The Tools of Screenwriting: A Writer's Guide to the Craft and Elements of a ScreenplayScreenwriting is the art of telling stories dramatically - and it can be learned. Although there is no standard formula for writing a screenplay, there are central principles that all good screenplays share. In The Tools of screenwriting, the authors illuminate the essential elements of cinematic storytelling. These elements are guideposts for the aspiring screenwriter, and they can be used in different ways to accomplish a variety of ends. Questions of dramatic structure, plot, dialogue, character development, setting, imagery, and other crucial topics are discussed as they apply to the special art of filmmaking. The authors demonstrate how the tools of screenwriting work in sixteen notable films, including Citizen Kane, E.T., One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Rashomon, The Godfather, North by Northwest, Chinatown, and sex, lies, and videotape. in the analyses of these films, the reader will discover the common elements of compelling screen stories. The Tools of Screen writing is an essential book for anyone who wants to write a script that will be filmed. |
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User Review - regularguy5mb - LibraryThingI have read through this book several times now. It is a good, concise guide to the elements of screenplay writing. Apparently the book was adapted from an older text on the craft and elements of ... Read full review
Contents
THE SCREENWRITERS TASK | 3 |
STAGE VERSUS SCREEN | 6 |
ADAPTATION | 9 |
THE AUTEUR OF A FILM | 12 |
THE SCREENWRITERS RELATIONSHIPS | 14 |
A CAUTIONARY NOTE | 16 |
BASIC STORYTELLING | 19 |
WHAT MAKES A GOOD STORY WELL TOLD | 21 |
THE OUTLINE AND THE STEP OUTLINE | 76 |
PLAUSIBILITY | 78 |
ACTIVITY AND ACTION | 81 |
DIALOGUE | 84 |
VISUALS | 88 |
THE DRAMATIC SCENE | 91 |
REWRITING | 95 |
THE ANALYSES | 99 |
THE DIVISION INTO THREE ACTS | 24 |
THE WORLD OF THE STORY | 26 |
PROTAGONIST ANTAGONIST AND CONFLICT | 28 |
EXTERNALIZING THE INTERNAL | 30 |
OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE DRAMA | 32 |
TIME AND THE STORYTELLER | 33 |
THE POWER OF UNCERTAINTY | 37 |
SCREENWRITING TOOLS | 41 |
PROTAGONIST AND OBJECTIVE | 43 |
CONFLICT | 46 |
OBSTACLES | 47 |
PREMISE AND OPENING | 49 |
MAIN TENSION CULMINATION AND RESOLUTION | 52 |
THEME | 55 |
UNITY | 58 |
EXPOSITION | 60 |
CHARACTERIZATION | 63 |
DEVELOPMENT OF THE STORY | 66 |
DRAMATIC IRONY | 68 |
PREPARATION AND AFTERMATH | 70 |
PLANTING AND PAYOFF | 72 |
ELEMENTS OF THE FUTURE AND ADVERTISING | 74 |
ABOUT THE ANALYSES | 101 |
ET | 103 |
SOME LIKE IT HOW | 114 |
NORTH BY NORTHWEST | 126 |
THE 400 BLOWS | 135 |
CITIZEN KANE | 147 |
WITNESS | 155 |
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE | 166 |
CHINATOWN | 177 |
THE GODFATHER | 189 |
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST | 202 |
THELMA AND LOUISE | 213 |
DINER | 227 |
RASHOMON | 240 |
SEX LIES AND VIDEOTAPE | 252 |
ANNIE HALL | 262 |
HAMELT | 274 |
ADDITIONAL READINGS | 289 |
ABOUT THE AUTHORS | 290 |
291 | |
Other editions - View all
The Tools of Screenwriting: A Writer's Guide to the Craft and Elements of a ... David Howard,Edward Mabley No preview available - 2011 |
The Tools of Screenwriting: A Writer's Guide to the Craft and Elements of a ... David Howard,Edward Mabley No preview available - 1993 |
Common terms and phrases
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