Film scripts and screenplays Books

Book SynopsisEven the most gifted screenwriters get lost along the way. Inspired by the work of mythologist Joseph Campbell and psychologist Jean Houston, this title demonstrates how the "screenwriting by numbers" approach that offers templates into which the writer may mechanically drop his or her story idea is fundamentally incomplete.Trade Review"[This book] demonstrates that good screenwriting is more than hitting the big plot points with exciting action" Writers Forum, November 2008"Keith Cunningham's The Soul of Screenwriting: On Writing, Dramatic Truth, and Knowing Yourself...offers an unusual survey inspired by the mythic approach of Joseph Campbell and tinged by the psychology background of Jean Jouston, providing a survey of the act of screenwriting and how the writer's brain and experience juxtaposes to influence technique, character development, scene dynamics and results. It's a scholarly analysis recommended for any film or drama collection." -Midwest Book Review, (The Bookwatch), December 2008"US script-writing guru Keith Cunningham's hefty self-help guide" Total film, 1 May 2009 -- Carmen GrayMention -Book News, November 2008"Writing in a clear, evocative style, screenwriter/consultant Cunningham melds the business side of screenwriting with the craft of screenwriting in an attempt to help writers navigate the often-unwieldy terrain between what an artist needs to create and what the film industry demands as product....In demonstrating the symbiotic relationship between the writer and the world the writer creates, Cunningham offers writers an unique way to view their craft. And he extols the value of truthful writing, as opposed to formulaic writing, and provides a means to remain faithful to one's art while still producing a viable Hollywood product. More than a tool book, this book teaches writers how to persevere as artists. SUMMING UP: Recommended - Choice * Choice *Table of ContentsPart One: The Living Story; Introduction: The Night of the King Coho; Chapter One: Mirrored in the Story; Chapter Two: The Mythic Dimension of Screenwriting; Chapter Three: Need vs. Mode, The Core of Conflict; Chapter Four: The Story Molecule; Chapter Five: Orchestrating Character and Style; Part Two: Plot and the Dynamics of Creation; Chapter Six: The Soul of Screenplay Structure; Chapter Seven: The Journey in Four Movements; Chapter Eight: Act, Sequence, Scene, Beat: The Dramatic Present; Chapter Nine: The Sixteen Story Steps; Chapter Ten: The Creative Journey of Story Development.

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Book SynopsisA fascinating play about a man's greed for land.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisA grotesque and hilarious satire about the American dream, suburban living, and the corrupting influence of power, set in a world that could only have sprung from the unhinged and brilliant mind of John Waters.On the verge of a suburban mental health crisis, frazzled and wildly unstable housewife Peggy (immortalized by Mink Stole on-screen) runs away from home with her maid and partner in crime, Grizelda (played with spectacular gumption by the sizzling Jean Hill), only to end up in Mortville, a shantytown filled with society?s rejects. Mortville is run by the evil Queen Carlotta, who parades through the cardboard streets taunting and terrorizing her subjects.John Waters?s wild and visionary fable lampoons everything from the staid conservatism of the American dream to race and class relations. The New York Times ranked Desperate Living at ?the highest peak atop [John Waters]?s trash heap of a filmography.? High praise indeed!

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Book SynopsisOffering unique insights into the writing and production of television drama series such as The Killing and Borgen, produced by DR, the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, Novrup Redvall explores the creative collaborations in writers' rooms and 'production hotels' through detailed case studies of Denmark's public service production culture.Trade Review'Writing and Producing Television Drama in Denmark is a key text on Scandinavian television and production culture. As such, it is not only recommended to scholars of Scandinavian audio-visual culture, but also to those - including undergraduates as well as more advanced scholars -who are more generally interested in television production and scriptwriting.' - Tobias Hochscherf, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television The book provides a wealth of material to ponder, not only for those interested in Danish television but for anyone curious about the direction of small screen fiction generally.' - Glen Creeber, New Review of Film and Television StudiesTable of ContentsList of Figures Acknowledgements Introduction 1. Television Writing and the Screen Idea System 2. Danish Television Drama: A Crash Course 3. Dogmas for Television Drama: Changing a Production Culture 4. Training Talent for Television: DR and 'The TV term' 5. Writers, Showrunners and Television Auteurs: Ideas of 'One Vision' 6. The Workings of a Writer's Room: Borgen 7. Primetime Public Service Crime: Forbrydelsen / The Killing Conclusions and Cliffhangers Appendix Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisProfessor Craig Batty is Head of Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. He is an award-winning educator and researcher, with interests in screenwriting craft, theory and teaching, creative practice research methodologies, and supervising creative doctorates. He is also a writer, script editor and script consultant.Zara Waldeback is a script consultant and creative specialist currently living in Sweden and working across Europe. In the UK, she was for many years Senior Lecturer in Screenwriting and Directing at Thames Valley University, as well as working in development for British Screen and the First Film Foundation. She now teaches key narrative skills to a range of creative artists, and works as script editor for feature films, including the award-winning Sami BloodTrade ReviewWriting for the Screen, blending as it does theory and practical application, is the best single volume available for university students working on screenwriting courses today. * Tim Kelly, Coventry University, UK *With a combination of exercises to flex creative muscles, critical analysis of key scenes and insights into the workings of the industry, Writing for the Screen is an invaluable guide and source of inspiration wherever you are in your media career. * Sally Angel, Emmy award-winning producer, UK *Insightful, accessible and full of useful exercises, this highly readable screenwriting book has all the essential elements you need to understand the art and craft of screenwriting. * Ben Michael, University of Melbourne, Australia *Table of ContentsIntroduction PART I: FOUNDATIONS 1. Establishing Practice 2. Subject: Ideas into Character 3. Structure and Narrative 4. Visual Storytelling 5. Dialogue and Voice 6. The Cultures of Screenwriting 7. Key Points and Foundations Exercises PART II: SPECULATIONS 8. Exploring Possibilities 9. Subjects: Ideas into Characters 10. Structures and Narratives 11. Visual Storytelling 12. Dialogues and Voices 13. Further Cultures of Screenwriting 14. Key Points and Speculations Exercises.

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Book SynopsisGlorious 39 is the screenplay of the new blockbuster film by award-winning writer/director Stephen Poliakoff released in cinemas this autumn. In this tense psychological thriller set on the eve of WWII, a young woman stumbles across evidence of a sinister Nazi appeasement plot that will stop at nothing to achieve its aims.Trade Review'Glorious 39 is of scorching relevance.' Baz Bamingboye

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Book SynopsisThe long-awaited follow-up to the perennially bestselling writers'' guide Story, from the most sought-after expert in the art of storytelling. Robert McKee''s popular writing workshops have earned him an international reputation. The list of alumni with Oscars runs off the page. The cornerstone of his program is his singular book, Story, which has defined how we talk about the art of story creation. Now, in Dialogue, McKee offers the same in-depth analysis for how characters speak on the screen, on the stage, and on the page in believable and engaging ways. From Macbeth to Breaking Bad, McKee deconstructs key scenes to illustrate the strategies and techniques of dialogue. Dialogue applies a framework of incisive thinking to instruct the prospective writer on how to craft artful, impactful speech. Famous McKee alumni include Peter Jackson, Jane Campion, Geoffrey Rush, Paul Haggis, the writing team for Pixar, and many others.

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Book SynopsisIf there is one skill that separates the professional screenwriter from the amateur, it is the ability to rewrite successfully. From Jack Epps, Jr., the screenwriter of Top Gun, Dick Tracy, and The Secret of My Success, comes a comprehensive guide that explores the many layers of rewriting. In Screenwriting is Rewriting, Epps provides a practical and tested approach to organizing notes, creating a game plan, and executing a series of focused passes that address the story, character, theme, structure, and plot issues. Included are sample notes, game plans, and beat sheets from Epps’ work on films such as Sister Act and Turner and Hooch. Also featured are exclusive interviews with Academy Award® winning screenwriters Robert Towne (Chinatown) and Frank Pierson (Dog Day Afternoon), along with Academy Award® nominee Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich).Trade ReviewThe book is a great starting point that would teach aspiring screenwriters or students of creative writing how to go about starting, developing and rewriting their screenplays. * Alphaville: Journal of Film and Screen Media *And just when we thought we didn't need another book about screenwriting along comes this one, which in short order makes itself a must-have. Jack Epps is a great writer, a master teacher, as smart about character as he is about structure. He's distilled this part of our craft to its essence, and by heeding his book's fine wisdom we will all of us become better rewriters—and better writers. * Howard A. Rodman, Screenwriter and President of the Writer’s Guild of America, We *Never in the history of Hollywood has a screenwriter heard the words: ‘It's perfect; don't change a thing.’ Even if someone were to say that, we know better and would change it anyway, and change it again, and again, and again. This book teaches the why and the how of rewriting and is written by a real, live, honest-to-God professional screenwriter who has successfully had many of his scripts made into movies. * Stephen Sommers, Writer and Director of The Jungle Book (1994), The Mummy (1999), and Van Helsing (2004) *An exemplary text on screenplay writing. Drawing from both his professional and academic experiences, Jack Epps, Jr. provides an excellent distillation of ideal screenwriting practice, creating an indispensable resource for both students and self-taught screenwriters. * David Dunn, Principal Teaching Fellow in Film Studies, University of Southampton, UK *Table of ContentsIntroduction How To Use This Book Let’s Talk About Rewriting The Pass Method – Layer By Layer Movies You Need To See Part One: Foundations and Fundamentals Chapter 1 Notes – Receiving and Organizing Notes Chapter 2 Interpreting Notes – Reading Tea Leaves Chapter 3 Annotated Draft – Your Reference Guide Chapter 4 Game Plan – Creating a Road Map for the Rewrite Chapter 5 Character – Writing from the Inside Out Chapter 6 Foundation Pass – Strengthening the Core Chapter 7 Character Pass – The Emotional Core Chapter 8 The Set-Up – Establish – Complicate – Resolve Chapter 9 Story & Theme Pass – The Emotional Underpinning Chapter 10 Structure – What Stays In, What Goes Out, and In What Order Chapter 11 Structure Pass – Architecture and Design Chapter 12 Plot – How Will This Turn Out? Chapter 13 Plot Pass – Cause and Effect Chapter 14 Feedback on Your Interim Draft – Checking-In Part Two: Details and Layering Chapter 15 Opposition Characters – Sources of Conflict and Tension Chapter 16 Obstacles, Complications, Reveals, and Reversals – Complicate, Complicate, Complicate Chapter 17 Obstacles, Complications, Reveals, and Reversals Pass – Making Life Much More Difficult Chapter 18 Relationships – The Ties that Bind Chapter 19 Relationship Pass – Interconnecting Chapter 20 Dialogue – Rhythm and Flow Chapter 21 Scene Pass – Link and Connect Chapter 22 Consistency Pass – Motivated Actions Chapter 23 Polish Pass – Dialogue, Text, and Tightening Chapter 24 Sending Out Your Screenplay – Letting Go Chapter 25 Working with Directors, Producers, and Executives – Patience, Patience, Patience Part Three: Screenwriters on Rewriting Interview with Robert Towne Chinatown, The Firm, Mission Impossible II Interview with Frank Pierson Cool Hand Luke, Dog Day Afternoon, King Of The Gypsies Interview with Susannah Grant Pocahontas, Erin Brockovich, The Soloist Part Four: Examples Studio Script Notes Turner & Hooch Notes Sister Act Studio Notes and Game Plan Student Annotated Pages Suicide Girl by Ivy Pruss Student Script Notes & Game Plans Take Your Grandma To Work Day by David Ngo F@#% The Knot by Romi Barta Essential Three Act Questions Acknowledgements Quote Sources Index

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