Alternative Scriptwriting: Successfully Breaking the Rules

by Ken Dancyger, Jeff Rush

Alternative Scriptwriting 4E is an insightful and inspiring book on screenwriting concerned with challenging you to take creative risks with genre, tone, character, and structure. Concerned with exploring alternative approaches beyond the traditional three-act structure, Alternative Scriptwriting first defines conventional approach, suggests alternatives, then provides case studies. These contemporary examples and case studies demonstrate what works, what doesn't, and why.

Because the film industry as well as the public demand greater and greater creativity, one must go beyond the traditional three-act restorative and predictable plot to test your limits and break new creative ground. Rather than teaching writing in a tired formulaic manner, this book elevates the subject and provides inspiration to reach new creative heights.

Genres: Writing, Film, Nonfiction, Research, Reference

424 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 1991

About the author

Ken Dancyger is the author or co-author of seven books on screenwriting, directing, film editing and production. They are The Technique of Film and Video Editing (5th edition), Focal Press, 2010; The Director's Idea, Focal Press, 2006; Alternative Scriptwriting (4th edition), Focal Press, 2006 (with Jeff Rush); Writing the Short Film (3rd edition), Focal Press, 2005 (with Pat Cooper); Global Scriptwriting, Focal Press, 2001; The World of Film and Video Production, Harcourt Brace, 1999; Broadcast Writing, Focal Press, 1991. Each is a theory/practice book rather than a how-to book. There have been fourteen translations of his books, including Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, Korean and Arabic. Two of his books, Alternative Scriptwriting and The Technique of Film and Video Editing are considered definitive in their respective areas and are core texts at top film programs worldwide.

Ken conducts screenwriting and post-production workshops internationally for the past eighteen years, including South Africa, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Columbia, Singapore, Australia and Canada. He is active as a script consultant in the United States and throughout Europe and Asia.

Ken is past Chair of Undergraduate Film and Television, TISCH School of the Arts, New York University, where he is a Full Professor.

Current writing projects include a book about Genre Scriptwriting, a book entitled The Greatest: Hollywood in 1939, a personal memoir, The War That Never Ended and Murder Not Permitted, his first novel.
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EDUCATION:
B. Comm., M.A., Toronto; M.S., Boston
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Reviews

[M.A. Garcias · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading, in quick succession, the classic texts on screenwriting by Syd Field, Robert McKee and John Truby, I didn't expect to find another text on the subject that would surprise me. I was wrong. Alternative Screenwriting, which I read in this 5th edition, heavily revised and expanded from its original 1990 version, picks up where the other books end, and builds a strong case for itself: that despite what you may have heard about Hollywood-centric scriptwriting (and any form of popular storytelling for that matter) there is a wide range of styles, structures and voices to be aware of if you want to have a complete storytelling toolset.

It starts from the classic 3-act structure and builds up from there to all alternatives in terms of plot, character, perspective and narrative involvement.

The book may be hard to follow if you are not familiar with many of the (sometimes obscure) movies referenced, but it provides enough case studies for each of its discussions on structure, genre and voice as to defend its views with confidence. And even if you dont't fully agree with the authors' arguments (at times ideologically biased) they are thought-provoking nonetheless, and achieve the book's main goal: to challenge the assumptions and limitations of other screenwriting texts (which are explicitly referenced and acknowledged as required learning) and to develop an urge to go beyond well known patterns and find your own voice.

A much appreciated addition to my storytelling library that I wholeheartedly recommend - but probably read McKee, Field and Truby first, or you won't fully get the "alternative" part - alternative to what?

[Brendaliddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am studying this at a Film Journalism Course which I am currently studying at Blick's Studio in Belfast. It was recommended by the tutor
Carol Murphy. It is an excellent book. We are looking at the part on the role of conflict.

[April Lundy · Rating 4 out of 5]

...very deep

[Kirkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book!

[Ian Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the traditional three-act story structure dominates mainstream entertainment, this book proves there’s more than one way to tell a story. In Alternative Scriptwriting, authors Ken Dancyger and Jeff Rush showcase how each genre has the ability to be skewed from its normal structure to create more dynamic and intriguing stories.

The authors state that “this book proceeds to encourage the writer to consider alternative approaches to both conventional and offbeat film stories” (Dancyger & Rush ix). As the book unfolds, they discuss the conventions of story and genre and how these elements can be altered to produce a unique approach to storytelling.

Dancyger and Jeff Rush provide a wide range of Case Studies of films that have bucked traditional trends and are worth studying for their unique perspectives. They explore everything from passive main characters to two-act structure and working against genre tropes with in-depth analysis, examples, and insights.

Alternative Scriptwriting is an engaging read that showcases how sometimes breaking away from traditional narratives can be a liberating and creatively freeing adventure.

[CM]

You may expect a book with this cover art to be filled with more recent examples with an international scope but it is not the case. Some modern day examples are here but more often than not the films being discussed are much older and less well known to a Non-US film buff. Oftentimes the examples are so elaborated that the points can be easily missed.

[Muhammad Ahmad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how this book pushes writers to step outside the usual formula and actually experiment with structure and tone. Stuff like this is great when you’re feeling creatively stuck.
Sometimes that same “break the rules” mindset even shows up in games and updates too like how the Nulls Brawl latest version keeps things fresh.

[Elfbiter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparent own categorization of movies and no particular understanding of science fiction.

[Max Brodsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

1 person in the entire world has this on his "want to read" list.

[David Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to have in your library. A dense analysis of when screenwriters buck convention and why. I have a feeling it'll be a text that I refer back to whenever starting a new project. Once you've passed through the obligatory phases of Hero's Journey and McKee's "story", this book might well spur you on to more individualistic, less formulaic writing.