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This new edition has been completely updated and revised along with the addition of several new chapters. Currently, this title remains the best selling university text book on writing short film screenplays.
On successful screenplays
The complete, clear guide to creating compelling plots for film -Integrate plot, characterization, and exposition to make stories real - Examples from new and classic movies examine great plots in action Plot must be as much about the emotions of the characters as it is about the events of the story. That’s the message of The Art of Plotting, which teaches screenwriters how to integrate plot, characterization, and exposition to make stories compelling. Using examples from recent and classic movies, author Linda J. Cowgill demonstrates how the plot springs naturally from the characters--and how that technique makes audiences connect with the story on a more intimate level. Examples include American Beauty, Shakespeare in Love, Erin Brockovich, Spider-Man, Chinatown, Jaws, and more. Easy exercises reveal common plot problems and help writers overcome them. Clear and easy to understand and to use, The Art of Plotting shows exactly how great plotting evolves from characters caught in life-changing conflicts--and how to create great plots driven by that idea.
Every award-winning short film begins life with a clever idea, a good story and a screenplay. Patrick Nash analyses the process of writing short film screenplays and gives advice on: Story and structure Ideas generation Plot and pace Screenplay format Dos and don'ts Eliciting emotion Dialogue and subtext Character design Protagonists and antagonists Character motivation and goals Conflict, obstacles and stakes Clichés and Stereotypes Beginnings, middles and ends Hooking the viewer Screenplay competitions Loglines, outlines and synopses Rewriting and length Practicalities and budgets The book also includes a number of award-winning scripts and interviews, advice and contributions from their award-winning screenwriters and a discussion of the benefits to writers of writing short screenplays.
One of the few screenwriting books on the challenging short-form genre
The only screenwriting book that includes a DVD that contains performances of the short films and screenplays that are featured in the book! The beauty and power of any story lies in its ability to connect to the reader, listener, or observer. Crafting Short Screenplays That Connect is the first screenwriting guide to introduce connection as an essential, although essentially overlooked, aspect of creating stories for the screen and of the screenwriting process itself. Written with clarity and humor, this book teaches the craft of writing short screenplays by guiding the student through carefully focused writing exercises of increasing length and complexity. Eight award-winning student scree...
Many books have been written about the query letter. But few have been written by literary agents, who receive thousands of queries each year and who grapple with them on a daily basis. New York literary agent Noah Lukeman offers his insights on the query letter, sharing an insider's perspective, giving insights and practical tips about what works and what doesn't.
This is a complete screenwriting course -- from developing a theme, researching a story, plotting and structuring a script, developing characters, and plying methods that aid the actual writing and rewriting processes to understanding the ins and outs of marketing and pitching scripts. Well-written, comprehensive, and filled with illustrative screenplay examples, both innovative and tried-and-true writing techniques, sage advice from veteran writers, and pertinent writing anecdotes, this one-of-a-kind screenwriting book will help both novices and working screenwriters to improve and sell their scripts.
Offering a systematic approach for aspiring and working screenwriters, "My Story Can Beat Up Your Story" helps writers create professional, sellable stories that work for every genre. The book features examples from more than 70 movies.
Myrl Schreibman has written a comprehensive and practical, step-by-step guide for organizing and running a film from pre-production through post-production and delivery. This invaluable resource provides fundamental tools to produce a more thorough, more organized, and more professional film production. Packed with engaging and useful anecdotes, Schreibman provides a superlative introduction and overview to all of the key elements in producing for film and television. Useful to film students and filmmakers as a theoretical and practical guide to understanding the filmmaking process, Schreibman fills his manuscript with practical examples from his considerable personal experience in the film industry. Loaded with insider tips to help filmmakers avoid the pitfalls of show business.