The Screenwriter Within: How to Turn the Movie in Your Head into a Salable Screenplay

by D.B. Gilles

If you've ever dreamed of writing a screenplay, The Screenwriter Within is the book for you. Insightful, inspirational, and wildly irreverent, it takes you through all the stages of the writing process, using references to hit movies and the author's personal experience to show you how
Turn everyday events into big-screen successes
Find the best stories to turn into screenplays
Develop strong characters
Write compelling dialogue
Find your niche as a screenwriter . . . and much more.

Genres: Writing, Film

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2000

About the author

D.B. Gilles's began 2015 with the publication of his first Young Adult novel THE PUG THAT ATE PARIS, about a Paris-based talking dog, food critic and bon vivant! Sticking with his Paris theme, in 2014 he published PARIS TIME, a Paris time-travel novel set in Paris in 1889. Last year he came out with WRITERS REHAB: A 12-STEP PROGRAM FOR WRITERS WHO CAN'T GET THEIR ACTS TOGETHER (from Michael Weise Publishing) which is a departure for him. Unlike his previous books, which tell people who to write a screenplay and go to Film School on their own, WRITERS REHAB gets into the nitty gritty of every writer: "Why aren't you writing?" and "What can you do to get started again?"

In 2012 DB entered the world of e-books. In August, I HATE MY BOOK CLUB, debuted: a comic novel about an all-female book club with membership problems that reluctantly decides to allow men to join. In March, his suspense/thriller COLDER THAN DEATH appeared: a small town funeral director helps a teenage girl solve a murder that leads him to the realization that a serial killer has been feeding on local women for 25 years.

In 2011 he had 2 books published: YOU'RE FUNNY! TURN YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR INTO A LUCRATIVE NEW CAREER and THE SCREENWRITER WITHIN: NEW STRATEGIES TO FINISH YOUR SCREENPLAY & GET A DEAL (the 2nd edition of THE SCREENWRITER WITHIN published in 2000 by Random House).

THE PORTABLE FILM SCHOOL, published in 2005 by St. Martin's Press, continues to be a popular book with young filmmakers unable to go to film school.

D.B. Gilles is also one of the most in-demand Script Consultants and Writing Coaches in the United States. He is on the faculty of the Undergraduate Film & Television Department at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts where he teaches screenwriting, television writing and comedy writing.

He has also taught in the Graduate Film Department at Columbia University, The Department of Dramatic Writing and The Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University. He is a produced and published playwright, screenwriter and television writer.

Also a playwright, 2012 saw the New York production of his play INADMISSIBLE produced at The Canal Park Playhouse which also produced as their premier production in 2010 his play SPARKLING OBJECT. Four of his plays are published by Dramatists Play Service: Men's Singles, The Legendary Stardust Boys, Cash Flow and The Girl Who Loved The Beatles, a One Act two-character play that has become a standard audition piece for actors.

He wrote the screen adaptation of Spinning Into Butter which starred Sarah Jessica Parker. He has worked in television creating two pilots for CBS: The Late Bloomer and Man of the House. He has also written episodes for Herman's Head (FOX) and My Kind of Town (FOX).

He welcomes Followers on his screenwriting blog: WRITER'S REHAB: FOR WRITERS WHO CAN'T GET THEIR ACTS TOGETHER

He is a member of The Writers Guild of America and The Dramatists Guild.

You can contact him by Googling Writers Rehab or directly at dbgillescript@gmail.com

Twitter: @dbgilles

Reviews

[Caroline Bock · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who worked in television, at the Independent Film Channel, for over 14 years, I have seen a lot of movies and read quite a few screenplays. In attempting to write my own screenplays in recent years, I've read a lot of 'expert' books -- and gotten lost in the over-thinking preciousness of some of them, or tossed others into the oh-hum-haven't-I-heard-this-same-thing-a-thousand-times-pile. D. B. Gilles' new book is in neither category. It is wise, witty, succinct, emotionally-involving, kick-in-your-pants, write a great movie now -- screenwriting book. What I like best about it -- it's about good storytelling. Almost every chapter ends with a writing exercise that is about focusing on developing ideas, characters, themes, plot that would make a great story, frankly, whether you are writing a movie or a novel or short story. But the book is so good it goes farther than that. He delves into constructing a screenplay that will sell today, quite different from one that would sell thirty or even twenty years ago, and he gives you examples, often personal and funny about what works today, and what doesn't. He also shares the practical. Buy this book and quickly learn how to construct a screenplay, the mechanics, the acts, the outlines, the intensity required in today's screenplays, in a way that feels like a totally knowledgeable friend is sharing well-earned insights with you. Ultimately, he gives us readers a hard dose of reality from the front line of the business (though a chapter on screenwriting after 30 really hit home -- and inspired.). He ends with how he began -- that it is about the writing, about the creative spirit first and foremost. This screenplay book is a keeper for me.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It's full of great things to think about and some good swift kicks in the ass. Gilles not only takes you through some basic tips of storytelling to get your script finnessed, but also gives helpful tips in navagating the business. I honestly think it would be worthwhile to purchase this book.

[Carlo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This latest screenwriter book by D.B. GIlles is a must-have addition for your writer’s collection. It’s a fast, fun read with easy-to follow instructions on creating a better script, and he doesn’t waste your time with pages and pages of philosophical meanderings and complicated charts. (You all know who I’m talking about.) In fact, “The Screenwriter Within” is such a great tool, it’s as good as being in one of D.B.’s workshops — except you can’t conveniently pull his live workshop off your shelf for easy reference. D.B. also includes game plans for what to do with your script once you’ve completed a first draft. My two favorite chapters in the section are “Ten Checkpoints Your Screenplay Must Pass Before It’s Ready to Go” and “Some Bottom-of-the-Ninth, Last-Minute Practical Advice.” Not just for screenwriters, his book is also relevant for writers of other formats like novels, memoirs, even graphic novels. Whatever way you’re telling the story, his tips will help make it stronger.

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little disappointed that an outline of how to actually write a script was not included, but pertaining to the contents of a script, this book will certainly get you started, finished, and ready to write another.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful.

[Foxglove · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fun and helpful guide, very user friendly and very well written.