Amazon.com
How does a spec script differ from a shooting script? What kind of fasteners should one use to bind a script? How did the term MOS come to mean without sound? You'll find the answers to these pressing questions and much more in David Trottier's eminently usable Screenwriter's Bible. The avuncular Trottier--a writer-producer, script consultant, and seminar leader--has written a friendly guide through the Hollywood morass. He touts it as six books in one: it's "a screenwriting primer, a screenwriting workbook, a formatting guide, a spec writing guide, a sales and marketing guide, [and] a resource guide."
Much of Trottier's advice is common sense: "Don't write anything that cannot appear on the screen"; to keep casting options open, don't make your physical descriptions too specific; "don't say Ron Howard is looking at the project if he is not." But there are things to know about Hollywood that are, well, quirkier. Don't write the title of your script on the front cover or side binding; present action sequences using the "stacking action" style; in query letters and scripts alike, avoid "big blocks of black ink." Trottier's guidance--from character development and revision to queries and pitches--is invaluable. Getting in the door can seem impossible, but it's not, necessarily. "If you write a script that features a character who has a clear and specific goal," says Trottier, "where there is strong opposition to that goal leading to a crisis and an emotionally satisfying ending, your script will automatically find itself in the upper five percent."
(By the way, MOS is said to have "originated with German director Eric von Stroheim, who would tell his crew, 'Ve'll shoot dis mid out sound'"). --Jane Steinberg
Book Description
The Screenwriter's Bible is six books in one. Book 1 -- A screenwriting primer that provides a concise presentation of screenwriting basics. Book 2 -- A workbook that walks the writer through the writing process, from nascent ideas through revisions. Book 3 -- A formatting guide that presents correct formats for both screenplays and TV scripts. Book 4 -- A spec writing guide that demonstrates today's spec style through sample scenes and analysis. Book 5 -- A sales and marketing guide that presents proven strategies to help you create a laser-sharp marketing plan. Book 6 -- A resource guide that provides addresses and contacts for industry organizations, schools, publications, support groups, services, contests, etc. Among its wealth of practical information are sample query letters, useful worksheets and checklists, hundreds of examples, sample scenes, and straightforward explanations of screenwriting fundamentals. The "Bible" was a featured selection of The Writer's Digest Book Club.
Customer Reviews:
warning.......2007-09-23
The book is full of good information butif in browsing it, you see the website www.clearstream.com and hope to find the promised additional help on line, forget it. That web site is owned by a German investment company (for the past year or so). I Googled David Trotter (author of the book) and found him not.
This does not negate the value of the info in the book itself.
Must have for screenwriters.......2007-09-21
IT gives you what you need to have a screenwriting foundation - especially the technical aspect.
Top reference for writing Spec Scripts.......2007-09-04
Well written, easy to follow with alot of good advise. This really opened my eyes to the world of Spec Scripts which focus on the story (stay away from giving camera angles - because for the most part its the story that studios want to buy, they already have a staff who will put in the camera angles - they just want the story!!!).
Spec Scripts are what gets your foot in the door (just the story in a format that is read by the Hollywood script readers - who then intern recommend it to the studio).
If you are serious about writting (novels, plays, movies, managa) this book shows you the basic format of Spec Scripts. Once you have completed a sub script you can turn it into anything e.g. novel, play, movie, manga).
Anyone considering screenwriting NEEDS this book........2007-08-05
Hey everyone, I've owned and read two editions of this book so far and it never fails to help inspire me or answer my questions. I highly recommend this book for the beginner. It starts with a primer on plot basically. It seeks to create a strong foundation because if you know nothing about plot structure and try to write a movie it will turn out either confusing or very boring. David really stresses the 3 act, 7 plot point structure that is the basic framework of creative writing. This can be repetitive, but he really wants to hammer it into your head.
The book also have a whole section on format. I have screenwriting software to do the format for me so I don't look at this as much as I used to, but it still comes in handy. I wrote my first screenplay in Word so this chapter really taught me a lot. Also, software or not, you need to know the basic framework of a spec script.
So, maybe this book doesn't have everything, but I have found this to be the only book I've ever used. Other books I've read on sreenwriting have had a lot of talking by the author. The author just keeps rambling on about things and not teaching me. David stays focused and keep you focused. This book's main purpose is to fill your head with facts. David also injects humor into his writing so you can stay entertained. In the formatting section he writes an amusing story of how he teaches a class in spec script format for example.
When it comes to the more advanced writer, you probably don't need this book, but if you are looking for a refresher course then you need look nowhere else. But what is really good about his approach is that it is focused on you, the spec script writer. He doesn't want to cloud your head with unnecessary camera direction and specials effects- things that the spec writer has no control over. All this happens after the script is sold. It's your job to tell a story using as much detail and action as possible. Don't get caught in the dialog trap- movies are mostly visual.
When you have finished your work and need help marketing it, there is a section of the book devoted to this difficult step. This is the only book on screenwriting I have found useful. Most self-help books I get no use out of. I dig this out whenever I start a new screenwriting project. I do hope to find a more advanced book written in a style like this however, as I have moved past the meat and potatoes stuff.
One of the Best.......2007-08-02
If you are just starting off as screenwriter and can only afford one book, this is the one. It is organized like a classroom workbook. Personally, I learn better with this type of structure.
Book Description
This ultimate insider's guide reveals the secrets that none dare admit, told by a show biz Veteran who's proven that you can sell your script if you can save the cat!
Customer Reviews:
re-name the book.......2007-10-03
The book should've been named "How to take the joy out of screenwriting."
Although Blake Snyder is at the top of the screenwriting industry (he has had two spec scripts that have been made into movies), it is fortunate that he wasn't born during the Renaissance and wound up teaching artists how to precisely paint.
Perhaps everything he states in the book may be the absolute gospel in Hollywood (ala Syd Field/Robert McKee at al), but Blake Snyder believes all screenplays must be severely structured:
- The script must have precisely 40 scenes for some unknown reason
- the theme of the script must be made by page 5
- the catalyst (a life-changing event) must occur precisely on page 12
- the hero finally making the decision to act must be on page 25 (end of act one)
- the B story of a script must begin around page 30
- there must be an identifiable midpoint (exactly on page 55 of a 110-page script) where the hero peaks or the world collapses all around the hero or vice-a-versa
- the hero's "All is lost" scene must be on page 75
- and so on.
True, he reveals previously unknown industry secrets such as all scripts must have a terrific logline, a great title, a likeable hero (thus the title of the book), and must have conflict.
On the plus side, the book is certainly well organized and extremely well written. Is it worth shelling out 3 bucks on E-bay? Check your public library.
Ignore the Haters; they didn't get it.......2007-10-03
If you think this book is just for family-film-oriented writers, you missed the big picture. Blake Snyder has hit the ball way, way, way, WAY out of the park with this one. Take the analytical tools he provides and unleash them on any mainstream movie from any genre from JAWS and SAW to E.T. and BACK TO THE FUTURE. I guarantee that the ones that follow his structure most closely are the ones that not only struck a chord with viewers, but laughed all the way to the bank.
Want to write a nice indy flick that you and your twenty closest friends can watch in someone's basement? Ignore Blake Snyder. Want to write a loud, crash-and-bang, content-missing movie people will forget in five years except to laugh? Ignore Blake Snyder. Want a movie you won't be able to pitch in five HOURS, let alone the five minutes you'll really have? Ignore Blake Snyder.
But if you want to write/direct/produce a film that satisfies on every level from the superficial to the sublime, then this is the book for you.
I never had a single offer on my work until I followed his advice.
SAVE THE CAT. Live it. Love it. Learn from it. Buy extra copies, 'cause if you're smart, you'll wear out the first one.
simple good advice and nothing more.......2007-09-30
This book contains alot of good advice for screenplay writing. however, the book is really aimed towards making "family films". all the movies he references are family films, and sometimes his own. It is a good book to get yourself in the right mindset for writing a screenplay but you can't rely on it to much or you might find yourself writing really dumb kids movies like "Blank Check". The process he gives you is very formulaic and his approach is more toward making money. but overall good read and good information. and who knows, maybe if you follow his advice to the point you could sell a screenplay to Spielberg for a million dollars too!
Friends close, Enemies closer.......2007-09-29
This IS a book about writing incredibly formulaic screenplays period. For my likes and dislikes, I would refer to Blake's movie ideas as groaners. That said, I find this book to be INCREDIBLY HELPFUL, amazing, on laying out that Hollywood 'movie' formula. It's great for creating structure. I'm not expecting this book to make me a more intersting storyteller. But I've worked with a number of hugely successful film producers / directors, and for the most part, they comletely rely on formula. Now, it's YOUR job to make that intersting. It's your job to know HOW breaking that formula makes your idea work better. It's all really valuable information. Do other books cover this same subject? Probably. But since I don't want to waste too much of my time reading screenplay books, I found this one to give me exactly what I needed. And I'll make it interesting.
Fun Learning.......2007-09-13
The kind of book I wanted to read and write at the same time. Fun, very informative, inspiring and helpful. I've already ordered some as a gift for other writer-friends.
Book Description
The 2007 edition of Leonard Maltin's definitive bestselling guide to the movies
Since its first edition decades ago, Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide has been the standard bearer for cinematic reference books. The 2007 edition of this essential movielover's companion includes hundreds of new entries, with capsule reviews and comprehensive information on date of release, running time, cast and crew, and MPAA ratings. Within this compact volume, you'll find:
• Listings for over 17,000 movies, including more than 300 new entries
• Authoritative notations on format availability (DVD, video, and laser disc)
• Up-to-date indices of top directors and actors
• Maltin's “Fifty Best Films on DVD” and “Fifty More Films You May Have Missed”
From the masterpieces of classic cinema, to cutting-edge independent films, to the latest summer blockbusters, Leonard Maltin's 2007 Movie Guide is truly “the best organized . . . the most complete” (Newsday).
Customer Reviews:
Great resource.......2007-09-21
I buy this book every few years to look up that odd movie title to see if it's worth watching on TV. I only wish there was more synopsis of the movie and a less lengthy list of actors.
Reviews are fine, but it's not alphabetized correctly!.......2007-08-13
The review and facts in this book are fine, but the editor should be fired. What good is movie review book if you can't find the reviews because they aren't alphabetized correctly?? Go ahead -- try to find "The Manchurian Candidate" in there. Let's see, that should be listed as "Manchurian Candidate, The" and that should come after all the titles that start with "Man" but NO -- it's in the middle of all the "Man" movies. What??
There is a standard method of alphabetizing that has been around for a long time and is well-accepted and understood. It's used in every phone book in the country and every other movie review guide that I've used, but for some reason this book decided to do something different. The standard method says that a space in a multi-word title is alphabetized before any letters. Thus "Man in the Iron Mask" comes before "Manchurian Candidate" because "man[space]" comes before "manc" at the beginning of the titles. This book decided to just ignore spaces and alphabetize only by the letters. It's almost like having a dictionary that's not in alphabetical order -- all the facts are in there, but they're kind of hard to find.
A Neccessary Reference.......2007-06-08
This is an excellent guide to the movies - an absuolutely necessary reference for any true movie buff
The Best Overall guide to movies (mostly mainstream).......2007-04-16
Leonard and his staff are movie lovers and experts, and this the most comprehensive guide of its kind. They are American movie historians at heart. They love the recognized classics and they seem to particularly appreciate film-making craft and professionalism. I think they implicitly favor Hollywood movies or better produced independent films over low-budget and many foreign films because of the often notable difference in production values, and I think they are usually correct.
I have personally used this guide for 20 years to find the gems I may have missed and weed out the forgettable and regretable films that often get the big promotional budgets and their accompanying gushing,albeit seemingly paid-for, over-appreciative reviews (Mr. Ebert???).
A guide like this, which focuses on quality first and foremost, is particularly useful if you go to a Blockbuster (they have that name for a reason) or use Netflix. The Netflix associative predictive rating system is really crude at best and does not filter out some seriously flawed recommendations.
One warning: Matlin's ratings reflect mainstream film history thought. If you like the really edgy, the impressionistics, or other things "arty" in film, you may find the coverage and the ratings too traditional. But I think they recognize quality in new films, not just old ones. Highly recommended to all but the bleeding edge cinema buffs.
All the info on your movies.......2007-03-19
A great reference for when you're checking out movies in the last 60 years or so. Ratings (his own-I don't necessarily agree with all of them and you might not either) for movies, data on when they were made, who starred in them, plot summary. etc. If you are a movie buff but just don't have room in your brain for all the data, don't sweat it--this can be a handy book to have when you have a question about a movie and you need simple answers.
Customer Reviews:
Fabulous gift for movie lovers.......2007-09-08
I gave this as a gift to someone who likes to read about the movies as much as he enjoys watching them. Because he has a collection of movie guides, this one caught my eye because it was different with a more unique take on film.
A Must Have.......2007-08-06
I have purchased other movie guides in the past but always end up getting the current Videohound. It's more concise than other books. Lots more information available. I love the catagory lists. Some of the catagory titles they think up are great! I would recommend this book for video lovers over any other that I've purchased.
i love this book!.......2007-06-27
i consider myself a movie buff, and this is my bible. this is the fourth edition of this book that i bought, and i will continue to buy one every year. it helps me to choose the movies i watch, and answers the questions that plague me. with the many options for reference (title, category, actor, director, composer, awards), i find this book very easy to use. not only does this book list actors, awards, directors, etc. a description of the film and a rating are included. i freaking love this book! 'nuff said.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh! you must have this book.......2007-05-12
The only short side is that it only produces info for on tape or DVD. Other than that it is a gem. When ever you don't remember an actors name, find the movie or the movie you remember them in and your there.
The bones critic of the film (ergo hound) is very good, a real persons review of the film.
Look for info by genre, title, actor or whatever.
This is a film buffs must and a great conversation starter!
It's ALL Here!!.......2007-03-31
What was Bogart's final film? What was Lizabeth Scott's first film? How many movies did Gregory Peck make? How many movies did Raoul Walsh direct? When did John Wayne die? And what was Vincente Minnelli's final film? Answers below! All this and considerably more movie information is included in the veritable encyclopedia "Golden Movie Retriever". There are fully 929 pages of movie synopses and ratings. Also included are indices on movie writers, cinematographers, composers and categories -how many Zorro movies are there? (13!). There are over 30 pages of major awards- and even a section on alternate titles! Apparently, "Summer Stock" may also called "If You Feel Like Singing"! It could easily take a lifetime to mine the nuggets here. The only possible weakness to GMR is the paper cover, which should be well worn very quickly. Answers to the questions above are: "The Harder They Fall" (1956); "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" (1946); 49 (count `em!); 43; 1979 and "A Matter of Time" (1976). What's not to like? There is absolutely nothing for a movie fan to ponder here. Hit hat "Add to Cart" button now!
Book Description
Updated with brand-new entries to describe the most recent major motion pictures, this critically-acclaimed volume spans more than a century of moviemaking, concisely describing 1001 of the best films from around the world. New in this edition are entries to describe such film hits as Lord of the Rings, Mystic River, Farenheit 9/11, and Million Dollar Baby. But in fact, this volume's team of critics goes back to 1902, describing such films as The Great Train Robbery, and progressing chronologically across the decades to cover the best cinematic dramas, comedies, westerns, musicals, suspense and horror films, gangster classics, films noir, sci-fi epics, documentaries, and adaptations of novels and stage plays made by filmmakers around the world. Each entry includes a full list of cast and credits, awards won by the film, an essay summarizing the story line and screen-history, and still shots of the film's memorable scenes. At the back of the book, both an alphabetical index and a genre index will help readers find any film they're looking for. Movie fans will find descriptions of great musicals like Singing in the Rain, westerns like High Noon, science-fiction classics like Star Wars, dramas like Chinatown and Schindler's List, and international classics from master directors who include Fellini, Antonioni, Resnais, Truffaut, Eisenstein, Kurosawa, and many others. Here is a volume that belongs in the personal library of film buffs, movie reviewers, collectors of DVDs-and every reader who enjoys reminiscing over great movies of the past and present. Hundreds of movie still shots in color and black and white. "... a great motivating guide to cinema. After reading one of its engaging, often profound entries on a missed film, you want to ... rent it. Best of all, it includes international, silent, animated, and recent films."
--Dallas Morning News
Customer Reviews:
Good introduction to cinema.......2007-09-10
First of all let me begin by stating that I've put off reviewing this canon for some time. I see no justification to review a book like this until one has consumed most of it. At present I have seen 823 of these films and feel now that a review is justified.
I believe that of all the books in this series this is the strongest entry although not gospel. This canon or list of films is an excellent introduction to cinema, it gives you the basics to develop a well rounded appreciation of all cinema beginning in 1902 with George Melies' "Le Voyage Dans La Lune" right up to the present day. As would be expected in concentrates a lot on American cinema when it was a force to reckoned with. It does not overlook all the important movements like German expressionism(1920s), Socialist realism (1920s), French poetic realism(1930s), Italian neo-realism(late40s-early50s), Film Noir and all the New Wave movements in the 1960s from Britain, France, Italy, Japan and Eastern Europe. It continues in the 1970s where there is a lot of attention to New Hollywood directors as well as New German cinema which were making a massive impact at the time. After that it moves into blockbuster territory in the 1980s which is to be expected. It was a period which is not held in much regard by cineastes but is a part of cinema's development. From the 1990s onward one begins to notice how important films seem to come from all over the world and not concentrated in one area. As would be expected the last few years are open to debate, evidence of which can be seen in the fact that every time the book is revised it's those last few years that are shuffled around.
So what you got is a skeletal view of cinema which allows you to flesh it out. This book is the introduction to cinema, the yellow brick road to the Emerald city if you will, to becoming a film buff. Once you've seen 50% of these you'll already be an above average film fan. After you've completed this list it's time to move onto the Jonathan Rosenbaum 1000 which I believe will take you way way beyond.
There is however one serious flaw with the book in that it is jam packed with spoilers. So proceed with caution.
A book to be owned.......2007-06-19
Great book. Start your motivation of seeing all the titles in the book. I question about 10% of the selection in the book, while I am pleasantly surprised another 10% were selected for their uniqueness. At the same time, I am surprised some films, actually about at least 100, weren't selected. Great pictures, nice essays, but it's the titles that you want to know. Movies not selected are (I won't list them all): "The Last Emperor", "Point Break", "9 1/2 Weeks", "Brain's Song", "Boys Don't Cry", "Harlan County USA", "Escape From N.Y.", "Like Water For Chocolate", "The Miracle Worker", "River's Edge", "Straight Out of Brooklyn", "Year of the Dragon", "Kids", "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", "Zorro, The Gay Blade", "Swingers", "Tremors", "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?", "After Hours", "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures", "Body Double", "El Mariachi", "First Blood", "Play Misty For Me", "The Set-Up", "Snatch", "Wild Things", "Birdman of Alcatraz", "The Limey", "Sudden Impact", "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles", "Ghost World", "Just One of the Guys", "Carnival of Souls", "Leaving Las Vegas", "An Officer and a Gentleman", "Clear and Present Danger", "Days of Thunder", "Predator", "Citizen X", "Bad Influence", "Ghost", and "A Fistful of Dollars".
Didn't say they were the greatest!.......2007-05-25
I think this is a great book and I really enjoy reading through it's pages, but that is not the main point of my review. I want to clear up what I see as a misconception of the book that I see in a lot of reviews. This is not the "1001 Greatest Movies Ever Made" or "1001 Most Important Movies Ever Made"; it's 1001 movies you should (must) see to get a very well rounded sense of movies and their history. Some movies in the book are included just because they are great, others because of their historical niche in movie makeing, some because they illustrate a certain style, and some for pure entertainment they give. Movies with different types of animation are included and well as a broad spectrum of foreign movies. Think of this book as a watch list for a very in depth cinema appreciation class. Some of these films may not be great, some may not even be entertaining, but all are important, or illustrate an important part of cinema history.
Good book for a movie lover!.......2007-03-08
Bought this for my Dad for his birthday. He loved it. It's a great coffee table book.
My personal bible..........2007-02-10
I've had this book for about a year now, and it has truly become my own personal bible. As other reviewers have pointed out, the book spans the past century's film history and includes movies from well-known Oscar-winners to more obscure, independent gems. One thing I love about this book is that it does a fine job at keeping the list neutral -- there aren't more American-made films than foreign ones; there aren't more recent films than older ones or vice versa; there aren't more popular films than relatively unknown ones; there aren't more comedies than horror films, dramas than sci-fis, etc.
The included short essays/reviews on each film are concise and informative for the most part, though I must say it bugs me that some of them give the ending or crucial plot details away. The photos are all gorgeous and make this book a nice one to keep on display on your coffee table.
At the beginning, the book states that one of its goals is to make passionate film lovers out of casual filmgoers, and for me, it accomplished that goal with flying colors. Over the past year, I have become an ardent movie buff and lover mostly from watching at least seventy-five of the excellent films included in the book -- I've yet to encounter one I haven't at least liked. As I said, this book has become my bible and it's never far from my reach -- practically every weekend I find a new movie to rent/buy and immensely enjoy. It'll definitely make a believer out of ya!
The editor also notes that although 1001 movies might seem like an exhaustive list, it quickly becomes apparent that it's really not big enough. There are so many great movies out there (way more than 1001, trust me), but this book serves as an excellent introduction (and then some) to the world of film. Highly recommended to those interested in seeing great movies.
Book Description
Five hundred years in the future, Captain Mal Reynolds and the crew of the transport-for-hire ship Serenity take on two new passengers and soon find themselves in a crossfire between an invincible military force and cannibalistic savages… Writer/director Joss Whedon — creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel — makes his long-awaited feature film directorial début with Serenity, based on his cult television series Firefly. This large format, full color companion to the movie features: A special Introduction by Joss Whedon An in-depth interview with him about the making of the film The full shooting script, including scenes cut from the final edit Fascinating production and background memos by Whedon, including `A Brief History of the Universe, circa 2507 A. D.' Scores of stunning movie stills, storyboards and pieces of production art You can't stop the signal!
Customer Reviews:
Finding Serenity.......2007-09-26
As a big fan of Firefly and Serenity this book made the sting of not having anymore new episodes to watch a bit less.
Beautiful drawings, photos, and plenty of behind the scenes information on the characters and settings made this a treasure.
Every Browncoat needs one!
Serenity - FIREFLY lives on!.......2007-09-20
Great book!
I can't get enough FIREFLY stuff. Very well done book covering everything you might have missed the ten times you watched SERENITY, the movie! God, how I miss watching new FIREFLY episodes! Sure wish someone would come to their senses and realize that FIREFLY was - and still is - WAY ahead of MOST new series that keep popping up on TV. BEST TV I have ever watched. BRING THEM BACK!
And
Don't take the sky from me!
js
Need to know.......2007-09-04
There are so many things in this book that you should know if you liked the Serenity Movie. It makes you see all the little things that you didn't notice.
A MUST for any Firefly/Serenity Fan.......2007-05-26
Great book, visually beautiful book, just wish I could have gotten it in hardback. Joss Whedon fell a bit short on the opening, but made up for it on all the extra's added to the book. For those that loved the movie, the script covers a few short seens that had to be cut, and covers the English translations of all the Chinese inserts. Well put together. A must for any fan of the series or the movie. Unfortunately, I could only give this 5 stars.
Excellent!.......2007-02-13
Excellent! More thorough than you can imagine... if you have any interest in the universe of Firefly/Serenity, this book is the only place you'll find in depth explanations of the history and workings of the 'Verse.
Amazon.com
No book can find your ideas for you, but this one provides a great service in helping you discover and develop a story, and to come up with the completed script. King helps you learn to think cinematically, in the language of the movies, and to keep asking the essential questions as they work: What's the story? Who is the story about? Do you care about the characters? Does anyone? King also tries to help you survive not just the structural pitfalls that can derail a script, but also the mental or emotional whirlpools that can prevent any artist from finishing a project.
Book Description
The ultimate survival guide, How to Write a Movie in 21 Days takes the aspiring screenwriter the shortest distance from blank page to complete script.
Viki King's Inner Movie Method is a specific step-by-step process designed to get the story in the writer's onto the page. This method guides the would-be screenwriter through the writing of a movie. It answers such questions as:
- How to clarify the idea you don't quite have yet
- How to tell if your idea is really a movie
- How to move from what you want to say saying it
- How to stop getting ready and start
Once you know what to write, the Inner Movie Method will show you how to write it. It also addresses such issues as:
- How to pay the rent while paying your dues
- What to say to your spouse when you can't come to bed
- How to keep going when you think you can't
For accomplished screenwriters honing their craft, as well as those who never before brought their ideas to paper, How to Write a Movie in 21 Days is an indispensable guide. And Viki King's upbeat, friendly style is like having a first-rate writing partner every step of the way.
Customer Reviews:
The only screenwriting course you need.......2007-09-15
HOW TO WRITE A MOVIE IN 21 DAYS take the complete novice to a level of competency I never thought possible from a single book. It is clear, concise and very readable. It is must reading for anyone who wants to learn how screenplays get done. Master the contents of this book before reading any other book on screenwriting. After reading this book and applying its contents, I did not read the Screenwriting for Dummies book I bought because I already had all the skills and information I needed on the subject.
The perfect guide.......2007-06-28
This book is the perfect guide to not just screen writing, but also writing in general. In contains exercises of finding and getting to know your characters. The 21 days are well planned and will keep you busy. It's helped me create a realistic plot with realistic characters.
If you can't get past page 60..........2007-06-15
I am a working screenwriter, and this is the only screenwriting book I recommend. Why? Most of the screenwriting books out there are very useful - for rewriting. This book actually gets you to complete the first draft - a huge hurdle for beginning writers. You probably won't finish in 21 days, and the draft you write probably won't be very good. But that doesn't matter, because you will finish a draft, and then you can rewrite it and make it good.
I still use this book to clarify my thinking, or if I'm on a tight deadline.
Great advice.......2007-05-21
Although a person can't effectively write a movie in 2l days this book gives great advice in how to start your screenplay.
Useful Tool for the Impossible.......2007-05-13
Written in a conversational tone, 21 days, is filled with exercises to get the creative juices flowing. If anything, you'll come out with a great beginning or "random" draft if you adhere to the exercises. I started reading the book for my screenwriting class and I expected to hate it. But, I must say, that I totally recommend the book to anyone who's got at least a desire to write a screenplay.
Book Description
From Leonard Maltin, author of the bestselling annual Movie Guide, comes this guide to classic movies. Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide includes more than 7,000 capsule reviews of classic movies, including: The Birth of a Nation (1915), Gone With the Wind (1939), The Philadelphia Story (1940), High Noon (1952), and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967).
In addition, this unique volume also offers a star and director index, a full listing of classic movies on DVD, and Leonard Maltin's unique Top Ten lists. The result is an authoritative, dynamic guide to the classics no film aficionado should be without.
Customer Reviews:
Is there a reason for this book?.......2007-08-07
In the past, Leonard Maltin has provided us with helpful movie guides that have served their purpose for many years. They are revised every year and provide invaluable information concerning availability on VCR and DVD along with thumbnail sketches of the plots. His reviews are aimed at Joe Q Average and dwell on the well-known Oscar-oriented qualities such as acting performances which bring attention to themselves, heavy-handed films with The Message, verisimilitude as a be-all and end-all and film only as cerebral as the public will be able to understand with little or no effort. His Classic Movie Guide is precisely more of the same, more so. The film choices are overwhelmingly American a la American Film Institute and largely oriented to hit the largest segment of the viewers most often, a public where so many still think that their favorite stars not only act in but direct, script, score, edit, shoot and generally make up their films as they go along. With this in mind, Maltin's book will hit his target. For those of us who take the movies seriously, there are better sources almost anywhere else.
Curtis Stotlar
classic films.......2007-02-21
It's too bad you now have to buy two books to get all of Maltin's reviews, but it is nice to have this volume as Maltin has an appreciation of older films that is often lacking in today's reviewers.
indispensible.......2007-01-04
a superb reference book, an absolute must for any film fan & a historical record of past films, easy to read,easy to digest.
Only quibble, I am not a fan of Gene Autry & could have used smaller descriptions of his & the other B westerns.
Of the major films I probably saw 80 % of them,been going to the movies since I was 6 or 7 yrs old & was able to remember the theatres I saw some at.
Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide.......2006-08-23
I like old movies like are shown on Turner Classic Movies and this has the reviews for them. This book is of the same high calibre as Maltin's annual movie review guide. I would say it is indispesible for any old movie buff. Bravo!
A Good Companion that shouldn't stand alone.......2006-03-01
A good book for lovers of old movies who hate browsing through the 1600 pages of Maltin's regular guide only to find the film their looking for between a BOMB by Adam Sandler and a Yugoslavian-Japanese Documentary nobody has ever heard of. The Classic Movie Guide was not made to be a list of 4-star, really great old movies. It was made as a companion guide to the regular book as a place to put older, minor films to make room for newer movies in the regular guide. People who feel cheated because their 2006 guide still contains Gone With the Wind should probably know that it will always be in both guides, but films such as Law and Order(1953) or O. Henry's Full House(1952) may one day only be found in the classic guide. They should also note that their 2006 guide is about 100 pages thinner than the 2005 guide and that reviews of vintage series (e.g. Blondie, The Thin Man) are no longer listed in the regular guide and have been moved to the classic guide. In my understanding of this book, more and more minor old films will be removed from the regular guide and placed in the classic guide which will be revised every 5 years. My suggestions for this book would be to change the title to Leonard Maltin's Vintage Movie Guide and add films made before 1965 but after 1960, such as To Kill a Mockingbird and Lawrence of Arabia. I also would suggest making a third guide in about five or six years just for foreign films, excluding British films of course.
Average customer rating:
- Cool Book!
- Dissappointed
- A Great Book
- "Impressive.....Most impressive, but you are not Jedi yet," until you buy this book.!
- The bible of Star Wars
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Star Wars Chronicles
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Aeon Inc.
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ASIN: 081181498X |
Amazon.com
This is the ultimate must-have for the Star Wars fanatic. Spendy, but definitely worth it, the Star Wars Chronicles is a big, beautiful book that comes in a gold and black box--it will look great on your coffee table next to your Star Wars Logbook. The Chronicles cover the beloved trilogy of movies in thousands of behind-the-scenes and up-close photographs, many you've never seen before. From the creation of all the aliens to the details of Boba Fett's jet pack, you'll find fascinating facts, drawings, paintings, and photos to pore over endlessly. Each detail is lovingly presented for the appreciation of serious fans, and the whole package will be a delight to collectors.
Book Description
The most spectacular tribute to the Star Wars phenomenon yet, this deluxe limited edition features the most comprehensive collection of photographs, production stills, sketches, and outtakes ever assembled. Nearly the entire Lucasfilm archives, with hundreds of never-before-seen images and dozens of creatures, and sections on Star Wars TV specials that have never been published in book form, are brought together in this luxurious, slipcased volume. With its enticing size and elegant design, Star Wars Chronicles is the ultimate collection for serious Star Wars fans.
Customer Reviews:
Cool Book!.......2007-05-18
If you love Star Wars & love nice books, this is the one for you. Lots of info & pictures. Huge book, and heavy!
Dissappointed.......2007-01-18
Very dissappointed with the product. It showed up in several pieces when I open the box. The sleeve is all torn up and falling apart. 2 bottom corners of the books is all smashed up. Not sure who's to blame - the packaging guy or the delivery man. Informed customer service about getting a replacement - unsuccesful - all I got is a freaking $10 credit on me next purchases. After this disaster, not sure if there is a next purchase.
A Great Book.......2006-01-20
A great Star Wars reference book. As others have said the amount of information is staggering. Well worth the price. And a special thanks to the special girl who bought it for me.
"Impressive.....Most impressive, but you are not Jedi yet," until you buy this book.! .......2006-01-18
A STAR WARS FANtastic book!! I'm pretty curious about things, how things work, how to do this and that, and how movies are made. If you are like me and love Star Wars, you will love this book! A little pricey, but worth it! This is a definite must have for all Star Wars fans!! It has alot of rare and exclusive photos, and information on the making of the movies. It is all together a beautiful book to be displayed, and is great for any fan who is curious about the movies!
The bible of Star Wars .......2006-01-11
Star Wars related books are legion, but the hands down best-and the champion film-tie-in book period-is the [massive (15"x10.5")] Star Wars Chronicles. Just mentioning the book's title can make diehard fanboys cream their trooper armor. Yeah, it's that good. Home costumers, model makers, artists, and prop geeks especially lust after the Chronicles for its rich mine of simply stunning and often unique OT reference photos. Next to a genuine Graflex or MPP lightsaber hilt, the Chronicles is any Star Wars fan's most prized possession.
Book Description
If a child can watch Barney, can’t that same child also enjoy watching Charlie Chaplin or the Marx Brothers? And as they get older, wouldn’t they grow to like screwball comedies (His Girl Friday), women’s weepies (Imitation of Life), and westerns (The Searchers)? The answer is that they’ll follow because they’ll have learned that “old” does not necessarily mean “next channel, please.”
Here is an impassioned and eminently readable guide that introduces the delights of the golden age of movies. Ty Burr has come up with a winning prescription for children brought up on Hollywood junk food.
FOR THE LITTLE ONES (Ages 3—
6): Fast-paced movies that are simple without being unsophisticated, plainspoken without being dumbed down. Singin’ in the Rain and Bringing Up Baby are perfect.
FOR THE ONES IN BETWEEN (Ages 7—
12): “Killer stories,” placing easily grasped characters in situations that start simply and then throw curveballs. The African Queen and Some Like It Hot do the job well.
FOR THE OLDER ONES (Ages 13+): Burr recommends relating old movies to teens’ contemporary favorites: without Hitchcock, there could be no The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, without Brando, no Johnny Depp.
Customer Reviews:
A wonderful resource to widen children's movie-viewing horizons.......2007-09-29
I came across this book in my local library, and after reading it, am going to purchase a copy for myself, and perhaps give it out as gifts for friends that have young children. This is an amazing movie resource. Ty Burr writes in such a familiar, easy-to-read style, and despite his motives [trying to get us to expand our young ones' movie viewing experiences through old movies/classics], never once comes across as condescending or snobbish.
The fact is that children these days are really being fed a steady, and not so healthy diet of the same type of movies that have spawned sequels, mass merchandising, and dare I say movies that don't really promote great role models [I have had enough of those tween movies with young Hollywood starlets in them]. Ty Burr provides great tips and ideas on overcoming this problems by suggesting old movies, or rather classics that will appeal to the toddler set[Meet Me in St Louis], the tween set[The African Queen], and also teenagers[Metropolis]. There are also old movies he doesn't recommend you watch with your children. The best part of the book is the comprehensive list of old movie titles in the different categories such as comedy, drama, musicals, action, adventure & westerns, horror, sci fi and fantasy, & foreign movies.
All in all, I'd highly recommend this book to readers who are interested in expanding the movie viewing experiences of the young children in their lives, and even for one's own viewing pleasure [there were titles in here that I had never come across and plan to check out!].
The Best Old Movies for Families.......2007-08-23
Excellent Book--I have given it to all of my grown up children. Just reading through it is a trip down memory lane.
Entertaining and informative.......2007-07-30
Our family enjoyed this book--we got lots of ideas for movie nights, and we also got a kick out of reading the author's entries on movies we've already seen with our kids. It also kick-starts your memory for movies that Burr didn't write about--we were surprised that John Wayne's "True Grit" didn't make the cut for tween girls, and that the Julie Andrews' "Cinderella" wasn't mentioned in little girl musicals. Altogether, this is an engaging and fun book that I would also recommend for adults who are looking to educate themselves about classic cinema.
Put this book in your car!.......2007-07-15
When you are standing at the video store with your brain going blank and the helpful clerk checking out her latest tattoos, this book will be waiting for you in your car. It is also advisable to put a pad of yellow stickums in the book so you can flag pages you want to go back to. It's the perfect reading for that "lost" time when you are sick of soccer or pluperfectly bored with carpools. Hundreds of great suggestions, well-written reviews and guidance to "what comes next" make this the best thing since microwave popcorn. My favorite chapter was "Kong Island Theory: Old Movies NOT to Watch With Your Children" and the index with age recommendations which I suppose you could always xerox and carry around in your wallet if you didn't want to keep the book in your car. But DO keep the book in your car. Your kids will thank you for it.
A wonderful guide to classic movies to watch with your kids.......2007-07-04
I bought this book because there are so many wonderful old movies out there and I wanted a guide to which ones I should watch with my daughter. I was not disappointed. Ty Burr is a wonderfully witty and humorous and knowledgeable film critic with years of experience at both Entertainment Weekly and now The Boston Globe, and this book is clearly a labor of love based on the experiences he had watching these movies with his children.
The book starts out with what Ty calls "Starter Kits" - 5 movies to watch with kids of different ages. For example, the Toddler starter kit includes the original Robin Hood (Ty calls him the original super hero), Meet me in St. Louis, Bringing up Baby (The sell: The Cat in the Hat with a Bryn Mawr accent :); Singin' in the Rain and StageCoach. I've watched three of these already with my 6 year old and she has really enjoyed them and, I think, learned a lot from them as well.
Other chapters are organized according to the type of movie. There are chapters on Comedy, Drama, Musicals, Actions and Westerns, Horror and also Foreign Language classics. Each movie is succinctly reviewed, with headings on who directed and starred in the movie, the age group that is appropriate, the sell (For the Marx Brother's Duck Soup he says: "You think you and your brother are nuts? Watch these guys."), the plot and why he choose the movie. There is also a useless trivia section. (Bet you didn't know that Duck Soup was banned by Benito Mussolini.)
In the past, it was hard to find many of these movies at your local video store but now that we are in the age of NetFlix, the book has more relevance than ever.
These movies are a huge change from the usual diet of Nickelodeon stuff like Spongebob that she usually watches - but what's truly wonderful is that they are enriching and memorable movies for the whole family to watch. It has been a genuine thrill for me to rediscover these movies and watch them through her eyes.
These classic movies are also a valuable lens through which a child can learn about how Americans lived in the past, and their attitudes and foibles. Ty's witty guide is a must buy for anyone that believes that classic movies are an essential part of a child's upbringing and education - and a welcome change from the current media diet our children are exposed to. Highly recommended.
Books:
- The Time Traveler's Wife
- Tracing the Decay of Fiction: Encounters with a Film by Pat O'Neill (DVD-ROM)
- We the Media: Grassroots Journalism By the People, For the People
- Welcome to Oz: A Cinematic Approach to Digital Still Photography with Photoshop (VOICES)
- What are You Laughing at?: How to Write Funny Screenplays, Stories, and More
- What the Dead Know: A Novel
- WORDS THAT WORK: IT'S NOT WHAT YOU SAY, IT'S WHAT PEOPLE HEAR
- Your Complete Retirement Planning Road Map: The Leave-Nothing-to-Chance, Worry-Free, All-Systems-Go Guide
- A Hand to Guide Me
- A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing, Ninth Edition
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