Screenwriting category: 401 books

All aspects of drama screenwriting, with such case studies as Erin Brockovich, The King's Speech, Juno, and many moreBreaking down the nuts and bolts of what differentiates drama from genre, this book considers questions such as What is "emotional truth?" What separates stereotypical and...

"Top Ten Screenplay Rewrite Tips" is a quick and easy read, which offers a variety of insights into the rewrite process.There’s an old saying in the screenwriting trade:“Write from the gut and rewrite from the head.”And most writers do just that, which is why their first...

A manual for screenwriters and filmmakers, in the form of notes, on how to take your career from amateur writer to proRocliffe Notes is a compendium for screenwriters and filmmakers which brings together tips and opinions from more than 140 film and TV industry professionals, and provides a step-by-step,...

It is often suggested that there are 'secrets' to comedy or that it is 'lightning in a bottle', but the craft of comedy writing can be taught. While comedic tastes change, over time and from person to person, the core underpinning still depends on the comedic geniuses that have paved the way. Great...

This authoritative guide will help both fledgling and established writers to negotiate the best deal, protect their work, and get fair compensation for it. One of the most powerful entertainment lawyers in Hollywood provides easy-to-understand, expert advice on all the legal issues involved in the...

In Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting (1979), Syd Field first popularized the Three-Act Paradigm of Setup, Confrontation and Resolution for conceptualizing and creating the Hollywood screenplay. For Field, the budding screenwriter needs a clear screenplay structure, one which includes two...

Covering all of the major genres, The Bloomsbury Introduction to Creative Writing is a complete introductory manual for students of creative writing. Now in its second edition, the book features an updated and expanded chapter on writing for digital media, and new exercises for reading across the...

The Pleasures of Structure starts from the premise that the ability to develop a well understood and articulated story structure is the most important skill a screenwriter can develop. For example, good structure requires a great premise and rigorous character development. Without clear character...

Write to Shoot teaches budding screenwriters and screenwriting filmmakers how to write a short script with production in mind. Beker instructs them how to showcase their strengths, tailor projects to shoestring budgets, resources, and practical production parameters without sacrificing the quality...

Tailor your screenplay to sell. Find out what Hollywood script readers, producers, and studio executives want in a screenplay (and why) from someone who’s been there. Discover what it takes to begin a lasting career as a screenwriter. Peppered with interviews from established professionals,...

“Damn, this book is good.”—**Jon Stewart “A biting, darkly hilarious collection of personal essays that begs to be read aloud.”—Chicago Tribune** Emmy Award–winning writer Adam Resnick began his career at Late Night with David Letterman before honing his chops in movies...

Monster is John Gregory Dunne's mordant account of the eight years it took to get the 1996 Robert Redford/Michelle Pfeiffer film Up Close & Personal made. A bestselling novelist, Dunne has a cold eye, perfect pitch for the absurdities of Hollywood, and sharp elbows for the film industry's savage infighting. 192 pp. Author tour & national ads. 25,000 print.

Any list of Japan's greatest screenplay writers would feature Shinobu Hashimoto at or near the top. This memoir, focusing on his collaborations with Akira Kurosawa, a gifted scenarist in his own right, offers indispenable insider account for fans and students of the director's oeuvre and invaluable...

Joe Eszterhas had everything Hollywood could offer. A combination of insider and rebel, he saw and participated in the fights, the deals, the backstabbing, and all the sex and drugs. But here, in his candid and heartwrenching memoir, we see therest of the story: the inspiring account of the child...