Synopses & Reviews
More and more people are writing scripts as they try to break into the "Hollywood scene." What makes a script stand out? Readers will find out in this comprehensive volume. This invaluable tool to the film and television scriptwriter offers two especially unique features: It contains valuable information on writing for TV (most books just cover film or tv, not both), and secondly, it contains a full chapter on Comedy (other books briefly touch this genre). Chock full of sample scripts and scenes, this book provides readers with the techniques that will enable them to move from concept to draft to final script with ease. Topics include: the writing process; choosing a story; character development; story structure; television narrative; comedy; dialogue/sound/music; marketing the script; and much more. Ideal for both novice and experienced screenwriters.
Table of Contents
All chapters conclude with “Endnotes” and most chapters include “Summary.”
1.The Writing Process: Getting Down to Work.
The Creative Process.
Imagination Exercises.
Script Development: The Inverted Triangle Model.
Summary.
2.Deciding Your Story.
Choosing Your Story Idea.
Genres.
Story Themes.
Story Sources.
Defining the Story: The “What If. . .”
High Concept.
Broad-Stroking the Story.
The Essential Story.
3.Characters.
Effective Characters.
Characters Form the Story.
Introducing and Developing Characters.
Composing Characters.
Imagination Exercises.
A Checklist for Writing Characters.
4.Story Structure.
The Stuff of Structure.
Structuring the Story.
Structure Models.
Sample Film Analyses.
A Checklist for Story Structure.
5.Diverse Techniques and Concerns.
Title.
Openings.
Point of Attack.
Exposition.
Preparation.
Runners.
Forward Movement.
Credibility.
Pace.
Tone, Mood, Atmosphere.
The Moment, the Big Event.
Point of View.
Ticking Clock, Time Bomb.
Infrequently Used Techniques.
Settings.
Props.
Costumes.
Other Visual Elements.
Themes.
Involving the Audience.
A Story Techniques Checklist.
6.Television Narrative.
Hour Series.
Half-Hour Series.
Movie of the Week.
Daytime Serials, The Soaps.
A Checklist for Writing Television Series.
7.Alternative Structures: Adventures in Innovation.
Patterning Techniques.
Presentational Film.
Innovative Television.
Examples in Film.
8.Scenes/Sequences.
What Is a Scene? What Is a Sequence?
Planning Your Scenes.
What Scenes Do.
Internal Scene Structure.
Scene Attitude/Point of View.
Scene Tension/Conflict.
Scene Suspense and Surprise.
Relationship to Other Scenes.
Enriching Your Scenes: Setting and Staging.
Writing the Scene.
A Checklist for Writing Scenes.
9.Dialogue/Sound/Music.
Dialogue.
Sound.
Music.
Dialogue Examples.
A Checklist for Writing Dialogue/Sound/Music.
10.Doing The Rewrite.
Overview.
The Detailed Analysis.
11.Comedy.
Comedy Theories.
Some Comedy Attributes.
Writing Comedy.
Comedy Components.
Comedy Techniques.
A Comedy Example.
12.Adaptations.
Novel and Short Story.
Theatrical Play.
True-to-Life Story.
From Film or Television.
Rights and Options.
13.Marketing Your Script.
The State of the Business.
Feature Films.
Television.
Getting an Agent.
Pitching.
Look Professional.
Script Protection.
Writers Guild of America.
Other Avenues.
Marketing References.
14.Script Formats.
General Suggestions.
Motion Picture/Filmed Television Format (Single Camera).
Filmed Television Scripts (Single Camera).
Half-Hour, Multi-Camera Scripts (Live-on-Tape or Live-on-Film).
Appendix A:Glossary of Common Script Format Terms and Abbreviations.
Appendix B:Resources for the Screenwriter.
Index.