The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script / Edition 6 available in Paperback
- ISBN-10:
- 1935247107
- ISBN-13:
- 9781935247104
- Pub. Date:
- 04/28/2014
- Publisher:
- Silman-James Press
The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script / Edition 6
4.8
17
5
1
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781935247104 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Silman-James Press |
| Publication date: | 04/28/2014 |
| Pages: | 430 |
| Sales rank: | 35,230 |
| Product dimensions: | 8.50(w) x 10.90(h) x 1.10(d) |
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Screenwriter's Bible -Expanded and Updated
4.8 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
17 reviews.
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As the author, I need to respond to the anonymous two-star review. First of all, let me say that I encourage writers to read as many scripts as they can, including shooting scripts. There is so much that can be learned from reading screenplays. However, there are important differences between a shooting and spec script. Shooting scripts generally (not always) are loaded with camera directions and are mainly concerned with the shoot (which is why they're called shooting scripts). A spec script, however, is written to be read. It's called a spec because it is written on speculation that it might be sold later. That means anyone trying to break in is writing a spec script. A spec must be readable and involving. When a script is sent to a producer, the producer generally hands it off to a reader who writes a coverage and who recommends it or not. Thus, technical intrusions, such as camera directions, slow down the read. Anyone trying to break into the business needs to understand that camera directions, scene numbers, etc., work against them. Also, whereas a shooting script is most often written in an informative style, a spec written by a novice fares better if written in an entertaining style. I don't know how many professional readers and agents have thanked for pointing out these important differences. For those who want to understand all the specific rules for using camera directions and other formatting fine points, I highly recommend Christopher Riley's first rate book. I do not disparage it. My personal goal is to help writers in any way I can to craft a spec script that will be most appealing to readers. Keep writing!
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As the author of ¿Screen & Stage Marketing Secrets¿ I highly recommend screenwriters to read ¿The Screenwriter¿s Bible.¿ This book solves many of the problems of properly formatting screenplays. The book solidly sets up the structure of the story you are writing in the proper script format -- precisely what agents and production companies need to submit a script to higher levels of management for a green light. If you follow the advice given in this book, you will have a screenplay with the major critical elements installed. This will satisfy story analysts. You¿ll be satisfied with the results, too! This book is of high value to the screenwriter, as a properly formatted script will be recognized as a professional submission in Hollywood. Professional submissions are a prime critical element that gets script¿s sold!
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This book helped me more in the first 100 pages than everything else I've read on screenwriting combined. A real must have for novice screenwriters.
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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR CAREER AND AMATUER WIRTERS ALIKE.
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Just started with this book, and I'm very impressed. Anything you need to know about writing Screenplay's he explains in ways that are easy to understand and gives great examples of movies you can relate too.
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What an amazing, revolutionizing experience! Every screenwriter should own this book!
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This book is the best screenwriting book that I have come encounter with. I have read many book they were so complicated that I didn't finish reading. Now that I have read the screenwriters bible I am half-way through my script. It gives you direction, how to get fresh ideas to naming your characters. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to get started with a script but don't know how. This book will be the best investment you give yourself. It is all so the first pay off of your successful script. Good luck k.ray
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All you really need to know about this book is the price. That is it. If you have ever, or currently have an idea for a screenplay, this book will guide you from the ideas that are tossed around in your mind to the signing on the dotted line. Nothing comes close to this book, although the prices of actually consulting the author are slightly pricey, his book is even better. Before I bought this book, my script was good and now its even better. The minor 'writing mistakes' that I made, are gone and the script is well on its way. No other screenwriting book comes close.
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I ordered three other titles about screenwriting before this one, and while all were helpful, this is the one that finally showed me what I wanted to know, and a lot more. The breadth and depth of this volume far exceeded all the others combined. Like someone else said, if you've got the gift, this is the book that will show you how to do it.
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If you want to learn screenplay format, this book is a must!
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THE SCREENWRITER'S BIBLE, in one volume, comprises six substantial guidebooks: Book I: How to Write a Screenplay--A Primer Book II: 7 Steps to a Stunning Script--A Workbook Book III: Proper Formatting Technique--A Style Guide Book IV: Writing & Revising Your Breakthrough--A Script Consultant's View. Book V: How to Sell Your Script--A Marketing Plan Book VI: Resources and General Index. The book's large format 386 pages, eleven by eight-and-a-half inch, would equal at least 600 pages in the more common format of nine by six inch. Book I: How to Write a Screenplay. Aptly subtitled a primer, it presents a compact introduction to screenwriting. In particular, Trottier focuses on the three-act structure with six key turning or plot points: the catalyst the big event the pinch 'or midpoint' the crisis 'low point' the showdown the realization. Throughout, the author includes examples from well-known films. Book II: 7 Steps to a Stunning Script. This workbook includes 25 checkpoint lists and a character/action grid -- highly useful in constructing the screenplay. Book III: Proper Formatting Technique--A Style Guide. 'The spec script is the selling script, sometimes called the writer's draft. You write it with the idea of selling it later or circulating it as a sample. Once it is sold and goes into pre-production, it will be transformed into a shooting script, also known as the production draft. The spec-script style avoids camera angles, editing directions, and technical intrusions' 'page 114'. This book convinced me to use the author's software 'Dr Format' instead of 'Final Draft.' To illustrate formatting a spec script, Trottier includes his humorous three-page script 'The Perspicacious Professor.' Book IV: Writing & Revising Your Breakthrough--A Script Consultant's View. In this book the author provides tips on 'how to direct the camera without using camera directions' and exercises, based on his clients' scripts, to guide reader in revising to current spec-writing style. Book V: How to Sell Your Script--A Marketing Plan. In addition to numerous suggestions on marketing, Trottier cautions screenwriters to protect their work. 'Registering one's copyright and displaying the copyright notice on the script's title page is no longer seen as something done by paranoid writers.' Writers Guild of America will register one-page synopsis, longer treatments, as well as draft's' of a screenplay. Book VI: Resources and General Index. This book includes several lists containing 'carefully selected entries.' I promptly looked up the first entry: 'Updates to The Screenwriter's Bible' on the author's website... and found a useful tip on formatting as well as revisions on one of the exercises in Book IV. Presumably these changes will be included in the next edition. Five shining stars to this book. -- C J Singh
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A must buy for any novice or experienced screenwriter. A great reference for all aspects of screewriting.
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The author makes a major mistake: claiming that there is a big difference bewteen a spec script and a shooting script. The only notable difference is that in a shooting script, scenes are numbered for the shooting schedule. Generally speaking, directors don't go through a production script and put in extra camera angles. The angles you see are put in by the writer. Directors work from a shot list. (If you do see a script with every camera angle, sound cues, lighting cues, FX, what you have is a Continuity Script. Continuity Scripts are assembled after the film has been edited for release, for copyright and other legal record keeping.)
Working screenwriters know all this, but novices don't. Trottier's error has led to novice writers avoiding the study of great, widely available shooting scripts, scripts which have so much to teach them. Trottier adds to his mistake by stating that Chris Riley's book, The Hollywood Standard, teaches formatting for shooting scripts only. This is flatly untrue. Riley's book is great for formatting in general, an unlinke Trottier, Riley's a working Hollywood professional. Is Trottier just ignorant of the facts here, or is he slamming a rival?
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