Psychology for Screenwriters : Building Conflict in Your Script

Rating:
Summary: A must-have for any story writer
Review: A lot of food for thought here. The book describes various psychological theories (Freud, May, Jung) and applies them to creating characters and story. Good book. Why aren't there more books like this? Stories are about human behavior, human feelings; i.e.: psychology. Sheesh! Tons of books about format and structure, little on story content, character motivation.
I also recommend "Creating Chracters", by Howard Lauther.

Rating:
Summary: Marie Jones, Book Reviewer for ABSOLUTEWRITE.COM says:
Review: For any writer struggling to create powerful and believable characters, it is imperative that you understand the psychological aspects of why people do the things they do, why they behave in the ways they choose to, and what inner drives propel them towards potential greatness. The hero's journey talked about in myth and story has a structure based upon archetypes, themes and patters of human behavior that any writer can come to master when creating the perfect screenplay, and "Psychology For Screenwriters: Building Conflict in Your Script" by screenwriter and Assistant Professor of Psychology William Indick is a priceless guidebook for navigating the interior of the mind.

Written for screenwriters, with tons of examples of movies current and past that clarify the concepts, this book can also serve as an indespensable guide for writers of novels, who also grapple with making their characters believable, truthful and effective. Using Freudian psychology as well as the teachings of Carl Jung, Alfred Adler and the late, great mythologist Joseph Campbell, the author takes us on a highly detailed journey into the hero's journey itself, breaking apart each step of character development and providing a correlating psychological theme that underlies the motivations and actions of human beings. By doing this, the writer can absorb on a subconscious level what they then hope to realize in their work on a consious level - fully rounded, deeply real characters experiencing things that the audience can cheer for, relate to and feel authenticated by.

The book, which is thick and wordy and almost like a textbook, so filled with information is it, covers every aspect of human behavior and motivation, from psychosexuality to the conflict of identity crisis, from the hero's journey and its trials and pitfalls, to the many archetypes of persona and plot, to the different aspects of the heroine's journey, the existential conflict, the battle of ego and id, neurosis and narcissism, the defense mechanisms of the crafty ego, sibling rivalry, good versus evil, finding the inner animus, inferiority complexes, the power and metaphor of dreams and so very much more. In fact, reading this book can be somewhat intimidating for a writer who simply wants to "create better characters" and one can easily get bogged down in detail. But all that psychological stuff is truly worth it, because the end result is a greater understanding of human nature, which translates into writing that is more authentic, more profound, and more emotionally satisfying.

What works really well in this book are the many examples of how these aspects of personality show up in films most of us have seen before. This really allows the author to drive home his points and clarify his concepts in a way we call can understand - by relating it to what we've already experienced on the big screen. Even better are the many helpful sidebars, chapter summary points and insightful exercises all geared towards making sure that the writer, and reader, truly understands the material before closing the book and beginning to write.

I found this book to be a highly recommended "must-have" for writers serious about doing more than just popping out a commercial, story-driven script for a quick sale (ha-ha). This manual for serious character and story development is for those writers who truly want to create memorable people and plotlines that will connect with and move their audiences. One important suggestion, though. There is so much ground covered in this book that you might feel crippled by it when you are ready to write. Instead, read it, absorb the material, then set it aside long enough for it to sink into your psyche.

Then sit down and write, and watch your characters and your story take on a powerful and profoundly effective life of their own. Not only will you have learned more about what makes your characters tick, you will have learned a thing or two about yourself, which is really what writing is all about - expressing the self.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect guide for a B-rated action movie
Review: This is a good book if you want to write a Hollywood cliché. I was looking for more depth in this book. It's really straightforward and important to read so you know how the average person views a movie, but it's really hollow. It's basically new verbiage of common sense. I'm kind of disappointed I spent $20 on this.

Rating:
Summary: Great for screenwriters AND movie fans alike!
Review: This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in character and story development. Psych theories are very clearly explained and corresponding film examples are great. This is also a fun read for movie fans who consider themselves students of film.