Writing Short Films: Structure and Content for Screenwriters

Rating:
Summary: Incredibly helpful, well considered and well written.
Review: This is an excellent book on writing the short film script. It presents a lot of information clearly, simplifying the script-writing process. Perfect for beginners, it's helpful for veterans as well. The basis of great filmmaking and story-telling is clearly presented. The author outlines the concepts of story, character, action, theme, etc. so they are understandable and memorable. She gives you information you can work with. She clearly explains the differences in structure between shorts and features; and she gives specific story/plot strategies particular to making a great film. Even better, she used short film examples you can find on tape at most video stores. THIS IS THE ONLY BOOK THAT DOES THIS. I can't stress enough how helpful I found this part of the book. (She even includes a list of distributors for hard-to-find films.) This is the best book I've read on making a great short film.

Rating:
Summary: Practical screenwriting magic
Review: This is the only book I've seen that even discusses how to write a short film, making it a must-have for students, filmmakers, or TV writers needing to work in this format. Although the emphasis is on the short film, the hidden value is really in the nuts-and-bolts approach the author takes in laying out the overall screenwriting process. The writing is clear and concise and the practical tips that Cowgill provides should help both the novice and the seasoned pro.