'If I was setting out as a screenwriter, this is the book I would read first and keep by me'–
Melanie Harris, Producer, Crosslab Productions
'An excellent resource for students and teachers alike'–
In the Picture
'...a valuable addition to every screenwriting bookshelf' –
Screentalk
'This is one of the best guides to help screenwriters think visually that I have ever read' –
Creative Screenwriting
'The inventive exercises in
Scriptwriting for the Screen
give it the potential for revitalizing the experience of even experienced scriptwriters' –
' Scope’ Online Journal of Film Studies
is an accessible guide to writing for film and television. It details the first principles of screenwriting and advises on the best way to identify and formulate a story and develop ideas in order to build a vivid, animated and entertaining script.
introduces the reader to essential skills needed to write effective drama. This edition has been updated to include new examples and an entirely new chapter on adaptation. There are examples of scripts from a wide range of films and television dramas such as
Heroes
,
Brokeback Mountain
Coronation Street
The English Patient
Shooting The Past
Spaced
Our Friends In the North
and
American Beauty
.
includes:
advice on how to visualise action and translate this into energetic writing
how to dramatise writing, use metaphor and deepen meaning
tips on how to determine the appropriate level of characterisation for different types of drama
practical exercises and examples which help develop technique and style
a section on how to trouble-shoot and sharpen dialogue
a guide to further reading