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How Not to Write a Screenplay (currently 4261 views) |
Electric Dreamer |
Posted: January 5th, 2012, 12:27pm |
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Old Timer Taking a long vacation from the holidays.
LocationLos Angeles Posts2740 Posts Per Day 0.55 |
Just finished reading this easy to understand nuts and boltsy book. A feature film producer I'm working for recommended I give it a look see. Full of great tips for the beginner to intermediate level amateur crowd. The author tells you what to avoid to get past those pesky development readers. I dig the litany of straightforward advice to simply avoid sucking. Chock full of useful things to make a good impression at the studio system entry level. Loaded with fun to read screenplay examples to illustrate the lessons. A very breezy read and already applying lessons learned in my current assignment.
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Grandma Bear |
Posted: January 5th, 2012, 1:13pm |
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Administrator
LocationThe Swamp... Posts7962 Posts Per Day 1.35 |
I have a few books on screenwriting. Can't say I have read them though... Pretty much the only one I have read is that one!! |
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leitskev |
Posted: January 5th, 2012, 1:40pm |
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Posts3113 Posts Per Day 0.63 |
Yeah, I read that one when I was doing my first script. Solid stuff.
One I really recommend is Story by McKee. That's one you can go back to several times and come away with something different each time. |
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Reef Dreamer |
Posted: January 5th, 2012, 2:20pm |
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Old Timer Part time writer
LocationThe Island of Jersey Posts2612 Posts Per Day 0.56 |
Kevin, that's useful.
I have this next to my bed and have been meaning to read it but so far have found lots of reasons not to. Knowing it is decent at least takes that excuse away. |
| My scripts HERE
The Elevator Most Belonging To Alice - Semi Final Bluecat, Runner Up Nashville Inner Journey - Page Awards Finalist - Bluecat semi final Grieving Spell - winner - London Film Awards. Third - Honolulu Ultimate Weapon - Fresh Voices - second place IMDb link... http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7062725/?ref_=tt_ov_wr |
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Electric Dreamer |
Posted: January 5th, 2012, 3:17pm |
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Old Timer Taking a long vacation from the holidays.
LocationLos Angeles Posts2740 Posts Per Day 0.55 |
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bert |
Posted: January 5th, 2012, 3:42pm |
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AdministratorBuy the ticket, take the ride
LocationThat's me in the corner Posts4233 Posts Per Day 0.61 |
I read this one over Christmas: More amusing than helpful -- I can recommend it for the former more than the latter -- but it does read lightening quick, as it is more a collection of anecdotes than anything else. It is safe to say that Eszterhas is madly in love with Eszterhas -- and half the book actually reads like one long post from our pal, Balt -- so that kind of makes it even funnier in a way. |
| Hey, it's my tiny, little IMDb! |
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B.C. |
Posted: January 5th, 2012, 3:49pm |
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New
LocationParts Unknown Posts240 Posts Per Day 0.05 |
Eszterhas' autobiography 'Hollywood Animal' is entertaining as well. He slags off Mckee alot, which is always welcome. |
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B.C. - January 6th, 2012, 9:00am | | |
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Eoin |
Posted: January 5th, 2012, 3:51pm |
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Been Around just another ego maniac with low self esteem
LocationIreland Posts638 Posts Per Day 0.12 |
I have been gifted with a number of screenwriting books over Christmas, maybe the person who gave them to me has read some of my working and is hinting at something Reading at the moment: 500 ways to beat the hollywood script reader - Jennifer Lerch Screenplay - the foundations of screenwriting - Syd Field |
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leitskev |
Posted: January 5th, 2012, 4:35pm |
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Posts3113 Posts Per Day 0.63 |
I checked this one out recently at the library. Worth checking out if they have it at your local branch.
Writing the Character Centered Screenplay by Andrew Horton.
I like reading discussions that are contrary to some of the things we normally think or assume. What I took from this was a consideration of what we need to know about a character's history. Not just the audience, but even the writer. One would maybe assume that the more we know about a character, the more that character is fleshed out, the more depth the character has. Kind of like a person's personality is the sum of its parts, the experiences that shape him.
Horton points out that this is not quite true. Even with people in your real life, does knowing everything about their history necessarily help you know them better? does it necessarily determine their actions?
Horton points out that while it is useful to know some of a character's formative experiences, we also want a level of mystery. Sometimes characters do things not because of something that happened to them in their past, but simply because it's who they are. And as with real people, there should be a level of unpredictability to a character's actions. He calls this carnivalesque. He compares it to a New Orleans Mardis Gras procession which has a rhyme and a rhythm, but does not march according to a planned path. They wander where they wander.
He examines Silence of the Lambs. The Jodie Foster character is revealed through discussions about her father, a cop killed in the line. This explains much, but not all of the character's motivation. On the other hand, Lectre, one of the more interesting characters in film history, is someone we know next to nothing about regarding his past(not in the original film anyway).
It's a good read, a quick read. It's changed some of my thinking on character construction...not that it means I write good ones now! |
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cloroxmartini |
Posted: January 6th, 2012, 1:00am |
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Been Around
LocationYou know what a saguaro is? Posts803 Posts Per Day 0.14 |
Sounds like "500 Ways to Beat the Hollywood Script Reader" |
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The Working Screenwriter |
Posted: January 11th, 2012, 2:22pm |
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Posts69 Posts Per Day 0.01 |
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albinopenguin |
Posted: January 20th, 2012, 11:45am |
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Been Around I got dipping sticks.
LocationLos Angeles Posts785 Posts Per Day 0.14 |
Reading this right now, and it's absolutely amazing. There are a few debatable points, but overall it's been incredibly insightful. Only 50 pages in and I've learned so much. Highly recommended. |
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mmmarnie |
Posted: January 20th, 2012, 12:51pm |
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January Project Group
Posts1085 Posts Per Day 0.22 |
Just ordered my copy! Thanks for the recommendation ED and thanks for making the book the link to the Amazon page! |
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MacDuff |
Posted: January 20th, 2012, 1:37pm |
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Been Around I should be writing...
LocationBeautiful BC Posts745 Posts Per Day 0.10 |
Interesting - don't think I have come across this one. Will need to pick it up.
Whenever I'm in need of some refresher's and inspiration, I read Stephen King's "On Writing" book. It's not necessarily about screenwriting, and not everyone is a fan of King, but I find it very informative. Especially how he breaks things down into a writer's "toolbox." |
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mmmarnie |
Posted: January 20th, 2012, 1:42pm |
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January Project Group
Posts1085 Posts Per Day 0.22 |
@ Mac...I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE "On Writing". I read it then bought it on CD and listen to it in my car. |
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Pii |
Posted: January 20th, 2012, 4:43pm |
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New Procrastinator in residence.
LocationFinland Posts189 Posts Per Day 0.02 |
How Not to Write a Screenplay? That's easy: Stop typing!
I don't know how that needed to be a book... |
| The act of writing is a quest to put a hundred thousand words to a cunning order. - Douglas Adams |
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MacDuff |
Posted: January 20th, 2012, 5:13pm |
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Been Around I should be writing...
LocationBeautiful BC Posts745 Posts Per Day 0.10 |
@ Mac...I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE "On Writing". I read it then bought it on CD and listen to it in my car. |
I didn't know it was on CD. Thanks for the heads up! |
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irish eyes |
Posted: January 20th, 2012, 9:00pm |
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January Project Group There`s too much blood in my alcohol
LocationUpstate New York Posts1865 Posts Per Day 0.36 |
I`m a big fan of The Screenwriter`s Bible by David Trottier.
Very Informative.
Mark |
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Electric Dreamer |
Posted: January 21st, 2012, 11:41am |
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Old Timer Taking a long vacation from the holidays.
LocationLos Angeles Posts2740 Posts Per Day 0.55 |
Reading this right now, and it's absolutely amazing. There are a few debatable points, but overall it's been incredibly insightful. Only 50 pages in and I've learned so much. Highly recommended. |
Glad to hear it! I'm so stoked I read this before starting a spec assignment. All those great screenplay snippets really drove home the lessons. Predator, Lethal Weapon, Romancing the Stone, Braveheart..... It just goes on and on. Love reading Shane Black's early stuff. Snagged a Like New used copy for $6 with shipping. Money VERY well spent! Regards, E.D. |
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Electric Dreamer |
Posted: January 21st, 2012, 11:44am |
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Old Timer Taking a long vacation from the holidays.
LocationLos Angeles Posts2740 Posts Per Day 0.55 |
Just ordered my copy! Thanks for the recommendation ED and thanks for making the book the link to the Amazon page! |
Hey, I'd be in the writing closet without SS and its forum members. So, it's the least I can do to pay it forward! I hope you're just as excited as I was about writing a new script after reading it. Cheers, E.D. |
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CoopBazinga |
Posted: January 21st, 2012, 12:07pm |
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Old Timer
LocationPerth, Australia Posts1175 Posts Per Day 0.26 |
I have just ordered my copy today, you should ask for some royalties ED. Steve |
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Electric Dreamer |
Posted: January 22nd, 2012, 1:33am |
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Old Timer Taking a long vacation from the holidays.
LocationLos Angeles Posts2740 Posts Per Day 0.55 |
I have just ordered my copy today, you should ask for some royalties ED. Steve |
LOL! Steve, sure there isn't a little literary agent inside you somewhere? Hope you get as much out of that book as I did! Regards, E.D. |
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CoopBazinga |
Posted: February 15th, 2012, 12:22pm |
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Old Timer
LocationPerth, Australia Posts1175 Posts Per Day 0.26 |
Finished reading this yesterday, really insightful. Thanks for the recommendation, Brett. |
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Felipe |
Posted: February 15th, 2012, 3:40pm |
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LocationLos Angeles, CA Posts437 Posts Per Day 0.10 |
This book is the first screenwriting book I ever read. It was very helpful. I usually take these in with a grain of salt as they usually claim to have the definitive answer on how to write. Obviously that's not the case, but you can always take something away from them.
In my case, they get me in the mood to write. |
| 'Artist' is not a term you should use to refer to yourself. Let others, and your work, do it for you. |
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Electric Dreamer |
Posted: February 16th, 2012, 11:34am |
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Old Timer Taking a long vacation from the holidays.
LocationLos Angeles Posts2740 Posts Per Day 0.55 |
This book is the first screenwriting book I ever read. It was very helpful. I usually take these in with a grain of salt as they usually claim to have the definitive answer on how to write. Obviously that's not the case, but you can always take something away from them.
In my case, they get me in the mood to write. |
Finished reading this yesterday, really insightful. Thanks for the recommendation, Brett. |
Glad the book worked for you guys. I would've never picked it up had it not been recommended by a colleague. It's helping me a great deal with a spec feature film project I'm revising. The producer wanted me to get a flavor of some of his favorite screenwriters. And that book is loaded with awesome screenplay snippets. William Goldman. Shane Black. Diane Thomas. Walter Hill. All great stuff! He also said something that really gave me some pause... "Most of the scripts I sold had decent stories. But they all had a great voice on the page. That's what got me paid more than anything."So, I've been trying to take that lesson to heart and this book helped a lot! Regards, E.D. |
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Kip |
Posted: February 16th, 2012, 11:49am |
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New At my signal, unleash Hellboy
LocationSt Albans, England Posts74 Posts Per Day 0.02 |
I read "How to write great screenplays and get them into production".
A pretty good read, but looking at my efforts, I must've read it upside down. |
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