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How does a spec script differ from a shooting script? What kind of fasteners should one use to bind a script? How did the term MOS come to mean without sound? You'll find the answers to these pressing questions and much more in David Trottier's eminently usable Screenwriter's Bible. The avuncular Trottier--a writer-producer, script consultant, and seminar leader--has written a friendly guide through the Hollywood morass. He touts it as six books in one: it's "a screenwriting primer, a screenwriting workbook, a formatting guide, a spec writing guide, a sales and marketing guide, [and] a resource guide."
Much of Trottier's advice is common sense: "Don't write anything that cannot appear on the screen"; to keep casting options open, don't make your physical descriptions too specific; "don't say Ron Howard is looking at the project if he is not." But there are things to know about Hollywood that are, well, quirkier. Don't write the title of your script on the front cover or side binding; present action sequences using the "stacking action" style; in query letters and scripts alike, avoid "big blocks of black ink." Trottier's guidance--from character development and revision to queries and pitches--is invaluable. Getting in the door can seem impossible, but it's not, necessarily. "If you write a script that features a character who has a clear and specific goal," says Trottier, "where there is strong opposition to that goal leading to a crisis and an emotionally satisfying ending, your script will automatically find itself in the upper five percent."
(By the way, MOS is said to have "originated with German director Eric von Stroheim, who would tell his crew, 'Ve'll shoot dis mid out sound'"). --Jane Steinberg
Book Description
The Screenwriter's Bible is six books in one. Book 1 -- A screenwriting primer that provides a concise presentation of screenwriting basics. Book 2 -- A workbook that walks the writer through the writing process, from nascent ideas through revisions. Book 3 -- A formatting guide that presents correct formats for both screenplays and TV scripts. Book 4 -- A spec writing guide that demonstrates today's spec style through sample scenes and analysis. Book 5 -- A sales and marketing guide that presents proven strategies to help you create a laser-sharp marketing plan. Book 6 -- A resource guide that provides addresses and contacts for industry organizations, schools, publications, support groups, services, contests, etc. Among its wealth of practical information are sample query letters, useful worksheets and checklists, hundreds of examples, sample scenes, and straightforward explanations of screenwriting fundamentals. The "Bible" was a featured selection of The Writer's Digest Book Club.
Customer Reviews:
warning.......2007-09-23
The book is full of good information butif in browsing it, you see the website www.clearstream.com and hope to find the promised additional help on line, forget it. That web site is owned by a German investment company (for the past year or so). I Googled David Trotter (author of the book) and found him not.
This does not negate the value of the info in the book itself.
Must have for screenwriters.......2007-09-21
IT gives you what you need to have a screenwriting foundation - especially the technical aspect.
Top reference for writing Spec Scripts.......2007-09-04
Well written, easy to follow with alot of good advise. This really opened my eyes to the world of Spec Scripts which focus on the story (stay away from giving camera angles - because for the most part its the story that studios want to buy, they already have a staff who will put in the camera angles - they just want the story!!!).
Spec Scripts are what gets your foot in the door (just the story in a format that is read by the Hollywood script readers - who then intern recommend it to the studio).
If you are serious about writting (novels, plays, movies, managa) this book shows you the basic format of Spec Scripts. Once you have completed a sub script you can turn it into anything e.g. novel, play, movie, manga).
Anyone considering screenwriting NEEDS this book........2007-08-05
Hey everyone, I've owned and read two editions of this book so far and it never fails to help inspire me or answer my questions. I highly recommend this book for the beginner. It starts with a primer on plot basically. It seeks to create a strong foundation because if you know nothing about plot structure and try to write a movie it will turn out either confusing or very boring. David really stresses the 3 act, 7 plot point structure that is the basic framework of creative writing. This can be repetitive, but he really wants to hammer it into your head.
The book also have a whole section on format. I have screenwriting software to do the format for me so I don't look at this as much as I used to, but it still comes in handy. I wrote my first screenplay in Word so this chapter really taught me a lot. Also, software or not, you need to know the basic framework of a spec script.
So, maybe this book doesn't have everything, but I have found this to be the only book I've ever used. Other books I've read on sreenwriting have had a lot of talking by the author. The author just keeps rambling on about things and not teaching me. David stays focused and keep you focused. This book's main purpose is to fill your head with facts. David also injects humor into his writing so you can stay entertained. In the formatting section he writes an amusing story of how he teaches a class in spec script format for example.
When it comes to the more advanced writer, you probably don't need this book, but if you are looking for a refresher course then you need look nowhere else. But what is really good about his approach is that it is focused on you, the spec script writer. He doesn't want to cloud your head with unnecessary camera direction and specials effects- things that the spec writer has no control over. All this happens after the script is sold. It's your job to tell a story using as much detail and action as possible. Don't get caught in the dialog trap- movies are mostly visual.
When you have finished your work and need help marketing it, there is a section of the book devoted to this difficult step. This is the only book on screenwriting I have found useful. Most self-help books I get no use out of. I dig this out whenever I start a new screenwriting project. I do hope to find a more advanced book written in a style like this however, as I have moved past the meat and potatoes stuff.
One of the Best.......2007-08-02
If you are just starting off as screenwriter and can only afford one book, this is the one. It is organized like a classroom workbook. Personally, I learn better with this type of structure.
Book Description
Includes a free CD! With the KISS Guide to Playing Guitar you'll discover more than just an introduction to this popular instrument. Discover a variety of musical styles while learning the basics of acoustic, electric, and bass guitar. Understand simple music theory and get a grip on keys and scales. You'll also learn maintenance techniques to keep your guitar in excellent condition. Clear advice and simple audio aids will help you to improve your technique and expand your repertoire. Make music with confidence as you build chords, learn tunes, and experiment with special effects. Advance to playing on stage, making a studio recording, and even selling your own CD. The Keep It Simple Series is the new standard in how-to books! Written by leading experts, each book includes full-color photographs and illustrations throughout, making these the first and only truly accessible guides for beginners. The KISS format is designed to help readers build confidence from the start, and learn gradually and thoroughly to the very last page. Much more than introductions to various subjects, these inspiring and innovative books are the ones that readers can trust!
Customer Reviews:
Kiss (Vague) Guide to Playing Guitar.......2005-10-21
I started playing guitar last year; I bought this book as opposed to the "...for Dummies" series of instrument teaching. At first it was a decent book to learn guitar through, but once you get further into the book, it strays from the focal point of you learning all aspects of playing. After awhile, it only gives you chord diagrams, and there is very little about up/downstroke technique, the fingerpicking lessons are EXTREMELY obscure, and there's at least 30 pages total throughout the book dedicated to just pointless history of the guitar and guitar players.
I picked up a bass last month and this time bought "Bass Guitar for Dummies" and I picked up on bass much faster learning through this book than learning guitar with the other book (and alot of the scale positioning in that book helped me learn more about guitar than the KISS guitar book did). Do not buy this book if you are trying to learn guitar, there are better books out there to learn from.
NOT VERY GOOD.......2005-02-10
i bought this book because I liked how it had pictures and not drawings, but It was a mistake. almost half the book is just about history. it spends almost no time teaching you how to play chords and read music. it covers alot of subjects, but they're all incomplete. you should go with Guitar for Dummies.
Content seems good, but pages falling out!.......2003-12-23
It is a shame. The content seems good, but the pages started falling out after just one day. The binding is terrible and renders the book impossible to use. Very disappointing.
Excellent book for beginners.......2003-10-17
If you do not read music and you are brand new to any instrument - this is the book to have. It gives the history of the guitar, maintenance and gets you started fast. I already read music and play the piano - and I became very bored, very fast with this method. I switched to the Hal Leonard method and liked it better. The book is wonderfully replete with photos and info. I am not sorry I bought it, as it is an interesting book - but I find I am learning much more with the Hal Leonard system. Still, this is a great book for a beginner.
binding problem.......2001-11-20
As the case with so many DK publications, the appearance is attractive and information useful but the binding is poor. The pages in my copy came loose in a short time making it a nuisance to use.
Book Description
When British rockers invaded the United States in the 1960s, youths responded by growing long hair and playing electrified music in suburban garages. Garage rock has grown from a hobby of the rebellious to a cultural statement: anything not mainstream, from alternative country to hardcore punk, can be included in the realm of contemporary garage rock. Issues of rebellion, clothing and hair styles, playing styles, nostalgia and "selling out" permeate the modern culture of garage rock. Pure rock from the '50s, '60s and '70s and older root styles such as swing and rockabilly have been reasserted in this form, leaving the confines of garages for clubs and other venues where fans' tastes are tuned to the underground.
This study explores garage rock as it evolved alongside mainstream music and examines how it reflects notions of self though the assertion of individuality and rebellion in prosperous postmodern times. Using the Detroit music scene as the focus, the author presents two sections. The first section examines the creation of the scene, the importance of relationships to the past and the appearance used throughout. The second section analyzes the alliances and relationships to society that undergird contemporary garage rock. The author maintains garage rock has developed a place in American cultural history, and its continuation will be based on how the underground situates itself within postmodern society.
Book Description
Thora's no ordinary girl. She's got scales on her legs, purple feet, and a blowhole that squirts water from the top of her head. Thora's a half-mermaid. And as mermaid law commands, Thora must spend ten years at sea and ten years on land. In a houseboat called the Loki, Thora sails the seas with her mermaid mother, Halla, and guard ian, Mr. Walters. But following her tenth birthday, Thora heads to the seaside town of Grimli, where her father grew up.
In Grimli, fat-cat tycoon Frooty de Mare will stop at nothing to expand his Tooty Frooty Enterprises. With the help of new friends and her pet peacock, Thora has her work cut out thwarting Frooty's evil plans -- not to mention doing a bit of exploring into her own Grimli roots.
Gillian Johnson's fanciful tale captures the unflappable spirit of an exceptional young heroine who, despite being half-mermaid, somehow always manages to land on her feet.
Customer Reviews:
A Fantastic Fantasy Book.......2006-04-26
My daugher is [...] and we came upon this book at a yard sale. She read it right away- we couldn't tear her away from it. This is definately the best book about a mermaid for her age group (8-10?). (She is a pretty good reader, so some people may want to wait a bit since it is recommended for 9 year olds).
My daughter believes in mermaids and the magic of knowing or becoming one, so this was the perfect book for her. She loved the plot and giggled at the whimsical humor that runs throughout the story. She insisted on showing us all the cute and funny pictures. It is now her FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME (and she has read a lot of books). She shared her book with other girls in their bookclub- and they all loved it too. Our only problem was that we couldn't find it for a while. Now that we know it is here at Amazon, we will tell all our friends. I am looking forward to giving her the sequel for her birthday.
Thank you Gillian Johnson for writing such a wonderful book!
Book Description
Alan Bennett's award-winning series of solo pieces is a classic of contemporary drama, universally hailed for its combination of razor-sharp wit and deeply felt humanity. In Bed Among the Lentils, a vicar's wife discovers a semblance of happiness with an Indian shop owner. In A Chip in the Sugar, a man's life begins to unravel when he discovers his aging mother has rekindled an old flame. In A Lady of Letters, a busybody pays a price for interfering in her neighbor's life.
First produced for BBC television in 1988 to great critical acclaim, the Talking Heads monologues also appeared on the West End Stage in London in 1992 and 1998. In 2002, seven of the pieces were performed at the Tiffany Theater in Los Angeles for a highly praised brief engagement, and in 2003 a selection of the monologues premiered in New York at the Minetta Lane Theatre. These extraordinary portraits of ordinary people confirm Alan Bennett's place as one of the most gifted, versatile, and important writers in the English Language.
Customer Reviews:
The Teddy Bear with Laser Eyes.......2001-03-09
Alan Bennett has been called England's National Teddy Bear, so beloved is his work and person. It's a sweet moniker, but misleading to those who may not have yet read Bennett. Insightful and compassionate with a wit so sharp it effectively amputates sentimentality, this is a Teddy Bear with laser eyes and sharp claws that are only just retracted.
Bennett's character sketches in Talking Heads are devastating. The grown man whose safe little existence begins to unravel as he discovers his dear old mum has taken a lover, the vigilent, upright busybody who ends up in prison for invading her neighbor's privacy, the widow of "Soldiering On" whose emptiness of purpose is revealed through her inability to grieve--each uncomprehending character Bennett has created in these astonishing soliloquies is undone by his or her brave and steadfast unwillingness to acknowledge the bare-knuckled truth of human emotion.
Bennett is not cruel in revealing the weaknesses of his characters, but he is uncompromising in revealing those weaknesses. This is the Teddy Bear who brings to the picnic the sharp knives that cut through the bread and fat prepared and packaged by his companions.
Also recommended are Bennett's Writing Home, The Clothes They Stood Up In, and any and all of his other plays, particularly The Old Country; and, for those who just must have the soft and fuzzy version of the Teddy Bear, listen to Bennett's reading of Winnie the Pooh, or go see his stageplay of The Wind in the Willows.
I thought the story was...........2000-11-17
Honestly I thought the story was quite dull he tells us about the dull part of their lives, I'm surprised I didn't sleep reading it. It's the worst book I've ever read. You probably won't put this on display on the computer, but you asked what I thought of it and I told you the truth, I'm sure many others agree with me that the story was boring. . Thankyou
talking heads.......2000-02-04
I have been studying Alan Bennett and like many others find it highly amusing. It works remarkably well as a television series and not just on the page. The personalisation and connection to the viewer draws you in and makes it appear that each character is actually talking to you. Excellent work
These people are everywhere.......1999-05-07
I suppose I am a bit biased because I grew up in the same town as Alan Bennett (Leeds, Yorkshire) but this book is truly remarkable. The characters are a mixture of people we all know. A chip in the sugar is the man who lives down the street, A lady of Letters is always in the post office (usually in front of me !). All these people exist, what Alan Bennett does is drag them out of their lives and our heads and put them there in front of us. We may read about them and dismiss them as characters in fiction but they all exist and in most cases there's bits of them inside each of us. Thanks Alan Bennett for entertaining us and teaching us at the same time.
British Genius.......1998-07-23
I can't believe I'm the first person to review this masterpiece! Maybe it's because Bennett seems so very British, English even, that he's not appealled to American readers. I'm sure you're missing something worth having.
Bennett is a masterful observer of character and the six monologues gathered in this collection all display strong characters revealled with a sharp eye and a compassionate heart. Bennett is witty and controlled in his approach, allowing his characters to reveal themselves and their foibles subtley. I find these little tales deeply moving as well as funny, despite the apparently mundane subjects he's dealing with.
I can't think of a comparison to make to illuminate his style, especially since monologue is very rarely seen these days. I can see an affinity to A. Maupin and R.Rodi in terms of waspish observations of people and their social milieu. Bennett's characters aren't blatantly queer like Maupin's or Rodi's, they're not young and tre! ndy things either, but Bennet's own sensibilites and sensitivities give queer readers pause for thought, especially about the older, isolated members of society.
He takes us right inside the heads of six very ordinary people and lays bare their lives, their self-delusions and their petty snobberies in their own words. The texts were originally written as television plays and were broadcast on the radio by the BBC too, however, they work perfectly well on the page, rather like short stories. Why not try it and see for yourselves!
Customer Reviews:
Thora in a sparkling new adventure!.......2005-10-25
Thora, the adventurous, half-mermaid from the last book 'Thora!" is back! In this new adventure Thora and her mother capture a rar sea unicorn and take her in. Thora makes friends with the wonderous actress- Pamela.P.Poutine. But tragedy strikes and Thora finds herself in distress when their boat is sabotaged and she, Mr. Walters and her mother, Halla have to move to the country-side while their boat is prepared. But things seem very fishy when Pamela.P.Poutines ends up there too! Read this exciting, new Thora novel that is full of adventure.
Book Description
Thora isn't your average ten-year-old. She's half-mermaid and half-human. Now that Thora's living in London with her mermaid mother and human caretaker, Mr. Walters—not to mention a pet peacock and a rare green sparkling sea-unicorn—it doesn't take long for things on land to go awry. Especially the disturbing disappearance of their houseboat, the Loki, and her sea-unicorn, Shirley!
When Mr. Walters's friend at Snug Harbor invites her family for a respite, Thora discovers more snags—like a girl named Louella who doesn't believe in mermaids. While Louella tries to stop Snug Harbor from being converted into a croquet park, Thora thinks she can help. But will she be able to get to the bottom of her own troubles and find her beloved Shirley?
The second book about Thora is another enchanting tale of a good-humored, extraordinary young girl with a knack for unraveling fishy mysteries.
Average customer rating:
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Nutrition for today
Thora J Runyan
Manufacturer: Harper & Row
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: 0060456825 |
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Our Thora
Morris Bright
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Actors & Actresses
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ASIN: 0340786450 |
Book Description
With pictures from performances across her long and illustrious career and Dame Thora's own memories of them, as well as personal photographs of Thora with family and friends from the entertainment world, this book is a tribute to the universally loved and cherished first lady of showbusiness. Among the many contributors are Sir John Mills, Victoria Wood, Sir Norman Wisdom, Ronnie Corbett, and Sir Harry Secombe.
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Nothing Like a Dame
Thora Hird
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0007107668 |
Book Description
Thora Hird tells her life-story from her birth in 1911 to the present day. It is written in Thora’s natural and humorous style and covers her stage career, her family life and her strong faith in God.
Books:
- The Screenwriter's Problem Solver: How to Recognize, Identify, and Define Screenwriting Problems
- The Sense and Sensibility: Screenplay & Diaries : Bringing Jane Austen's Novel to Film
- The Stanley Kubrick Archives
- The Star Wars Poster Book
- The Sunday Philosophy Club (Isabel Dalhousie Mysteries)
- The Twilight Zone Companion
- The Whole Equation: A History of Hollywood
- This Side of Heaven
- Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates (Harvest Book)
- When Blanche Met Brando: The Scandalous Story of "A Streetcar Named Desire"
Books Index
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