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Summary: Practical advice on how to approach the unapproachable.
Review: I don't know if ANYONE who writes a Hollywood "How-To" book can be trusted to tell the truth, but of all the ones I've read (dozens), this is one of my favorites. The chapter on dedicated screenwriting software alone is worth the book's modest price. And it is one of the few books I've discovered that recommends Joseph Campbell's essential text, "The Hero With A Thousand Faces" regularly and often, as well as Lew Hunter's great book, "Screenwriting 434." The author's specific advice about different ways of breaking in are realistic and worth considering. If your expectation is that you're going to read a book and then magically the doors to Hollywood will fly open, save your money--don't ever buy another book. But if you want some down-to-earth advice and exposure to other books you must read, excellent overviews of screenwriting software (that could end up saving you a bundle), and up to date listings, this book is an excellent choice, especially at this price.
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Summary: Excellent manual for the aspiring screenwriter
Review: I found Mr. Press' book to be helpful and informative. The e-mail addresses alone are worth the price. I don't understand all the negative reviews. Did they read the same book as I did?
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Summary: A excellent introduction to Hollywood, filled with resources
Review: I found Skip's book to be VERY useful, with its overview of the business and the community, and lists of valuable resources. I regularly visit many of the websites he's listed. After following the advice about who to contact and how to contact them, I've made the acquaintance of several producers and directors. (Since the players in Hollywood change positions and companies frequently, it's best to confirm the current contacts at each company.)The film business is a big, tough, complicated world. This introduction was well worth the price of the book and the time to read it. I recommend it highly
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Summary: Informative & Practical Advice for the Novice Screenwriter
Review: I found the book to be insightful and honest. While it is probably not for the established, professional screenwriter, it does give good advice for those just starting out. I must say that I've found Skip Press' book to be helpful
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Summary: Some comments on "reviews" on Amazon
Review: I have some enemies and I think a number of them wrote "reviews" after I chastised them on the misc.writing.screenplays newsgroup. One said all screenwriters must be a member of the WGA. Totally false. Quentin Tarantino, for example, is not (nor am I, though I'm eligible). There are other outright lies in some of the comments. Here's what some very breaking into the movie and television business." Emmy winning producer Barbara Hiser "Skip Press has written a book that combines fearless opinions and invaluable hard facts. This book is thoughtfully written, clearly laid out, and of great value to beginners and old-timers alike." Gareth Wigan, co-vice chairman, Columbia Tristar Motion Picture Group "This book is not only entertaining but a valuable tool for anyone interested in show business." Paul Mason, Sr. Vice-President of Production, Viacom So believe who you want, buyers who couldn't get their scripts read even though they had my book, or folks like I've quoted above. I think some cranks decided to "get me" by making some of the "critiques"
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Summary: A beacon of hope for a Canadian writer.
Review: I live in Ottawa, Canada and started writing sceenplays over ten years ago, took courses, wrote some scripts but had no real pragmatic advice as to how to market them. The most common advice was 'move to LA'. After reading Skip Press's book I am convinced at least now I'll get them read - that's all I can ever ask. To the book: Writers Guide is a very complete work. In its over 400 pages it includes every thing from the expected lists of agents, producers, director's etc, to the unexpected - but very useful - sections on using the Web to further your career. There are sections on software tools, computers as well as some insightful sections on the movie business and the writer's life. I know something about E-space and computers and Skip is on the mark in both these areas I always suspected there were ways to break through the invisible force field that separate the hopeful writer from those who might be interested in his or her work. Skip's book gives you not only hope that this can happen but pragmatic advice as to how this might be achieved. As to the writing style, its a very easy read, despite its length. The author uses humor, but doesn't try to be a comedian, relying instead on anecodotes, both personal and retold to entertain. The author comes across as a real human being who is willing to share tips and techniques with us writers, not some arrogant 'Art of the Deal' fame hound out to self-promote or crow about some financial success. Most sections of the book are standalone so it's easy to cherry-pick your way through, reading just those sections that interest you at the time. After all the discouraging words it's great to finally hear a different, more hopeful voice. I anxiously await the next edition.
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Summary: This Book Is Outdated
Review: I queried several of the agencies and companies listed in this book, and guess what? The post office returned many of the letters because the addresses were either wrong, outdated, or the recipient was no longer there. AMAZON SHOULD TAKE THIS BOOK OFF THE SITE; IT IS A RIP-OFF!
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Summary: DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK-IT'S OLD
Review: I queried several of the agencies and companies listed in this book, and guess what? The post office returned many of the letters because the addresses were either wrong, outdated, or the recipient was no longer there. AMAZON SHOULD TAKE THIS BOOK OFF THE SITE; IT IS A RIP-OFF!
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Summary: This book Really HELPED me 100%
Review: I'm from South America, and when I went to Los Angeles to try to find an agent for my project to be able to sell it, I decided to buy this book "just for the attracting cover", but then it became the best book I could ever bought for finding that agent. I didn't know where to start, and after reading almost half of it in one night, I wake up next day knowing exactly which 20 agents (my personal choose, on his recommendations)I had to visit, and what kind of letters to take them. I finally visited 14, and left my project info in all of them. I got calls from 4 of them, and finally signed up with CAA. You can't believed it?, Well it's true, and (thank you very much, Skip), you can check it out directly with him, 'cause after returning to my country, I finally got in touch with him, and he even help me more by email. Actually he became a friend. Thanks. P.S. Anyway, it also help a lot to have a good project to sell, isn't it.. ;-)
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Summary: Incompetent author
Review: It is my habit to keep silent when I read a very bad book--- I prefer letting the book speak for itself. As a writer myself, I dislike "lay" readers' criticism (though I seek and accept informed, knowledgable criticism). I was asked to read this book and give my opinion, based upon my dozen years writing and selling manuscripts.
Here is my opinion: IGNORE THIS BOOK. It was obsolete when it was published, and the "advice" within it is very poor. A writer who follows the advice is not, in my opinion, likely to sell much, if anything.
For example, publishers *LOATHE* writers who send them manuscripts unsolicited; they *DETEST* writers who telephone them without given leave to do so. When I was co-editor of a popular nature recreation magazine for nine months, it was common practice to put the senders of unsolicited material on the "ignore this person" list--- we do not have time, nor the inclination, to read every manuscript sent. As a writer, I learned a decade ago that sending unsolicited material will put the writer in the trash can, unread.
Publishers expect, and most demand, query letters these days.
My advice, as a successful and well-published author: reject this book, and run and and purchase a copy of "Writer's Market." Read the first five chapters--- it will tell you exactly what you need to know about breaking into the fields. "Writer's Market" costs $30 and is updated every year: it will give you an excellent idea on who is buying, what is selling, and how to join that market successfully. "Skip Press'" book does not.
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