Alternative Scriptwriting: Successfully Breaking the Rules, Third Edition

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Summary: A great book about storytelling forms...
Review: I already had the earlier edition of this book, but bought the update, thinking that it could even help my writing by osmosis. My god, I was right. This is not a book to be taken lightly, nor is it a "new" edition by virtue of adding a couple of new words, an updated comment here and there. These authors take their task very seiously, including taking to heart comments they'd received about the first edition, and making sweeping and important changes for this new version. Buy this book. It couldn't hurt. It could change your life. At the very least, it will give you a new list of rentals for the video store. And you'll understand why you like them.

Rating:
Summary: I bought it twice.
Review: I already had the earlier edition of this book, but bought the update, thinking that it could even help my writing by osmosis. My god, I was right. This is not a book to be taken lightly, nor is it a "new" edition by virtue of adding a couple of new words, an updated comment here and there. These authors take their task very seiously, including taking to heart comments they'd received about the first edition, and making sweeping and important changes for this new version. Buy this book. It couldn't hurt. It could change your life. At the very least, it will give you a new list of rentals for the video store. And you'll understand why you like them.

Rating:
Summary: Good information for those already familiar with the basics
Review: If you are already aquanited with basic screenwriting techniques regarding structure and character, then this is a must read. The "alternative" methods presented include examples from films, both mainstream and independent. By analyzing alternative methods, the reader not only learns new approaches to writing screenplays, but because of the contrast, learns what "traditional" screenplays should contain.

Rating:
Summary: Good information for those already familiar with the basics
Review: If you are already aquanited with basic screenwriting techniques regarding structure and character, then this is a must read. The "alternative" methods presented include examples from films, both mainstream and independent. By analyzing alternative methods, the reader not only learns new approaches to writing screenplays, but because of the contrast, learns what "traditional" screenplays should contain.

Rating:
Summary: Good information for those already familiar with the basics
Review: If you are already aquanited with basic screenwriting techniques regarding structure and character, then this is a must read. The "alternative" methods presented include examples from films, both mainstream and independent. By analyzing alternative methods, the reader not only learns new approaches to writing screenplays, but because of the contrast, learns what "traditional" screenplays should contain.

Rating:
Summary: A fresh look at screenwriting.
Review: If you have already read the "how-to" books from Syd Field, Linda Seger, and others, then you must know that the three most important things you should be doing to enhance your craft are: reading screenplays, watching movies, and writing screenplays. After that, if you still need some motivation to write, then reading an exceptional book such as "Alternative Screenwriting" might be just the kick in the pants you need to keep you going. It's presentation is clear and fresh. And it does not just emphasise "alternative" approaches, either. In fact, it presents some of the most useful and succinct summaries of "mainstream" dramatic screenplay structure I have ever seen. This is not just another "how-to" book.

Rating:
Summary: A great book about storytelling forms...
Review: No book in the Universe will teach you how to write, or how to tell a story. The intention of this book is to compell the reader to think about many common places of the story telling in general, and the scriptwriting in particular, like structure, genres, etc. So don't expect any chewed prescription; be ready instead to bite on your own.

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Summary: The perfect screenwriters book
Review: This book is simply the best. No other screenwriter's book comes close

Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking, but not very well presented.
Review: While the concepts presented in the book were interesting, I found the writing itself not very compelling. Furthermore, the frequent typographical errors (and/or factual errors) were distracting and caused me to question the content. As an example, the authors use the phrase, "It is worth nothing...," when in fact they mean, "It is worth noting."