Learn from the Masters of Moviemaking about writing screenplays. "This is a valuable resource for cinematic professionals and movie fans alike!"
Steven R. Lindahl4.0 out of 5 starsAn interesting, how-to book for screenwriters
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2022
This book is an interesting, how-to book for screenwriters. It could also be appreciated by film fans who want to look closer at the work they enjoy since it uses well-known films to emphasize points the authors are making. The writing is straightforward and easy to comprehend.
One of the points the writers made that I liked was that "The Best Screen Comedy is not 'Funny' (as much as Unexpected)." That's something I can use in my writing and there are plenty of other examples where there is overlap between formats.
I recommend this book to anyone trying to write screenplays, especially someone just starting.
Claire H.
Someone gave me this book. He thought it would interest me since I love movies so much. Once, I got into it, I began to realize what made some of my favorite classic movies so special—John Ford westerns, The African Queen, The Great Lebowski, Butch and the Kid. I now see movies with very different eyes and a deeper appreciation for all it takes to make movies. Wow!
Richard A.
The book was given away at a book group event. What I found particularly interesting was the Introduction, describing how many “armies of armies” are needed to make a movie, and how expensive even one day of filming can be. The “Side by Side by Side” chapter, which compared really great movies next to ones that suck was really interesting too. I even checked “Ishtar” out of the library to see if it was as bad as it has been portrayed. It was! (I am so glad I did not have to pay for that POS!)
Emily J.
I am an aspiring independent filmmaker. The chapter on “Location Economics” was spot-on! What was described in that chapter was almost exactly what happened on one of my first film shoots where I was on the Second Unit camera team, almost verbatim! To this day, no one has screened it. I can’t even use it for my “reel.” I wish I had read this book before working on that film. It would have made my life so much easier to navigate. It is a great resource for cinema professionals and movie lovers alike. It really is.
Jake B.
I like that there was a reference to other good books about writing screenplays. That was cool. These guys sure have seen a lot of movies! OMG!
Steven L.
A straightforward clearly articulated reference book about movies and screenplays.
Maggie W.
Yep. This is what my brother, an award-winning screenwriter, director, and producer, goes through every day. If people are going to be in this business, they need to know this stuff.
