Showing titles in Screenwriting

Raymond Chandler was one of the most original and enduring crime novelists of the 20th century. Yet much of his pre-writing life, including his unconventional marriage, has remained shrouded in mystery. In this compelling, wholly original book, Judith Freeman sets out to solve the puzzle of who Chandler was and how he became the writer who would create in Philip Marlowe an icon of American culture.

The only Horror Screenwriter's Handbook written by a successful Hollywood screenwriter. Authored by Hollywood horror screenwriting veteran Thomas Fenton, whose credits include work on the Saw and I Spit On Your Grave horror franchises, The Scream Writer's Handbook offers a 10-step approach to writing a screenplay from idea through completing a first draft. Tom's 10-Step approach in The Scream Writer's Handbook shares a proven process for developing story ideas, characters, dialogue, and scenes that terrify the reader on the page, and on the screen. You'll learn the powerful Rule of Three, ...

Writing successful screenplays that capture the public imagination requires more than simply following the formulas prescribed by the dozens of screenwriting manuals currently in print. Learning the "how-tos" is important, but understanding the dramatic elements that make up a good screenplay is equally crucial. In A Poetics for Screenwriters, veteran writer and teacher Lance Lee offers aspiring and professional screenwriters a thorough overview of all the dramatic elements of screenplays, unbiased toward any particular screenwriting method.

Authored by a former story analyst-turned-development executive, this newly revised, expanded, and updated edition of The 1-3-5 Story Structure Made Simple System guides screenwriters, producers, and other entertainment industry professionals through the industry's best practices. This includes writing, developing, pitching, and selling a screenplay from the buyer's point of view.

Most of us have no concept of what goes into creating a show, getting it on the air, and keeping it on. Perhaps we assume that the people in charge simply decide what amuses them at the moment, make those shows, stick them on, and wait to see if the public responds. Or maybe they just throw darts at a board? The truth, as with most things, is more complicated. In "Hello," Lied the Agent, Ian Gurvitz has produced a corrosively funny insider's look at what being a television writer is really all about.

All you need to know about formatting your screenplay to align with professional standards in a quick-reading and to-the-point page turner. The author Robert L. McCullough has nearly 300 produced script credits and is a founder of The Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards, The Diverse Writers Outreach Awards, The Wiki Screenplay Contest, and The Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards. With an M.A. in Screenwriting, an MFA from The American Film Institute, and a long professional career of promoting aspiring writers into working professionals at every major studio, he now ...

One question can unlock your entire story. Are you struggling to build a riveting plot? Layered characters? How about fortify that saggy middle? Create that powerful ending? You can build an entire book by asking one powerful question and then plugging it into an “equation” that makes your plot and characters come to life. You’ll learn how to build the external and internal journey of your characters, create a theme, build story and scene tension, create the character change journey, and even pitch and market your story.

Learning how to write a movie script is more than just figuring out the margins and hitting a few plot points along the way....

TV WRITING TOOL KIT 2nd Edition—is an update of my latest story tools, breakdowns, and handouts. The book covers story structure for a TV pilot and spec script, logline formulas for Logline For Your Life and your story, and character. With character, the book goes into the wound and the flaw. I cover everything that I teach in Writers on the Verge at NBC. There are breakdowns for several shows, including—THE GOOD WIFE, MODERN FAMILY, THE NIGHT MANAGER, HOMELAND, FLEABAG, and DEAD TO ME. The book also explores staffing and development.

"How do I get an agent?" is the most asked question in Hollywood. Are you ready to SELL yourself as a screenwriter? Then you need an agent...or a manager...or both. This is the comprehensive, step-by-step guide that will reveal the truth about: The difference between a screenwriting agent and a screenwriting manager. Why you need an agent...or manager...or both. How to choose the right agent or manager for you. When and how to reach out and make that first contact. When and how to sign your first agency or management contract. How to be the client agents and managers want to work for. This ...

Finally, a book that tells the truth about the pitching process in Hollywood. This highly detailed guide is intended for writers, producers and directors, or anyone who wants to work in the intensely competitive, creative side of the entertainment industry. Written is simple, direct language, it is intended for beginners or established Hollywood pros.

The groundbreaking inside look at the making — and unmaking — of a network TV series, back in print for the first time in thirty years. Smoldering Lust seemed like a sure-fire hit for NBC – a sexy new comedy-drama starring Kate Capshaw from Jay Tarses, the acclaimed, Emmy-awarding winning writer/producer of The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, Buffalo Bill and The Bob Newhart Show. But things started to go wrong from the start and author Vance Muse was there to witness it all, from the development, casting, and production of the show all the way to the disastrous test screening, the ...

Want to sell a screenplay, but figure there’s no chance it’ll ever happen? I mean, you don’t know a soul in Hollywood, right? You don’t have James Cameron on your speed dial. Christopher Nolan isn’t in your yoga class. Quentin Tarantino doesn’t shop at the same Whole Foods that you do. I mean, who’s going to take a chance on you? There’s no way you could ever sell a screenplay. Right? Well…

In today's busy world, preventing audience boredom is more important than ever. Now screenwriters and directors have an easy guidebook for making their films more captivating, spine tingling, and suspenseful. "Hitchcock Whisperer" Jeffrey Michael Bays brings the secrets of suspense out of the shadows.

Today's world wants to know you and the real story behind why you do what you do. Whether you have a product to sell, a company mission to share or an audience to entertain, people are far more likely to engage if you deliver a well-crafted story with an emotional core. Bobette Buster is a story consultant, lecturer and screenwriter who works with major studios and in top film programmes all over the world. She shares the tools used by some of the world's best storytellers and helps you apply them to your own.

Want to know how to write a script that people will remember, and can catch the attention of producers and other above-the-line talent? (Don't worry about agents; they don't want to talk to you). Nail your dialogue. Really. Now I know you've heard all the maxims: Film is a Visual Medium; You Can Either Write Dialogue or You Can't. And they both sound very logical. And esteemed writers, such as David Mamet, have been preaching them for years. But, in my not so humble opinion, they're both total bullcrap.

In You Talkin’ to Me?, Seger and Rainey are here to help with all your dialogue problems. In each chapter, they explore dialogue from a different angle and discuss examples of great dialogue from films and novels. To cap it all off, each chapter ends with examples of poor dialogue, which are annotated by Linda and then rewritten by John so that listeners don’t just learn how to recognize when it’s done well - they also learn how to make dialogue better. Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, for the screen or the page, this book will get your characters talking.

While there are plenty of books about the mechanics of writing, this is the first time an insider has detailed the invaluable TV executive perspective. As key pieces of the entertainment puzzle, executives hold institutional wisdom that seldom gets disseminated outside network walls. The Executive Chair breaks down the business from the gatekeeper’s point of view, illuminating the creative process used by those who ultimately make the decisions.

In writing a novel or screenplay, does writing Act II scare the heck out of you? Easily outline your novel or screenplay with this concise and insightful book. Are you confused as to how the three-act structure works? Want to make your novels or screenplays pop and create more compelling narratives? Consider it a screenwriting or novel worksheet for your mind. Three-Act Structure: Classified delivers!

The legendary Academy award-winning writer and director takes the listener on a unique joyride of personal memoir, cultural criticism and Hollywood history. For the first time, in his own words, explore the mind, the myth, and the movie magic of the one and only Quentin Tarantino.