenwriting Through 25 of the Best and Worst Films in History

Author: Tom Pope
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Three Rivers Press; 1 edition (April 7, 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0609801198
ISBN-13: 978-0609801192
Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
Price: used & new available from $1.08
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Good-Scripts-Bad-Learning-Screenwriting/dp/0609801198/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208092954&sr=1-1
http://www.bookhq.com/compare/0609801198.html
http://www.blackscreenplays.com/books.htm

In this unique volume, respected screenwriter Thomas Pope offers an innovative and practical approach to teaching the craft of screenplay writing, in the process providing an engaging, behind-the-scenes look at the way the film industry really works. Each chapter deals with a different component of the art of screenwriting, from character development, to the nurturing of subplots, to the fundamentals of good dialogue, illustrating everything through the virtues or mistakes of a particular film. The book encompasses the best and worst of films throughout the years, including Citizen Kane, Pulp Fiction, Chinatown, Singing in the Rain, Bonfire of the Vanities, and many others. With its trenchant analysis and keen insight into the reasons films succeed or fail, Good Scripts, Bad Scripts is not only an invaluable guide for potential screenwriters, but a rich resource for any student interested in film and film history.

#3 Screen Adaptation: A Scriptwriting Handbook, Second Edition

Author: Kenneth Portnoy
Paperback: 172 pages
Publisher: Focal Press; 2 edition (September 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0240803493
ISBN-13: 978-0240803494
Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 0.6 inches
Price: $29.60
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Screen-Adaptation-Scriptwriting-Handbook-Second/dp/0240803493/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208275348&sr=1-1
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=408

Screen Adaptation : A Scriptwriting Handbook, 2nd ed. examines the challenge screenwriters face when adapting novels, plays, and short stories for the screen. Thoroughly updated to include new exercises and examples from current films, this book provides practical, usable information on how to find the best plot line for a script, choose key characters, and understand the goals and formats of different genres. Topics include: determining which characters and events are most valuable on developing the main story; expanding short novellas and condensing long novels; using dialog to advance the story and reveal character; comparing the formats of plays, short stories, and novels to those of screenplays approaching the marketplace. In this book, both beginning writers and professionals will find the tools necessary to evaluate a prospective source and create a successful screenplay.

#4 Writing Short Scripts

Author: William H. Phillips
Paperback: 238 pages
Publisher: Syracuse University Press; 2 Sub edition (October 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0815628021
ISBN-13: 978-0815628026
Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
Price: b$13.57
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Short-Scripts-William-Phillips/dp/0815628021/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208277344&sr=1-6

As a former creative writing student of Dr. Phillips, I can attest that this book is the next best thing to having the man on retainer. Each step of the creative writing process, from brainstorming to final draft and submissions, is de-mystified and broken down into a series of manageable activities. The most important thing he taught me is that writing, like most things worth doing, is simply a matter of frequent practice. Do the work and the muse will come to you! Very highly recommended. Melinda Cornwell (California)

Kevan · Liger Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 843

Kevan · Liger Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 843

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#1 Six Screenplays by Robert Riskin

Author: Robert Riskin
Editor: Patrick McGilligan
Paperback: 771 pages
Publisher: University of California Press (25 April 1997)
Language; English
ISBN-10: 0520205251
ISBN-13: 978-0520205253
Product Dimensions: 22.8 x 15.2 x 3.6 cm
Price: 11 used & new available from £5.03
Links:
http://content.cdlib.org/xtf/view?docId=ft7b69p14j&chunk.id=0&doc.view=print
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0520205251/collectorzcom-21
http://ark.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/ft7b69p14j/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Riskin

Screenwriter Robert Riskin (1897-1955) was a towering figure even among the giants of Hollywood's Golden Age. Known for his unique blend of humour and romance, wisecracking and idealism, Riskin teamed with director Frank Capra to produce some of his most memorable films. Pat McGilligan has collected six of the best Riskin scripts: "Platinum Blonde" (1931), "American Madness" (1932), "It Happened One Night" (1934), "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" (1936), "Lost Horizon" (1937), and "Meet John Doe" (1941).All of them were directed by Capra, and although Capra's work has been amply chronicled and celebrated, Riskin's share in the collaboration has been overlooked since his death. McGilligan provides the 'backstory' for the forgotten half of the team, indispensable counterpoint to the director's self-mythologizing autobiography - and incidentally the missing link in any study of Capra's career. Riskin's own career, although interrupted by patriotic duty and cut short by personal tragedy, produced as consistent, entertaining, thoughtful, and enduring a body of work as any Hollywood writer's. Those who know and love these vintage films will treasure these scripts.

McGilligan's introduction offers new information and insights for fans, scholars, and general readers.

#2 The Hollywood Standard: The Complete & Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style

Author: Christopher Riley
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions (March 25, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1932907017
ISBN-13: 978-1932907018
Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 0.7 inches
Price: $12.89
Links:
http://shop.mwp.com/products/the-holywood-standard
http://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Standard-Complete-Authoritative-Script/dp/1932907017/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208156672&sr=1-1
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=2664

Thousands of promising scripts never get a fair read from Hollywood because their format is wrong. Poor formatting is the mark of an amateur and in the ultra-competitive world of screenwriting, the wrong first impression can kill your dreams.

The simple format rules found in this book, which you can learn in an hour. come from Hollywood’s top expert on script format and will guarantee that your script makes a winning first impression.

Intended to be kept at a screenwriter’s fingertips, The Hollywood Standard gives you what even the best script software can’t: clear, concise instructions and hundreds of examples to take the guesswork out of a multitude of formatting questions that perplex even seasoned screenwriters.

#3 Screenplay Workbook: The Writing Before the Writing

Author: Jeremy Robinson & Tom Mungovan
Paperback: 200 pages
Publisher: Lone Eagle; First Edition edition (October 1, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1580650538
ISBN-13: 978-1580650533
Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
Price: $16.71
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Screenplay-Workbook-Writing-Before/dp/1580650538/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208283675&sr=1-21
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=1976

Every time a screenwriter sits down to write a screenplay, he or she has to grapple with the daunting question of Where do I start? The preparation time, the writing before the writing, can be intimidating. Not only is writing a screenplay difficult, with its rigid format, page counts, visual writing style, and realistic dialogue; screenwriting demands preparation. Characters, layers upon layers of plot and subplot, and every emotional rise and fall the audience experiences are planned out in advance, like a blueprint.

Tom Mungovan and Jeremy Robinson present an instructional manual combined with proprietary worksheets, charts and fill-in lists designed to give you a better focus when approaching the task of writing a screenplay. The worksheets contained in this workbook will help you create characters, plots, and concepts – bringing it all together and giving you a more efficient way to concentrate on actually writing your screenplay. Instead of staring at a blank page, you can now start with a series of worksheets designed to get you going on the creative path.

The Screenplay Workbook brings together every element you need to not only start a screenplay but, more importantly, to successfully finish one.

#4 Screenplay: Writing the Picture

Author: Robin U. Russin & William M. Downs
Paperback: 438 pages
Publisher: Silman-James Press (July 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1879505703
ISBN-13: 978-1879505704
Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.1 x 1 inches

Price: $14.71
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Screenplay-Writing-Robin-U-Russin/dp/1879505703/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208619299&sr=8-3

Designed as a down-to-earth, practical guide to the craft of screenwriting, WRITING THE PICTURE covers everything a screenwriter needs to know, from basic elements to advanced techniques. The book is intended to help writers choose, develop, and perfect their stories while avoiding common mistakes. From conception to completion, it covers every step of the process with a wealth of practical examples and exercises designed to avoid a formulaic approach. Professors Russin and Downs also cover marketing screenplays and the alternatives of television and playwriting.

Kevan · Liger Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 843

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#1 Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need

Author: Blake Snyder
Paperback: 216 pages
Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions (May 25, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1932907009
ISBN-13: 978-1932907001
Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
Price: $19.95
Links: https://www.blakesnyder.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1
http://www.amazon.com/Save-Last-Book-Screenwriting-Youll/dp/1932907009/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208045308&sr=1-1

Here’s what started the phenomenon: the best seller that’s in its tenth printing! Blake Snyder tells all in this fast, funny and candid look inside the movie business. “Save the Cat” is just one of many ironclad rules for making your ideas more marketable and your script more satisfying, including:

* The four elements of every winning logline
* The seven immutable laws of screenplay physics
* The 10 genres that every movie ever made can be categorized by — and why they’re important to your script
* Why your Hero must serve your Idea
* Mastering the 15 Beats
* Creating the “Perfect Beast” by using The Board to map 40 scenes with conflict and emotional change
* How to get back on track with proven rules for script repair

This ultimate insider’s guide reveals the secrets that none dare admit, told by a showbiz veteran who’s proven that you can sell your script if you can save the cat.

#2 Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies: The Screenwriter’s Guide to Every Story Ever Told

Author: Blake Snyder
Paperback: 287 pages
Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions (October 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1932907351
ISBN-13: 978-1932907353
Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
Price: $24.95
Links:
https://www.blakesnyder.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2
http://www.amazon.com/Save-Cat-Goes-Movies-Screenwriters/dp/1932907351/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208045308&sr=1-2

Every hit deserves a sequel! Author and screenwriter Blake Snyder returns to form in a fast-paced follow-up which proves why Save the Cat! is the most talked-about approach to screenwriting in years. In the perfect companion piece to his first book, Snyder delivers even more insider’s information gleaned from a 20-year track record as “one of Hollywood’s most successful spec screenwriters,” giving you the clues to write your movie.

Designed for screenwriters, novelists, and movie fans, this book gives readers the key breakdowns of 50 landmark movies from the past 30 years. From M*A*S*H to Crash, from Alien to Saw, from 10 to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Blake reveals how screenwriters who came before you tackled the same challenges you are facing with the film you want to write — or the one you are currently working on.

Writing a “rom-com”? Check out the “Buddy Love” chapter for a “beat for beat” dissection of When Harry Met Sally... plus references to 10 other great romantic comedies that will make your story sing.

Scripting a horror film? Read the “Monster in the House” section and discover how Alien and Jaws are the same movie – and what you need to do to write a scary story that resonates.

Want to execute a great mystery? Go to the “Whydunit” chapter and learn about the “dark turn” that’s essential to the heroes of All the President’s Men, Blade Runner, Fargo, Mystic River, and hip noir Brick — and see why ALL good stories, whether a Hollywood blockbuster or a Sundance award winner, follow the same rules of structure outlined in Snyder’s breakthrough method.

By seeing movies in this way, and having STC! 2 as a reference, you can now think up a movie idea, figure out what type it is, turn right to that chapter, and see what other writers did with this story type. Snyder even provide readers with a list of 500 “Cousins,” movies you can watch that will help you figure out what’s essential in your story… and what isn’t.

If you want to create a movie that pleases most audiences most of the time, the odds increase if you reference Blake’s checklists and see what makes 50 films tick. After all, both executives and audiences respond to the same elements good writers seek to master. They want to know the type of story they signed on for, and whether it’s structured in a way that satisfies everyone. That’s what they’re looking for. And with Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies, that’s what you can deliver.

#3 Save The Cat Software

Publisher: Blake Snyder Seminars
Developer: The McFarlane Group. Inc.
Software: Save the Cat Software for both Mac and PC
Version: 2.0.3
Copyright: © 2006 and 2007 Blake Snyder Seminars. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $79.95 (Hardcopy or Download only)
Upgrade: Save the Cat! Software Upgrade from 1.0 to 2.0 (download) $29.95
Links:
Hardcopy
https://www.blakesnyder.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3
Download only
https://www.blakesnyder.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4
Upgrade from 1.0 to 2.0 (download)
https://www.blakesnyder.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=9

Structure your screenplay the Save the Cat!™ way and create stories that resonate.

This software will help you:

* Develop a powerful Logline and Title
* Choose one of 10 Genres, each with recognizable traits that will help you write something that is “the same, only different”: Monster in the House, Golden Fleece, Out of the Bottle, Dude with a Problem, Rites of Passage, Buddy Love, Whydunit, The Fool Triumphant, Institutionalized, and Superhero
* Fill in a Blake Snyder Beat Sheet with the 15 key beats for every screenplay: Opening Image, Theme Stated, Set-up, Catalyst, Debate, Break into Two, B Story, Fun and Games, Midpoint, Bad Guys Close In, All Is Lost, Dark Night of the Soul, Break into Three, Finale, and Final Image

* Use “The Board,” the fabled device seen in executive offices all over Hollywood, which allows you to "see" your movie before you begin writing. The Board is broken down into four rows, 10 cards per row for a total of 40 — a good average count for the number of beats in the average movie.

Row #1 is Act One; the last card in that row, the Break into Two, is your first major turn.

Row #2 is the first half of Act Two up to the Midpoint. This is where your B Story and Fun and Games cards will appear.

Row #3 includes your Bad Guys Close In and All Is Lost cards leading to the final major turn, the Break into Three.

Row #4 concludes your screenplay with the Finale and Final Image cards.

* Create 40 moveable, numbered, color-coded scene cards that include:
o Heading – such as “INT. JOE’S APARTMENT – DAY.”
o Description – such as “Mary tells Joe she wants a divorce.”
o Notes – such as “important that Joe doesn’t reveal everything he knows.”
o Dialog – inspired? There’s a place to jot some dialog.
o Conflict – the ><indicates>> and Next>> buttons
* Expanded scene cards with new Dialog section
* Ability to set the total number of pages for your screenplay from 4 to 250 with the Board reconfiguring automatically
* Ability to import your Final Draft® screenplay into scene cards and export your cards into a Final Draft® screenplay
* Logline, Beat Sheet and Board with scene cards for Spider-Man 2
* Much more!

What's new in Save The Cat! Software version 2
http://www.tmgca.com/savethecatupdate/Documents/WhatsNewInVersion2.pdf

#4 45 Master Characters: Mythic Models for Creating Original Characters

Author: Victoria Lynn Schmidt Ph.D.
Hardcover: 298 pages
Publisher: Writer's Digest Books; 1 edition (August 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1582970696
ISBN-13: 978-1582970691
Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
Price: used & new available from $4.05
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1582970696/collectorzcom-20

Every novelist, screenwriter and oral storyteller faces the challenge of creating original and exciting characters. Archetypes--mythic, cross-cultural models from which all characters originate--provide a solid
foundation upon which to fashion new and vastly different story people. 45 Master Characters explores the most common male and female archetypes, provides instructions for using them to create your own original characters, and gives examples of how other authors have brought such archetypes to life in novels, film and television. Worksheets are then included for writers to develop and map the lives of their own characters. * Excellent companion to the works of Joseph Campbell * The first and only book focusing heavily on the heroine's journey * Includes 45 black & white movie stills and line art depicting classic examples of each archetype

#5 Story Structure Architect: A Writer's Guide to Building Dramatic Situations and Compelling Characters

Victoria Lynn Schmidt Ph.D.
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Writer's Digest Books (July 26, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1582973253
ISBN-13: 978-1582973258
Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.8 inches
Price: $13.59
Lnks:
http://www.amazon.com/Story-Structure-Architect-Situations-Compelling/dp/1582973253/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208203087&sr=1-2
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=2797

Description
It’s been said that there are no new ideas; but there are proven ideas that have worked again and again for all writers for hundreds of years.

Story Structure Architect is your comprehensive reference to the classic recurring story structures used by every great author throughout the ages. You’ll find master models for characters, plots and complication motifs, along with guidelines for combining them to create unique short stories, novels, scripts or plays. You’ll also learn how to:

# Build compelling stories that don’t get bogged down in the middle
# Select character journeys and create conflicts
# Devise subplots and plan dramatic situations
# Develop the supporting characters you need to make your story work

Especially featured are the standard dramatic situations inspired by George Polti’s well-known 19th century work, The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations. But author Victoria Schmidt puts a 21st century spin on these timeless classics and offers fifty-five situations to inspire your creativity and allow you even more writing freedom. It offers thousands of possible story combinations with its browsable and interactive index format plus a blank situation template writers can use as they structure their own work. Story Structure Architect will give you the mold and then help you break it.

This browsable and interactive book offers everything you need to craft a complete, original, and satisfying story sure to keep readers hooked!

#6 Creating Unforgettable Characters

Author: Linda Seger
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; 1st ed edition (July 15, 1990)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0805011714
ISBN-13: 978-0805011715
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
Price: $10.88
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Unforgettable-Characters-Linda-Seger/dp/0805011714/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208203745&sr=1-2
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=111

Download: Sample chapter before purchasing the book
http://rapidshare.com/files/108477812/seger_research_the_char.pdf

Everything you need to create memorable characters is in this book, from doing the necessary research, defining characters, developing their psychology and relationships with other characters, fleshing out the story with supporting and minor characters, and solving character problems. The chapter on writing dialogue and creating the back-story is excellent. This is a wonderful book for the novelist, short story writer and the screenwriter because the writing makes it easy to understand the how and why of making characters more believable to your reader or audience. Lots of good case histories from interviews with top writers in theater and the movies. Many questions listed for writers to check their work.

#7 Making a Good Script Great

Author: Linda Seger
Edition: 2nd
Paperback: 242 pages
Publisher: Samuel French; 2 Sub edition (November 1994)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0573699216
ISBN-13: 978-0573699214
Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
Price: $10.36
Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Script-Great-Linda-Seger/dp/0573699216/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208203745&sr=1-1
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=290

Download: Sample chapter before purchasing the book
http://rapidshare.com/files/108478337/seger_character_function.pdf

This expanded guide offers genuinely useful insights into the complete screenwriting process from first draft through shooting draft. Everyone, from writer to producer, can benefit from the writing and rewriting suggestions offered by the premier Hollywood script consultant's prescription for adding life, color, and style to your writing.

#8 The Art of Adaptation: Turning Fact And Fiction Into Film

Author: Linda Seger
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; 1st ed edition (February 15, 1992)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0805016260
ISBN-13: 978-0805016260
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
Price: $10.88
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Adaptation-Turning-Fiction-Books/dp/0805016260/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208203745&sr=1-4
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=62

Download: Sample chapter before purchasing the book
http://rapidshare.com/files/108478672/seger_s_adaptation_1.pdf

Required reading for anyone interested in transforming novels, plays or true-life stories into screenplays by a master teacher. Excellent commentary on the challenges and the pleasures of reworking literature into the visual media and clearly cited case studies show by example. Nearly 85% of all Best Picture Oscar winners came from another source, so learning how to adapt material is a critical skill every serious screenwriter needs. Lists Emmy and Academy-Award winners of adapted material. This how-to is exceptional.

#9 And the Best Screenplay Goes to...Learning from the Winners - Sideways, Shakespeare in Love, Crash

Author: Linda Seger
Paperback: 312 pages
Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions (February 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1932907386
ISBN-13: 978-1932907384
Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
Price: $17.79
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Screenplay-Goes-Learning-Winners/dp/1932907386/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208203745&sr=1-3
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=3763

#10 Making a Good Writer Great: A Creativity Workbook for Screenwriters

Author: Linda Seger
Paperback: 233 pages
Publisher: Silman-James Press; 1st Silman edition (September 15, 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1879505495
ISBN-13: 978-1879505490
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
Price: $10.17
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Making-Good-Writer-Great-Screenwriters/dp/1879505495/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208203745&sr=1-5
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=301

A realistic and thoughtful workbook designed to stimulate the creativity of screenwriters. Seger explains how to push yourself to the next level, by boosting your confidence, sharpening your writing skills and infusing your work with your own hopes and struggles. Learn how to dig deep into the substance of your life to strengthen your work. Includes advice on why every screenwriter should keep a dream journal, how to think more flexibly, and the importance of creating active not static themes.

#11 Advanced Screenwriting: Raising Your Script to the Academy Award Level

Author: Linda Seger
Paperback: 300 pages
Publisher: Silman-James Press (September 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1879505738
ISBN-13: 978-1879505735
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
Price: $10.17
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Screenwriting-Raising-Script-Academy/dp/1879505738/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208203745&sr=1-6
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=1933

Have you been practicing your Oscar acceptance speech in front of a mirror for most of your adult life? In her highly anticipated new book, Linda Seger guides writers, new and experienced alike, through the steps to making their script a Masterpiece.

Advanced Screenwriting, written by one of today’s most active and respected screenwriting gurus, is a collection of meditations on fine-tuning the script. Among the many subjects covered are: Working with non-traditional forms, maintaining a consistent and ongoing storyline, developing a personal cinematic style, finding a script’s audience, keeping an audience’s attention, developing subtexts, transforming characters, utilizing psychology and philosophy, creating realism, polishing scenes, creating memorable dialogue, and more!

#12 From Script to Screen: The Collaborative Art of Filmmaking,

Author: Linda Seger
Paperback: 236 pages
Publisher: Lone Eagle Publishing Company (Second Edition edition December 1, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1580650546
ISBN-13: 978-1580650540
Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
Price: $14.78
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Script-Screen-Collaborative-Filmmaking-Second/dp/1580650546/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208203745&sr=1-9
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=184

What goes into the making of Hollywood's greatest motion pictures? Join Linda Seger and Edward Whetmore as they examine recent screenplays on their perilous journey from script to screen. In addition to a complete update and revision of the first edition, the authors have added a substantial new section that is an extensive case study of the Academy Award winning film, A Beautiful Mind, including intimate participation by Ron Howard and the complete craft professionals. This is a unique resource for aspiring filmmakers and movie buffs alike.

Linda Seger defined the role of script consultant in 1981, and has since consulted on over 2000 scripts and taught screenwriting in over 20 countries. She's the author of 7 books, including the best selling Making A Good Script Great and Creating Unforgettable Characters. Edward Whitmore is a Communications Chair and author of Mediamerica.

#13 Building a Character

Author: Constantin Stanislavski
Translator: Elizabeth Reynolds Hapgood
Paperback: 207 pages
Publisher: Theatre Arts Books; Reprint edition (June 1989)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0878309829
ISBN-13: 978-0878309825
Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
Price: $16.29
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Building-Character-Constantin-Stanislavski/dp/0878309829/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208622199&sr=1-2

"In (this book) Stanislavski, assuming the reader's familiarity with the 'inner technique', proceeds to study costume and the wearing of costume, bodily movement, voice, speech and the use of language, and tempo and rhythm-- the more external but essential techniques whereby the actor learns to use his physical instrument . . . and he expounds them as only a master can; i.e., with the insight and authority of talent plus expeirence. Anyone who attempts to train actors or to direct plays will find here a great mine of practical wisdom."

#14 The Complete Book of Scriptwriting

Author: J. Michael Straczynski
Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Writer's Digest Books; Revised edition (July 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1582971587
ISBN-13: 978-1582971582
Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.4 inches
Price: $13.59 (Amazon)
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-Scriptwriting-Michael-Straczynski/dp/1582971587/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208529480&sr=1-1
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=1398

Download: Sample chapter before purchasing the book
http://rapidshare.com/files/108476220/straczynski_tv_formats.pdf

To survive and thrive in show business, you need to know how to write and sell your writing. J. Michael Straczynski learned these realities the hard way. In The Complete Book of Scriptwriting, he shows you the easy way. You'll find out what the business is really like - and how you can succeed writing scripts. Learn how to:

Strengthen your writing technique
Master script format
Avoid formulas and bring a unique vision to your work
Secure the services of an agent
Create from passion
Distinguish yourself from the competition

Straczynski also reveals little-known facts, tells illuminating stories, and offers pointed observations that could only come from someone who's mastered the business.

Kevan · Liger Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 843

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#1 Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters: Storytelling Secrets From the Greatest Mind in Western Civilization

Author: Michael Tierno
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Hyperion; 1st edition (August 21, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0786887400
ISBN-13: 978-0786887408
Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
Price: $11.16
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Aristotles-Poetics-Screenwriters-Storytelling-Civilization/dp/0786887400/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208060025&sr=8-1
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=1641

Long considered the bible for storytellers, Aristotle's Poetics is a fixture of college courses on everything from fiction writing to dramatic theory. Now story analyst Micheal Tierno shows how this classic work can be an invaluable resource for beginning and advanced screenwriters or anyone interested in studying plot structure.

In Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters, Tierno examines the fundamentals of screenwriting using techniques outlined in the Poetics, then applies these concepts to modern movie classics, including Citizen Kane, Rocky, Pulp Fiction, and many more. This highly readable guide covers a multitude of topics, from plotting and subplotting to dialogue and dramatic unity. Along the way, Tierno also gives tips based on his years as a story analyst, where he has learned what studios look for when they read a screenplay. His quick wit and easy-to-follow explanations of some of the Poetics' most difficult passages illuminate one of the most important books on story structure ever written.

#2 20 Master Plots: And How to Build Them

Author: Ronald B. Tobias
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Writer's Digest Books (January 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1582972397
ISBN-13: 978-1582972398
Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 0.7 inches
Price: $10.19
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/20-Master-Plots-Build-Them/dp/1582972397/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208060482&sr=8-2
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=413

Here you'll find twenty plots discussed and analyzed --plots that recur through all fiction, no matter what the genre. You'll learn how a successful plot integrates all elements of a story, and how to use these plots effectively in your own work. But, as Ronald B. Tobias says here, "Plot isn't an accessory that conveniently organizes your material according to some ritualistic magic. You don't just plug in a plot like a household appliance and expect it to do its job. Plot is organic. It takes hold of the writer and the work from the beginning." So how do you develop an interesting plot? And just what is an interesting plot, anyway? You'll find out here. You'll learn that an effective plot is: Diffusive -- it permeates all the atoms of your fiction. A process, not an object. Dynamic, not static. The point of this book isn't to give you a rundown of twenty master plots that you simply choose from for your next story. Instead, this book shows how to develop a plot in fiction. It also shows you how to apply any subject matter, so you develop plot evenly and effectively. As a result, your fiction will be effective as well.

#3 How to write high structure, high concept movies: A step-by-step guide to writing high concept, structurally foolproof screenplays!

Author: Rob Tobin
Format: Softcover: 184 pages
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation (2000)
Language: English
ISBN: 738827932
Price: $20.99
Links:
scripts@earthlink.net
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=263

Rob Tobin has read more than 5,000 scripts as a script reader, development exec and script doctor for some of the biggest names in Hollywood, from Freddie Fields ("Glory") and Stephen Cannell ("The A-Team") to Joe Singer ("Dr. Doolittle") and Bill Carraro ("Frequency"). He is also former writing coach and VP of development for The Writers' Boot Camp, the largest national screenwriting school in America. This experience forms the basis of "How to Write High-Concept, High-Structure Movies."

Rob's war cry is: "No more lousy movies! The price of tickets go up, the quality of movies goes down. We must teach a new generation of writers to create powerful, moving stories with solid structure and exciting concepts."

#4 The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script

Author: David Trottier
Paperback: 350 pages
Publisher: Silman-James Press; 4 edition (August 20, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1879505843
ISBN-13: 978-1879505841
Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
Price: $15.61
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1879505843/collectorzcom-20
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=361

How does a spec script differ from a shooting script? What kind of fasteners should one use to bind a script? How did the term MOS come to mean without sound? You'll find the answers to these pressing questions and much more in David Trottier's eminently usable Screenwriter's Bible. The avuncular Trottier--a writer-producer, script consultant, and seminar leader--has written a friendly guide through the Hollywood morass. He touts it as six books in one: it's "a screenwriting primer, a screenwriting workbook, a formatting guide, a spec writing guide, a sales and marketing guide, [and] a resource guide."

Much of Trottier's advice is common sense: "Don't write anything that cannot appear on the screen"; to keep casting options open, don't make your physical descriptions too specific; "don't say Ron Howard is looking at the project if he is not." But there are things to know about Hollywood that are, well, quirkier. Don't write the title of your script on the front cover or side binding; present action sequences using the "stacking action" style; in query letters and scripts alike, avoid "big blocks of black ink." Trottier's guidance--from character development and revision to queries and pitches--is invaluable. Getting in the door can seem impossible, but it's not, necessarily. "If you write a script that features a character who has a clear and specific goal," says Trottier, "where there is strong opposition to that goal leading to a crisis and an emotionally satisfying ending, your script will automatically find itself in the upper five percent."

Kevan · Liger Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 843

Kevan · Liger Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 843

V

#1 Vale's Technique of Screen and Television Writing

Author: Eugene Vale
Paperback: 232 pages
Publisher: Focal Press; Rev Sub edition (March 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0240803558
ISBN-13: 978-0240803555
Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.5 inches
Price: $45.95 (Amazon) from £24.46 used (Albris)
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Vales-Technique-Screen-Television-Writing/dp/0240803558/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208269779&sr=1-1
http://www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/6987544/used/Vale's%20Technique%20of%20Screen%20and%20Television%20Writing
http://www.writersbookcase.com.au/product.asp/Eugene-Vale/Vales-Technique-Screen-Television-Writing/ISBN/9780240803555

Vale's Technique of Screen and Television Writing is an updated and expanded edition of a valuable guide to writing for film and television. Mr. Vale takes the aspiring writer through every phase of a film's development, from the original concept to the final shooting script. Teachers of the craft as well as writers and directors have acclaimed it as one of the best books ever written on how to write a screenplay.
This book combines practical advice for the aspiring or established writer with a lucid overview of the unique features of this most contemporary art form, distinguishing film and video from other media and other kinds of storytelling. It teaches the reader to think in terms of the camera and gives practical advice on the realities of filmmaking. At the same time, Vale, who began his own career as a scriptwriter for the great French director Jean Renoir, provides a solid grounding in the history of drama from the Classical Greek theater through the great cinematic works of the twentieth century. Both philosophical and pragmatic, this is a very readable book for students and active professionals who want to improve their writing skills, and for film enthusiasts interested in knowing more about what they see on the screen.

Mr. Vale is that rare combination, a practitioner of great experience who can offer a lucid explanation of his craft.

Eugene Vale was born in Switzerland and began his career in France in the 1930s. He was an award-winning novelist, film and TV scriptwriter and teacher, whose works include the bestselling novel The Thirteenth Apostle and the scripts for Francis of Assisi, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, and The Second Face. He also worked in many otherareas of the motion picture industry, including directing, producing, cutting, distribution and finance. His archives are held by Boston University and University of Southern California. Mr. Vale died in 1997, shortly after he completed the updated version of this handbook.

* The classic textbook from the eminent novelist, playwright, and master screenwriter
* Updated, revised, and expanded to include examples from recent films
* A guidebook to scriptwriting for both beginners and professionals, and a joy for the movie-lover

#2 The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, 3rd Edition

Author: Christopher Vogler
Paperback: 407 pages
Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions; 3rd ed. edition (November 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 193290736X
ISBN-13: 978-1932907360
Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1.4 inches
Price: $17.79
Links:
http://www.thewritersjourney.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Vogler
http://www.amazon.com/Writers-Journey-Mythic-Structure-3rd/dp/193290736X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208050967&sr=1-1
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=453

Christopher Vogler explores the powerful relationship between mythology and storytelling in his clear, concise style that's made this book required reading for movie executives, screenwriters, playwrights, fiction and non-fiction writers, scholars, and fans of pop culture all over the world.

Discover a set of useful myth-inspired storytelling paradigms like "The Hero's Journey," and step-by-step guidelines to plot and character development. Based on the work of Joseph Campbell, The Writer's Journey is a must for all writers interested in further developing their craft.

This updated and revised Third Edition provides new insights and observations from Vogler's ongoing work on mythology's influence on stories, movies, and man himself. In revealing new material, he explores key principles like polarity and catharsis, plus:

* A revised chapter which looks back at the Star Wars phenomenon and analyzes the six feature films as an epic on the theme of father-son relationships
* New illustrations and diagrams that give additional depth to the mythic principles
* A final chapter, "Trust the Path," an inspiring call to adventure for those who want to discover themselves through writing.

#3 Writing the Comedy Film: Make 'Em Laugh

Author: Stuart Voytilla and Scott Petri
Paperback: 180 pages
Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions (March 25, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0941188418
ISBN-13: 978-0941188418
Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.6 inches
Price: $10.17
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Comedy-Film-Make-Laugh/dp/0941188418/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208277344&sr=1-8
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=1676

This book takes you into the world of comedy and helps you discover what makes us laugh, and how you can craft better comedy. With easy-to-use guidelines, learn the successful mechanics and characteristics of various comic story forms (including farce, the gender-bender, fish-out-of-water, parody, ensemble comedy, military comedy, sports comedy, and more).

"What made top-grossing films like Austin Powers, Home Alone, and Ferris Buellers's Day Off so successful? In Writing the Comedy Film, Voytilla and Petri explain the structure of effective comedy and analyze how the films' writers put these principles to work" Melanie Rigney, Editor, Writer's Digest Magazine

"A rousing round of applause for Voytilla and Petri. They have successfully cut open the drum of film humor and let us see what all the noise is about. A classic repository of the whys and wherefores of motion picture comedy"Gloria Stern, Do the Write Thing: Making the Transition to Professional, Literary consultant, Lecturer.

#4 Myth & the Movies: Discovering the Myth Structure of 50 Unforgettable Films

Author: Stuart Voytilla
Paperback: 300 pages
Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions (November 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0941188663
ISBN-13: 978-0941188661
Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 0.8 inches
Price: $17.79
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Myth-Movies-Discovering-Structure-Unforgettable/dp/0941188663/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208449344&sr=8-1
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=300

Riffing off ideas articulated in Christopher Vogler's The Writer's Journey, Myth and the Movies serves both as a sequel to that book and a series of examples attempting to demonstrate its validity. In his book, Vogler, borrowing ideas from Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell, argues that every story follows certain patterns--which he collectively characterizes as a mythic "hero's journey." In Myth and the Movies, Voytilla breaks this journey up into stages, using 50 famous films to illustrate the universality of Vogler's method. During the course of the book, he unpacks the mythic structure of horror, war, drama, romance, comedy, science fiction, action-adventure, the western, and the thriller, drawing on films as diverse as Seven Samurai, The Silence of the Lambs, Annie Hall, and Boyz N the Hood. His charts, maps, and consideration of various archetypal characters ("the shadow," "the trickster," "the herald," "the shapeshifter") and narrative devices ("the elixir," "the adventure," "the threshold," "the road back") provide a clear picture of how Campbell's archetypes can be used for film analysis. And who knows? Perhaps as you follow Voytilla's descriptions, you will be inspired to create some myths of your own.

Kevan · Liger Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 843

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#1 Successful Scriptwriting: How To Write and Pitch Winning Scripts for Movies, Sitcoms, Soaps, Serials and Variety Shows

Author: Jurgen Wolff and Kerry Cox
Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Writer's Digest Books (January 1991)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0898794498
ISBN-13: 978-0898794496
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
Price: $6.95 (Powell's Books) used & new available from $0.66 (Amazon)
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Successful-Scriptwriting-Jurgen-Wolff/dp/0898794498/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208530642&sr=1-3
http://www.powells.com/biblio/17-9780898794496-1
http://www.editing.org.uk/tanis/booksq-z.htm

Download: Sample chapters before purchasing the book
http://rapidshare.com/files/108480838/wolffstructure_1.pdf
http://rapidshare.com/files/108482464/wolff60_min_drama.pdf

A comprehensive guide offering practical, down-to-earth advice and an instructionally sound step-by-step approach to TV and film scriptwriting.

Synopsis:
Covers plot, characterization, and dialog, tells how to write for specific formats, and shares the advice of successful scriptwriters.

Description:
Includes bibliographical references (p. 352-355), listing of resources, and index.

#2 Successful Sitcom Writing: How To Write And Sell For TV's Hottest Format

Authors: Jurgen Wolff and L. P. Ferrante
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press; Revised edition (August 15, 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312144261
ISBN-13: 978-0312144265
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
Price: (used & new available from $8.25 Amazon) (used from $11.88 Barnes & Nobel)
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Successful-Sitcom-Writing-Hottest-Format/dp/0312144261/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208059542&sr=8-1
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?r=1&itm=21&z=y&EAN=9780312144265

Download: Sample chapter before purchasing the book
http://rapidshare.com/files/108488528/wolff_sitcom_characters.pdf

Sitcoms have never been hotter in Hollywood, and the demand for writers has never been greater.

With fees starting at $16,000 for a half-hour script, sitcoms can be a lucrative option for freelancers. The hundreds of shows produced every year, each of which needs a team of writers, provide a tremendous opportunity to break into the industry.

But successful sitcom writing begins long before Act I, Scene I. Hollywood insider Jurgen Wolff will start you off right. He'll show you why some ideas are promising and some should be rejected immediately, even when they're funny. You'll learn how to analyze and develop characters. And you'll find out how the pros punch up their work with subplots, physical comedy, and timing.

The technical ins and outs of the sitcom format are also explained, including act structure, subplots, sets, entrances, and exits. You'll learn the manuscript formats the networks use, so your work will look as professional as it reads. And you'll get solid advice on how to find an agent, take a pitch meeting, and land your script on a producer's desk-- even if you don't live in Los Angeles.

Novice and veteran sitcom writers alike keep Jurgen Wolff's book handy. Read it, and you'll see why.

#3 Screenwriting: The Art, Craft, and Business of Film and Television Writing

Author: Richard Walter
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Plume (August 26, 1988)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0452263476
ISBN-13: 978-0452263475
Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
Price: $10.88
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Screenwriting-Craft-Business-Television-Writing/dp/0452263476
http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=354
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?r=1&ean=9780452263475

With wit and common sense, Walter offers you the same expertise he's given thousands of students who attend his legendary lectures at UCLA and refer to him as the screenwriters' guru. His highly-prized curriculum is now available as a how-to manual that will help you grasp the most important elements of screenwriting; deal with violence and sex; understand the difference between real and reel stories, and many other rules for scriptwriting essentials from dialogue to plot to character development. This is the A-B-C of the medium. Entertaining and informative.

Richard Walter
Professor
http://www.tft.ucla.edu/faculty/facftv/index.cfm?action=dsp_faculty&specialty=screenwriting&specialty_id=11

Screenwriter. Richard Walter, a member of the Writers Guild of America for thirty years, is a writer of substantial professional experience throughout the media. He is a published novelist, and the author of, Escape From Film School, and Screenwriting: The Art, Craft and Business of Film and Television Writing.

He has written numerous feature assignments for the major studios and has sold material to all three networks. He has also written many informational, educational, and corporate films. Walter lectures on screenwriting throughout the world, and has toured The People's Republic of China, the Middle East, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico, Spain, Hong Kong, Vancouver and Toronto. He also lectures all over the United States. He has appeared on O'Reilly Factor, Today, Hardball, ABC Primetime, Scarborough Country, CBS News Nightwatch, NPR, KABC-Talk Radio and numerous independent television and radio stations. More than a hundred newspaper and magazine articles have described his work and the program he directs at UCLA.

Kevan · Liger Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 843

Kevan · Liger Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 843

Kevan · Liger Joined: 02 Jan 2008 Posts: 843

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