Book Description
"We need good screenwriters who understand character." Everywhere Andrew Horton traveled in researching this book--from Hollywood to Hungary--he heard the same refrain. Yet most of the standard how-to books on screenwriting follow the film industry's earlier lead in focusing almost exclusively on plot and formulaic structures.
With this book, Horton, a film scholar and successful screenwriter, provides the definitive work on the character-based screenplay. Exceptionally wide-ranging--covering American, international, mainstream, and "off-Hollywood" films, as well as television--the book offers creative strategies and essential practical information.
Horton begins by placing screenwriting in the context of the storytelling tradition, arguing through literary and cultural analysis that all great stories revolve around a strong central character. He then suggests specific techniques and concepts to help any writer--whether new or experienced--build more vivid characters and screenplays. Centering his discussion around four film examples--including Thelma & Louise and The Silence of the Lambs--and the television series, Northern Exposure, he takes the reader step-by-step through the screenwriting process, starting with the development of multi-dimensional characters and continuing through to rewrite. Finally, he includes a wealth of information about contests, fellowships, and film festivals.
Espousing a new, character-based approach to screenwriting, this engaging, insightful work will prove an essential guide to all of those involved in the writing and development of film scripts.
Customer Reviews:
A pretty good place to start.......2004-08-24
Having spent a sizable fortune on "how-to-write" books, I now realize that I need to stop buying these books and just start writing. Having said that, however, I think that Horton's book contains a lot of useful information and is better than most screenwriting books out there.
Whether you like this book probably depends on both your movie preferences and your writing style. If you are more Steven Segal than Woody Allen, then this book is probably not for you. Similarly, if you are a screen writer who meticulously outlines a story, then you should probably take a pass on Horton. If you can follow all those story diagrams in McKee's book, then you will hate this one. This book is the Anti-McKee.
Simply put, Horton view is that the most important part of a story is the development of the character rather than external events. A story should make us identify and empathize with the characters. Consequently, a great screenplay will have that identification and empathy as it's main goal.
The book is often written in a high-handed academic style. Horton is, after all, an academic. This may annoy some readers. For me, it imparted a measure of earnestness. Many of the reviewers had trouble with the "carvivalesque" concept. This could be explained a little more straightforwardly. Basically, it means that character: (i) is not static, but in a state of flux; (ii) is multi-faceted and does not always behave consistently; and (iii) is influenced by its background and evnironment. The first half of the book builds off of these themes.
The one quibble that I had with the book is that some of the exercises are unrealistic. For instance, am I really going to contact an agency to obtain a copy of a little-known short film so that I can review it? Of course not. Neither will you. Only a college professor would make such obscure assignments.
All-in-all, this is a good book to get one started in writing character-centered screenplays. I guess the name says it all.
Something Different.......2004-08-01
The reason that many reviewers pan this book is the reason that I highly recommend it: it is academic and theoretical. Horton bases his character theory on the idea of the "carnavalesque." It is this internal unpredicability that really brings characters to life.
This book is not for everyone. Horton has a habit of criticizing the plot-driven Hollywood blockbusters and idealizing small independents and foreigns. This can be a bit irritating after a while. If you know the basics and have read all the overly simplisitc and formulatic books (I too am no fan of Syd Field) this is an interesting and different angle to check out, with a much more academic style than most. But it's definitely not a simple "how to," so if that's what you want, look elsewhere for the basics.
Not without some merit, but tedious and uninspiring.......2004-05-23
I've now read this book twice, hoping I missed the insight on moving a script toward a character driven progression. But what I have had to sadly conclude is Horton's book on the "Character centered screenplay" is more of a college dissertation than a book designed to help the writer develop a character piece.
That's not to say the book is completely useless. It has an interesting take on character paradigms, going into deeper than other books might. Horton's ideas on the multiple voices a character might represent can help open up perspectives on how to make a character more rounded without having to blather out more exposition to explain characters. Vogler, McKee (both who's books I highly recommend) don't spend this kind of focus on character dimension... but they weren't writing books solely on character.
Horton throws his arms out patting himself on the back with his pontification regarding 'carnivalesque'. The idea might have been interesting in a glancing pass, and attempt at expanding our perspective about characters and their many sides with the allusion towards changing masks and showing different sides of self, but it became an esoteric exercise in proving academic chops. Had it be posed and then left so we could delve more deeply into other topics, it wouldn't have been an issue. But carnivalesque was dropped front and center at indulgent intervals, ending up being distracting and fruitless, the exact opposite of what a book about writing should be about.
In the end, 'Character-Centered...' is a flat, uninspiring read. Horton is probably a cerebral person who has spend time dissecting and analyzing films, but little time focusing on the writer's journey of producing a good script. In my meandering through screenplay literature, it is rare to find someone giving you 'hows' instead of 'whats'. "Character Centered..." simply doesn't live up to it's name on the basis of a lack of desire to direct would-be writers to produce character driven material.
Save your money.......2002-08-22
Save your money. This is by far the worst book on screenwriting and film that I have ever read (and I have a vast library). Frankly, I cannot believe that I finished it. It is very poorly organized and poorly written (the chapters wander off course). Mr. Horton never takes the time to nail down what he means by "carnivalesque" which is the central concept of his book. Also, he takes for granted that the reader shares his tastes in film and television, and so never really takes the time to probe what is truely worthy in his examples or what their shortcomings might be. The University of California usually puts out material of much higher (academic) quality. I cannot believe this book got published and has gone beyond one printing.
I give it a star because it does actually have a few saving graces (but not enough to warrant actually buying it). First, there are ample quotes from Luis Bunuel. Second, Horton is right about the excellent character development in Northern Exposure. But the only really valuable thing about this book is a very thorough character development outline that can be very useful in creating a character. However, this character outline is comprised of elements that any serious writer should know about their character anyway.
I agree with Robert McKee (in reference to screenwriting books on character) when he asserts that character is not an element that is separate from plot or story because choice and action are what define character.
The Worst!.......2001-08-04
This is, by far, the worst screenwriting book I've ever read, almost as bad as Lew Hunter's piece of drivel. If you read this book and follow its instructions, I'll bet you won't be able to write a screenplay at all. Buy "Story" instead.
Book Description
So You Think You're Smart is a delightful book of word games that the entire family can enjoy. All games are concise, uncomplicated and, most of all, a lot of fun. They are about ordinary words and things that everybody knows about so only common knowledge and a bit of resourcefulness are needed to solve them.
The games are only one of the fun features. All answers are encrypted! Each is given on the same page as the game, but is printed upside-down and backward - as in a mirror image. To ensure that they cannot be accidentally read, the answers are further obscured by using italics and a reduced size type. A mirror is needed to reveal the answers - and a special unbreakable plastic one is provided with each book.
Customer Reviews:
So You Think You're Smart.......2006-08-31
Fantastic book and THE most prompt service I have ever received from a publisher.
Very much appreciated!!! You won't be disappointed with ordering this selection.
Ideal for parties or simple personal enjoyment.......2002-08-04
So You Think You're Smart: 150 Fun And Challenging Brain Teasers compiled by Pat Battaglia is an eclectic collection of queries and riddles to boggle the mind, from sports trivia to word games to graphical puzzles. Each conundrum has hints and solutions, written in reverse to avoid casual reading yet easily looked up with the aid of a small paper-thin mirror that doubles as a handy bookmark. Ideal for parties or simple personal enjoyment, So You Think You're Smart is enthusiastically recommended as a fun and engaging selection of riddles to challenge readers of all educational backgrounds.
Fun and Creative Puzzles.......2002-06-13
Your puzzles are great! We're having so much fun with them. You are so creative
Captivating and Enjoyable.......2002-06-13
One I got started I discovered it (the book) captivating and soon found I must limit my time with it or I wouldn't get anything else accomplished during the day. It brings me enjoyment each time I go back to it.
So You Think You're Smart: 150 Fun and Challenging Brain Tea.......2001-03-17
Wow...I planned on spending about a half an hour working on these challenging mind bogglers, next thing I knew I was depriving myself of many hours of much needed sleep and enjoying every moment of it. If you want a mental challenge and some real mental stimulation the key to maintaining mental acuity at any age then this is the book. ~Dr. RJ Shick, Winter Haven, FL
Book Description
Everyone who is fascinated by logic, spatial-visual and/or math puzzles knows Terry Stickles' name. His puzzles have tantalized and often stumped not only super-adept puzzle mavens, but the rest of us. He has published books, puzzles, articles about puzzling, and sets of puzzle cards -- all eagerly snapped up by those thousands who can't get enough of brainteasers. His puzzles have appeared on National Public Radio's puzzle program, in Discover and Games Magazines, and he was asked to provide challenges for the recent World Puzzle Convention. But one trait in particular sets Stickles' teasers above so many others: every one is original. Stickles agrees that recycling is a public duty, but not, he says, when it comes to puzzles. So whether one starts at the beginning section of So You Think You're Smart, Huh? where the author is kind enough to launch us with more gentle challenges (but still challenges, and don't forget it!) or the latter section, where he gets really tough, the reader will find wonderful fun, refreshing brain workouts, and the deep satisfaction of matching wits with the country's most prominent puzzlemaker --and coming out ahead. Sometimes.
Customer Reviews:
Good perhaps, but difficult.......2005-12-02
Excellent title, but it is not as funny as it sounds. Basically a lot of (quite hard) puzzles. Not for the casual puzzle solver. In addition to this it is geared towards native English speakers.
Simply the Best.......2001-07-10
Terry Stickels is THE reason that I became a puzzle/brain teaser enthusiast years ago. I have run my own e-puzzle business since 1997, and much of the material I've written has been inspired by Terry's writings. This book is simply his best (so far). I must warn you that after trying some of the problems, you may not only have trouble putting the book down, but may in fact find that you have a new addiction... enjoy!
A Great Mind Challenge.......2001-06-09
I like to regularly challenge my thinking and my mind. "Are You as Smart as You Think You Are?" certainly provided that challenge. The puzzles really made me think and I kept coming back to many of them several times, before checking the answer key. Mr. Stickles provides hours of brain stretching entertainment. Keep it up. I'll look forward to your next book.
THE BEST OF THE BEST.......2001-05-12
I've been collecting puzzle books for a long time and I've never come across a more original, challenging and fun book yet. There is a little something for eveyone in this wonderful collection. There are also some of the toughest puzzles ever created. Mr. Stickels continues to delight his fans, from his nationally syndicated FRAMEGAMES column in USA WEEKEND, to these first class puzzle books to his excellent day to day calendar . . . he's America's best. I think some of the other reviewers missed the point of what Mr. Stickels writes: straight ahead thinking puzzles with little or no text. That's his style and always has been. One of the reasons I enjoy his challengers so much is he doesn't try to get cute.
Not as original as I'd expected.......2001-05-11
I must admit I expected something special from a couple of rave reviews that I read, but this is really just a compilation of number reasoning tests with some general knowledge and some Dingbats thrown in. The new Martin Gardner? Definitely not, based on this collection, at least. A collection of 150 original puzzles? Depends what you mean by 'original'. I recognised several, for style if not for precise content, and would challenge some of the puzzle answers too.
Average, hence 3 stars.
Book Description
The guidebook, QuitSmart Stop Smoking: With the QuitSmart System it's easier than you think!, is written in an easy-to-read, non-technical style. Dr. Mark Tager wrote, in a review published in the American Journal of Health Promotion, "The appealing prose, cartoons and charts make for engaging reading."
The guidebook teaches that successful quitting is not so much a matter of willpower as it is of skill-doing the right things and thinking the right thoughts to make sure you succeed, and succeed without suffering. There is no attempt to scare you into quitting. In fact, the dangers of smoking are not listed until the end of the book, and then only to reinforce the new ex-smoker's abstinence.
The smoker who is physically addicted -- identified by a brief questionnaire -- is given two options for gradually weaning off nicotine. Prior to quitting, the smoker can switch to brands of cigarettes that contain progressively less nicotine -- the book provides the nicotine content of all U.S. cigarette brands. Over a couple of weeks of brand switching, much of the nicotine is eliminated from the smoker's system, and the person can then quit with few physical withdrawal symptoms. This method is sometimes called "Warm Chicken Quitting."
The second option for weaning off nicotine is use of medication. Information is included on nicotine- replacement products (including a chapter by Dr. Jed Rose, inventor of the nicotine skin patch) and on Zyban, the non-nicotine pill.
The QuitSmart Guidebook also presents up-to-date information on many other issues facing the person trying to break free from cigarettes. In a chapter titled "Thinking Makes it So," the reader is taught to foster the self image of a calm and happy nonsmoker: "You are what you believe. Believing you are a permanent non-smoker who is calm and happy will naturally lead to that outcome." The reader also learns six habit busters and eleven coping methods, and seven ways to control weight.
Customer Reviews:
I Became and Still Remain a Nonsmoker With This Book!!!!.......2000-09-15
Okay, so it was the original title "Quit smart : a guide to freedom from cigarettes" that I used oh those many years ago, but I'll guarantee that this one is as good if not even better than the original edition! I tried all the books, the tapes, the pills (no easily accessible patch at the time), and then I found "Quit Smart". It laid everything out in three basic steps: 1) Preparing to become a nonsmoker, 2) Becoming a nonsmoker & the hardest 3) Remaining a nonsmoker. I read it and followed the program and it really worked. I passed it on to a friend and never saw it again. She said that it helped her and her friends. I highly recommend this book. It actually made the process less painful. To this day, I have not touched a cigarette, and I feel great ... Oh, and the author also has a method to help you from gaining weight when you quit. That works, too. I really only gained about 5 pounds. If you really want to quit smoking, buy this book. You won't regret it!
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Girls' Life, published by Thomson Gale on December 1, 2006. The length of the article is 672 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: The cheat sheet: "think your boyfriend might be doing you wrong? Here's the smart girl's guide to exposing his cheating heart.(GL GUYS)
Author: Kelly White
Publication:
Girls' Life (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 13
Issue: 3
Page: 32(1)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
|
Quit Smart stop smoking: With the QuitSmart system, it's easier than you think!
Robert H Shipley
Manufacturer: QuitSmart Stop Smoking Resources
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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Book Description
``Solution Selling is the most comprehensive sales and sales management process available today. Mike Bosworth has the best understanding of sales process in corporate America.''Jeffrey M. Fisher, Vice President, Symix Computer Systems.
Customer Reviews:
One of my favourite sales books.......2007-02-27
I have started two software companies, as well as a sales strategy company and, most recently, a tech sales recruiting company. This book has been a foundation for a lot of profit. Great for anyone interested in the basics of how to focus on the best prospects and how to position a product or service against customer needs. I highly recommend.
I am not a sales man.......2007-01-09
I was suggested this book by my ex-boss. I am a software developer, but I enjoyed reading this book.
Excellent for micro tactics in a solution sale. .......2007-01-05
This book goes hand in hand with Spin Selling - Neil Rackman and Strategic Selling - Miller Hienman. It gives you the tools for day to day operations in a complex sale. Some of the parts are a little tedious such as the nine box model, however other tools such as sample cold calling techniques, creating a vision, diagnosing with a bias are all very relevant and have given me alot of help learning to be a stronger business development manager. Overall i highly recommend this book as one the cornerstone readings to achieving solution sales success.
why people buy people.......2006-04-06
This book focuses on what a salesperson should concentrate on as well as what the buyer's perspective is. It helps identify features, advantages and benefits. This book offers an explanation of why people buy people.
Great Point of View regarding Selling.......2005-10-22
Michael Bosworth is helpful in being able to shift a new salesperson's mentality from looking at sales from a buyer's mentality. Solution Selling gives a new salesperson a salesperson's perspective, and not a buyer's perspective, when it comes to walking a prospective buyer through the sales process. This mental shift from buyer to salesperson is absolutely mandatory in order to own the selling process that Bosworth outlines.As a result, Solution Selling helps salespeople to develop a "smart" questioning process which the prospect willingly follows, as they believe they are in charge of the sales process. Masterful!
Highly recommend for B2B sales and high ticket services sales.
Books:
- X Marks the Spot: On Location With the X-Files
- 100 American Independent Films (Bfi Screen Guides)
- A Knight's Tale: The Shooting Script (Newmarket Shooting Script Series)
- Action! In the Classroom: A Guide to Student Produced Digital Video in K-12 Education
- Afi Writing Great Screenplays for Film and TV
- Amores Perros (BFI Modern Classics)
- Asia Shock: Horror And Dark Cinema from Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, And Thailand
- Attack of the 'B' Movie Posters (The Illustrated History of Moves Through Posters Series Vol. 14)
- Becoming Mae West
- Behold the Beauty of the Lord
Books Index
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