Synopses & Reviews
Review
"Stempel has produced an informative and readable work." Library Journal
Review
"A fascinating, entertaining romp through the forest of writing for films. You will encounter flora and fauna of the art and business of cinema dramaturgy. It is compulsory reading for professional and layman alike." David Brown Producer, The Sting and Jaws
Review
"A real cornerstone item for film studies collections and a genuinely, enjoyably readable one." Booklist
Review
"Informal in style and anecdotal in approach, this perceptive account is filled with stories spotlighting writer's creative work and their struggle to achieve recognition." American Cinematographer
Review
"An invaluable resource for anyone interested in film, popular culture, or twentieth-century American writing." The Georgia Review
Synopsis
Updated and expanded for the third edition, this volume combines scholarship with movie lore to present a comprehensive account of the development and influence of the American screenwriter. The text is written in an informal style and includes anecdotes and stories that spotlight writer's creative work and their struggle to achieve recognition.
About the Author
Tom Stempel is a professor of cinema at Los Angeles City College. He
is the author of five books including Storytellers to the Nation: A History
of American Television Writing and Talking Back to the Screen: American Moviegoing since 1948 from the Audiences' Point of View. His articles on film have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Film Comment, and Sight and Sound.