Film Scriptwriting : A Practical Manual

Rating:
Summary: Very Solid and Educational
Review: I'll have to disagree strongly with the reviewers who canned this book. Although it is a little difficult to read at first because of the analytic and intellectual approach to scriptwriting, there are some excellent chapters which make this book worthwhile (even if a little expensive). As the title suggests, this is a 'practical manual', not a book to read from cover to cover and be expected to be entertained. The book is divided into 3 sections: the Fact Film, The Feature Film, and Tricks of the Trade. The reader decides what he wants to learn and goes to the appropriate section. The advise covers ouline, treatment, squence outline, shooting script, narration, dialogue devices, master script. Everytime I go and write a new script, I open this book to refresh my memory. I've recommended this book to countless people.

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time.
Review: This book is incredibly trite and condescending. Even for the few worthwhile tips I was able to get from reading this book, the price is still ridiculous. If you want a good book on writing a script, try reading The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lagos Egri--it is tailored to playwrighting, but can be easily applied to any kind of writing.

Rating:
Summary: Make Up Your Minds OK!
Review: This Book is too complex and can confuse you one writing for the screen. It will tell you one thing and then tell you another. The authors should make up their minds on which format to use and stick with it.

Rating:
Summary: A nice easy Primer
Review: This book takes the budding Script writer through the nonsense to a solid plan to get that novel written.
Sound advice and guidanace from a good teacher. Well worth the money.

Rating:
Summary: Roseburg, OR
Review: This manual is an excellent resource for beginning script writers who need guidance through the minefields of writing and getting a script into the hands of the correct people.