The Whole Picture: Strategies for Screenwriting Success in the New Hollywood

by Richard Walter

Offers practical advice on writing, editing, and submitting a screenplay

Genres: Nonfiction

257 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 1997

Reviews

[Earl Pestano · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a pleasant book for all writers!
I am not a screenwriter but all the information shared in this book is larger than life.
I learned a lot about philosophy, human nature, story-telling, and the power of pain.

Thank God I bought this book!

[John Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book. I'm in screenplay hell right now. As a novelist, writing a screenplay is extremely challenging. I have none of the luxuries of book crafting __ rambling descriptions, long and convoluted dialogue. It's such a different mindset I am actually shopping for one now on eBay. Amazingly, there are no mindsets for sale, much less ones for writing movie scripts.

Where was I?

Oh ... I'm writing a review.

INT: OFFICE - DAY

NOVELIST in on his laptop. Looks intense and frustrated. Cat jumps on his back.

NOVELIST
Oh my god! That hurts! Honey,
we need to get this cat declawed.

WIFE (O/S)
Right. How would you like it if
we pulled out your fingernails?

Novelist reaches over to table and picks up a loaded revolver. Shoots himself in the head.

THE END

[Z A C K · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry, but my feeling is that Walter is too clever for his own good. He's the kind of analyst who knows the price of everything -- but the value of nothing. It's all gimmicks and -- truth be told, several layers down -- self-promotion. For 1 star, I owe him more of a review, but I'm sorry, I can't muster more than just that reading this book will be a good start for someone trying to learn how to be a clever Hollywood manipulator, but not a writer. Not this book of his, anyway.

[Ke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I preferred this book to Professor Walter's "Screenwriting," but I still recommend the latter if readers enjoy Prof. Walter's voice.