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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Screenwriting
This guide is for anyone who has ever thought of screenwriting. Written by someone who has "been there, done that," and lived to tell the tale, it reveals the most popular genres, explains how stories need to be structured for feature films and TV movies, offers the freshest look at workshops and online classes, and disusses how to set up a step-by-step path to success.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 4, 2020
This is a basic book for anyone that hasn't watched many movies or read many plays or listened to anyone tell a good story. If you interested in writing anything that might not reach the widest breadth of an audience, this is not the book for you. I personally found it extremely restricted. I'm reading this and think this doesn't look like any of the stories I'd want to make. I've never been much a fan of the Quentin Tarantino school of 'just watch a lot of movies try to learn filmmaking by watching' but its better then this book.
I've no doubt that Press has a lot of experience writing for Hollywood studios but a lot of the book isn't even about about the writing but what constitutes a movie, storytelling, and especially what constitutes a Hollywood movie. The result is he tries to tell you the basic of what you need to write the most boring meaningless capitalist consumerist schlock because apparently that's the only stuff the studio heads are interested in. Well, as a black person, the studios haven't mean much interested in us anyway, and it has nothing to do our inability to write consumerist schlock. He claims that just how things are and if you don't to write movies that fit neatly into Hollywood categories of time, acts, and writing styles then you should try your luck in Europe which is the only other place that makes movies apparently.
Lastly, there are a lot of people who have already writing a lot about the 'you must follow the 3 act structure or you're doomed' thing so I won't here. But Press' writing of storytelling is extremely Eurocentric but more than that its Hollywood centric, and maybe even more centric than that because there are a lot of people that have made successful Hollywood films that don't follow the 3 act structure or that are very slow. The point being I think you can get more out this book if you want to get the basic but don't take it too seriously. Write your art about whatever you want to write about, however you want to write about it, you can compromise with the capitalist later when you have something to compromise.
I've no doubt that Press has a lot of experience writing for Hollywood studios but a lot of the book isn't even about about the writing but what constitutes a movie, storytelling, and especially what constitutes a Hollywood movie. The result is he tries to tell you the basic of what you need to write the most boring meaningless capitalist consumerist schlock because apparently that's the only stuff the studio heads are interested in. Well, as a black person, the studios haven't mean much interested in us anyway, and it has nothing to do our inability to write consumerist schlock. He claims that just how things are and if you don't to write movies that fit neatly into Hollywood categories of time, acts, and writing styles then you should try your luck in Europe which is the only other place that makes movies apparently.
Lastly, there are a lot of people who have already writing a lot about the 'you must follow the 3 act structure or you're doomed' thing so I won't here. But Press' writing of storytelling is extremely Eurocentric but more than that its Hollywood centric, and maybe even more centric than that because there are a lot of people that have made successful Hollywood films that don't follow the 3 act structure or that are very slow. The point being I think you can get more out this book if you want to get the basic but don't take it too seriously. Write your art about whatever you want to write about, however you want to write about it, you can compromise with the capitalist later when you have something to compromise.
August 10, 2022
A lot of great ideas about writing. Even if you are writing something other than a screen play. It is a bit dated with the technology comments. Who makes phone calls?
July 7, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. I started reading it because I was doing Script Frenzy, but I genuinely enjoyed this book. I'm not entirely sure that I have all the knowledge I'd need to make it in screenwriting, but what this book provided was an excellent overview of everything you'd need to know to succeed as a screenwriter: the screenwriting process, how to build a story, common theories, how to market yourself, and much more. One book is unlikely to provide everything you need to know, but this book gives the reader a starting place and some solid background information so that you will know how to find further information on your own. If you are looking for a book that provides information on formatting a scrip, this book has that in the appendix.
More than anything else, this book was an enjoyable read. At times the author seemed to insert his own personal experiences in a somewhat intrusive and unnecessary way, but I liked that, because I got a sense of what it can really be like in the industry.
More than anything else, this book was an enjoyable read. At times the author seemed to insert his own personal experiences in a somewhat intrusive and unnecessary way, but I liked that, because I got a sense of what it can really be like in the industry.
January 3, 2011
This book is a great tool for any screenwriter. Whether you read it front to back or just use it as a resource when you're stuck writing, this book will definitely help make you a better screenwriter. Best Screenwriting book I've found yet. Got this one as a christmas gift with some Final Draft software. The two combine to make a great present for anyone looking to get into screenwriting.
December 27, 2011
I got this book many years ago and still keep it handy, I also require it as a text book in a course I teach at the University of Colorado. Get it, read it and keep it in your reference library, mine is very dog-eared.
March 14, 2014
While slightly outdated, this book provides an excellent insight into an approach to Screenwriting. It should serve as reminder to look back on when milestones are met and checks and balances are required to view the way forward.
January 2, 2013
A lot of information in this book. Great reference for a first venture into screenwriting.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews