The Screenwriter's Survival Guide: Or, Guerrilla Meeting Tactics and Other Acts of War

Amazon.com

Adams courteously assumes that you can already write or that you can at least get your hands on one of the zillions of books about writing techniques. She concentrates on what you really want to know. For example:

The screenwriter's uniform is (and this is unisex): jeans, high top sneakers, a plain T-shirt, and a loose casual jacket.... And the sneakers are always frighteningly clean, as in "they may be sneakers, but by gum, they glow like they just came out of the box." Guys? No ties. No suits. I'm not kidding. If you wear a suit and tie to a meeting, people will mock you. Girls? No dresses. Actresses wear dresses. Screenwriters wear sneakers and jeans.

Her authority is unmistakable. After scooping up the prizes at a number of prestigious screenwriting contests, like the Nicholl Fellowship and the Austin Heart of Film Festival, Adams launched her Hollywood career with a big spec script sale (Excess Baggage).

The Screenwriter's Survival Guide delivers 64 pithy chapters, such as "Don't Write Batman" and "What You Really Get Paid." Other topics include pitching, the etiquette of "getting read," and the care and feeding of agents. Adams also provides lists of screenwriters' directories and organizations, a generic release form, format examples for cover pages and query letters, and other useful resources.

The book shines with Adams's streetwise attitude. She shares her worst Hollywood memories--the cold calls to producers, the credit arbitrations, and the meetings, meetings, meetings--as well as her victories. Do successful screenwriters ever stop feeling insecure? Check with Adams: "Every time I turn something in, I have this feeling of doom, like, Well, that's it, my career's over now." Max Adams has the inside story and she tells all. --Blaise Selby

Book Description

Are you looking for one of the secret decoder rings owned by all successful screenwriters? Or at least a map with a spot marked X? Sit down with Max Adams. She'll tell you all about the writer's place in Hollywood.Adams courteously assumes that you can already write or that you can at least get your hands on one of the zillions of books about writing techniques. She concentrates on what you really want to know. For example:The screenwriter's uniform is (and this is unisex): jeans, high top sneakers, a plain T-shirt, and a loose casual jacket.... And the sneakers are always frighteningly clean, as in "they may be sneakers, but by gum, they glow like they just came out of the box." Guys? No ties. No suits. I'm not kidding. If you wear a suit and tie to a meeting, people will mock you. Girls? No dresses. Actresses wear dresses. Screenwriters wear sneakers and jeans.Her authority is unmistakable. After scooping up the prizes at a number ofprestigious screenwriting contests, like the Nicholl Fellowship and the Austin Heart of Film Festival, Adams launched her Hollywood career with a big spec script sale (Excess Baggage).The Screenwriter's Survival Guide delivers 64 pithy chapters, such as "Don't Write Batman" and "What You Really Get Paid." Other topics include pitching, the etiquette of "getting read," and the care and feeding of agents. Adams also provides lists of screenwriters' directories and organizations, a generic release form, format examples for cover pages and query letters, and other useful resources.The book shines with Adams's streetwise attitude. She shares her worst Hollywood memories--the cold calls to producers, the credit arbitrations, and the meetings, meetings, meetings--as well as her victories. Do successful screenwriters ever stop feeling insecure? Check with Adams: "Every time I turn something in, I have this feeling of doom, like, Well, that's it, my career's over now." Max Adams has the inside story and she tells all. --Blaise Selby

Customer Reviews:

One of the Best Books About Breaking into Screenwriting.......2006-06-10

After reading over 30 books about the screenwriting/movie-making business, I've decided this is one of my favorites. Written in Max Adam's breezy voice with quick, to-the-point chapters, it offers pragmatic advice about what to do to promote your work if you really do write screenplays. (A lot of people merely talk about writing screenplays. I'm sick of them.) The title is appropriate. Max doesn't tell you how to write a script but rather how to sell it. She offers advice that my own experience shows is truthful and helpful. (I've won some contests, been optioned, make a living writing for the business market.) Wish I'd had Max to tell me this stuff sooner.

not so hot.......2004-11-27

this book certainly addresses many of the issues that aspiring screenwriters are interested in, focusing as it does on many of the business aspects of being a screenwriter.

there are about 150 books in print which focus on how to write a screenplay, or how not to write a screenplay, or how to beat the hollywood script reader (i assume you don't do it with a baseball bat), and there are three, that i'm aware of, that deal, from the screenwriter's point of view, with the business of making movies in hollywood -- and two of them are very good books by william goldman.

here is the third.

unfortunately, max adams' book is not so very good. it's okay. it does offer some good information to the completely clueless -- when driving in la, drive with a map book. that's sound advice, but i'd like to think that if you're old enough to drive and capable of obtaining a driver's license, you don't need to be told that having a map book in an unfamilair city is a good idea. you are also advised to bring your own pillows if staying at a hotel, carry fix-a-flat with you in your trunk, to have breath mints so your breath isn't yucky, not to wet your pants in a meeting, and to bring snacks in case you need food and don't have time for a full-on meal.

wading through that kind of crap is rather annoying. is it bad advice? no, i guess not. but i hope to god that, if you're an adult, it's unnecessary advice.

the other annoying thing about the book? is max adams' constant use of question marks? placed for some unknown reason? in the middle of declarative sentences.

now, okay, that stuff aside, is there good stuff in the book? sure. nothing groundbreaking, but there is information that goes beyond what common sense will tell you, information you might not have unless you've spent a week or two in los angeles.

unfortunately, in my opinion, it isn't really worth wading through all the useless crap and the annoying syntax in order to find it.

Read only if you're interested in the Hollywood / US scene.......2004-02-19

This concentrates on the Hollywood scene and how to get your script sold in the US so most of it wasn't relevant to me, being Australian. There wasn't very much on how to actually write screenplays so I'd skip this if that's what you're after and read some different books. The most useful thing I found was the stuff about how to write query letters and dealing with producers, while it may be a little different from the Aus. scene, I imagine some things are the same everywhere (ie people are too busy to read your script).

So if you're not American and don't intend working in America, only a small portion of this book will be relevant to you but if you want an entertaining insight into the Hollywood scene, it's worth a look.

Don't waste your money..........2002-09-30

Of all the screenwriting-focused books I've purchased in the last several months, this is without question the least useful and most annoying.

This book is essentially a compilation of bulletin-board conversations that occurred during the early 1990s between the author and some fellow writers. Aside from the fact that it gave me very little useful information, two things made the book almost unbearable -- first, she writes in a stream-of-consciousness style that's terribly difficult to follow and second, she's a constant user of sentence fragments. I found myself wishing someone would drag fingernails down a blackboard to relieve the pain.

Gilles, Hunter, Lerch, and about a zillion others are all better reads and much more useful.

Like Therapy, and a must read for all novelists.......2002-08-18

Someone once said that 5 minutes with a good friend, is worth 2 hours with a therapist. If that's true, then Max Adams's book, is worth a year of Therapy. First it reads like a "chat with a friend"...a friend who has been there, done that, and written about it. And it inspires, and clears the air, and teaches. I also think this book is a must read for Novelists who hope to have their movie made, or anyone who can't understand how a screenwriter can get a reported half million deal, and end up broke. Max explains the money deal in clear detail. And unlike the other reviewer who "derides" Max for advertising...I applaud her for it!!! She's a go getter, and a Giver. (As in the wonderful advice she gives on her website to those who are in no position to give her anything in return)

I say, buy this book! It's much cheaper than therapy anyway.

Book Description

Author and voice teacher Gloria Bennett has taught Axl Rose of Guns N'Roses, Vince Neil of Motley Crue, Exene Cervenka of X, Steve Wynn of Dream Syndicate, Dexter Holland of The Offspring, and Anthony Keidis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, among others. Her comprehensive and practical book, now in its second edition, offers a clear explanation of the voice as an instrument and proper vocal technique. Through examples, anecdotes and exercises, Breaking Through provides for both the novice and professional vocalist a vital sourcebook for maintaining and enhancing the quality of the voice. Topics covered include: pitch problems and solutions, evening your range, projection without strain, how to stay vocally healthy on the road, how to find a good vocal coach, and much more.

Customer Reviews:

Waste of Money!!! .......2006-02-17

I can't believe that I spent money on this book. Besides the editorial mistakes, there is so much information in this book that is not correct. I know there are a lot of philosophies concerning solid vocal technique. I am a professional singer and teacher of voice and have worked with a number of teachers, coaches, and conductors. I have studied the different approaches for breath control, vowel modification, etc. This author is rather narrow in her views and she contradicts several of her own statements. If you want to learn to sing, find a good voice teacher and avoid this book.

Great Book with great exercises.......2003-03-16

I think this book is excellent. I highly recommend it. I have a degree in Vocal Performance from USC and have been singing professionally for years.

Poorly written and self-promoting.......2002-05-07

Althought there are some good points in this book, I found it very poorly written. Her explanation of breathing is detailed, but inaccurate. However, you can gain something from the general concepts. Her chapter on "How to find a good teacher" tells you to avoid teachers with poor motivations and poor techniques, but she never "paints the perfect teacher" as she promises. I found this pattern throughout the book.
I was annoyed with the chapter on Gloria's "famous" students that did not add to the purpose of the book. The book was obviously not proofread. The all too frequent missing words and misplaced grammar made for slow reading.
I must mention that I liked the section with vocal exercises and the explanations, as well as some of the voice care instructions. This book was a disappointment, with a few useful highlights.

ist legitimate book i've read on voice!.......2001-09-16

this book gave me valuable information on the history of voice and proved to me that all the"gimmicks" that other voice teachers in the past have taught me did nothing to improve my voice,range or alleviate the horseness . gloria bennett's no frill,cut to the chase method of singing convinced me that this is THE ONLY correct way to sing!!

Choose Another Vocal Book.......2000-07-22

The vocal training and theory information in this book is not any different than some of the better vocal books available. There are some informative moments that can actually be used however, I and some of my students feel that the author spends too much effort on "knocking" other teachers and techniques, in addition to referencing to specific people that she prides their ability to herself, instead of just explaining the techniques, which we are looking for when we buy a book to learn. "Never buy a book by it's title".

Average customer rating:

Very strongly recommended to all newcomers of the opera scene

Opera: The Basics
Denise Gallo
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0415970725

Book Description

Opera: The Basics gives a brief introduction to 4 centuries of opera, ideal for students and interested listeners who want to learn more about this important musical style. After a brief introduction, the book is organized in two parts: Terms and Topics; and Genres and Styles. In the first part, the author traces the origins of opera, and then introduces the student to its basic terminology. In Part II, the author traces the history of major opera genres, including serious opera; comic opera; semi-serious opera; and vernacular opera. Throughout, sidebars offer studies of key issues. The book concludes with a bibliography, discography, and videography.
Opera: The Basics serves as an excellent introduction to the players, the music, and the styles that make opera an enduring and well-loved musical style.

Customer Reviews:

Very strongly recommended to all newcomers of the opera scene.......2006-04-03

Opera: The Basics by Denise Gallo (Senior Music Specialist at The Library of Congress and Adjunct Professor, Music History Division, The Catholic University of America) is an 207-page introductory reference for all performers, music, styles and performances of the generationally popular musical genre of opera. As a detailed and "user friendly" guide through the intricacies of opera, Opera: The Basics is divided into two easy-to-follow sections: Terms and Topics, and Genres, Styles and Scores. An ideal addition to academic and community library Music Studies collections, Opera: The Basics is very strongly recommended to all newcomers of the opera scene, as well as long term fans of the opera, as any reader is sure to take from this book.

Basic Classical and Operatic Recordings Collection for Libraries

Average customer rating:

Basic Classical and Operatic Recordings Collection for Libraries
Kenyon C. Rosenberg
Manufacturer: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Book Description

No descriptive material is available for this title.

A Basic Classical and Operatic Recordings Collection on Compact Discs for Librar

Average customer rating:

Best guide to buying classical music compact discs I know.

A Basic Classical and Operatic Recordings Collection on Compact Discs for Librar
Kenyon C. Rosenberg
Manufacturer: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Covers over 160 composers whose works are important in constituting a nuclear library collection of serious music.

Customer Reviews:

Best guide to buying classical music compact discs I know........1997-04-29

While the subject of this book is "music," the author has provided a nice way of determining which works ought to be in one's library, and has done so with panache and wit. His thumbnail reviews of performers is very helpful, and his essay on music criticism is enlightening and entertaining. Would that more critics and scholars could be so informative and at the same time witty.

Average customer rating:

OPERA: THE BASICS. The Basics Series
Denise. Gallo
Manufacturer: Routledge,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N7I5RU

Breaking Through : From Rock to Opera - The Basic Technique of Voice, 2nd Edition

Average customer rating:

Breaking Through : From Rock to Opera - The Basic Technique of Voice, 2nd Edition
Gloria Bennett
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KW4NK6

Average customer rating:

Breaking through: From rock to opera : the basic technique of voice
Gloria Bennett
Manufacturer: Gloria Bennett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

The performance today basic record library

Average customer rating:

The performance today basic record library
Ted Libbey
Manufacturer: National Public Radio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

The Phantom of Manhattan (Thorndike Press Large Print Basic Series)

Average customer rating:

Wonderfull follow up
Good as a stand alone book, but not as a sequel...

The Phantom of Manhattan (Thorndike Press Large Print Basic Series)

Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000E1OJ7U

Customer Reviews:

Wonderfull follow up.......2006-09-19

I never thought I could enjoy a follow up as much as I did this one. I was always intrigued to find what happened to The Phantom of the Opera since he dissapeared. Well now I know. To tell you how good I found it...I read it (completelly) on a plane trip from Amsterdam to Miami!!!! Did not sleep at all !!
I love the theater and therefore I think that is one of the main reasons why I loved this book
A must read!

Good as a stand alone book, but not as a sequel..........2006-04-27

While the notion for this book is an interesting idea, it looses all of the mystery and romance that was evident in the original novel. Carrying off where The Phantom of the Opera left off, Christine is now married to Raoul and has a son named Pierre. The Phantom has come to New York where he is quickly amasssing a fortune in the stock market and other business ventures with his cold-blooded partner, Darius. Told from various points of views, similar to the original novel, the book first digresses from the original novel when a section is told from the Phantom's point of view. At that moment the mystery of Erik is dissipated. There is almost no suspense. The author chooses to insert a strange money-god that Darius serves and the conflict between him and the Irish priest that tutors Pierre is a distracting side note. There are some plot twists, and a surprising ending. However I find the ending hard to believe and I was disappointed. I don't know what I expected, but this novel had none of the spark of the original. It's a quick and somewhat entertaining read, but in order to enjoy it detach it from any notions of The Phantom of the Opera.

Rigoletto. Vocal score. The basic idea of the opera also in English.

Average customer rating:

Rigoletto. Vocal score. The basic idea of the opera also in English.
Verdi Giuseppe.
Manufacturer: Kompozitor (SPb.)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000R47QMO

Book Description

Rubberneckers finally puts an end to on-the-road ennui, whether you're road tripping, field tripping, or just facing the morning commute. Crack open this box of glossy cards and let the fun begin! A combination of games all of us have played at some point in our driving and riding careers, Rubberneckers is nothing but a good time, no matter how old you are. Just think, there are 200 million cars in America. That's half a billion bored riders or a staggering 20 billion bottles of beer on the wall. Thank god, help is here at last.

Customer Reviews:

A Real Hit.......2007-07-15

This was definately a good purchase. My 9 year old twin girls loved it. The game challenges you to find certain road signs, types of cars, ect while on your road trip. The best part are the cards that ask you to get the attention of another car near you. The object being to wave or do some other instruction and get the other car to acknowledge you. It was a good time and did make the trip go that much quicker. It's great just to leave in the car even when you are on short trips.

A MUST for the car.......2007-07-11

My son (9 years) and I (don't ask) just got back from a road trip. Twenty-six hours of driving over ten days. We played this game until the last eight hours - then we switched to a book on tape (we were real tired by then). Anyway, it kept us entertained for the first 18 hours. Although the driver is not supposed to play (because some of the challenges require you to interact with other drivers), I could still join in the fun (by waiting until we were at a stop light, etc...). Most of the challenges were finding things such as a dog in the car, a person on a bike, a college decal, and even someone picking their nose. Combine this with the Ultimate Sticker Puzzles: License Plates Across the States: Travel Puzzles and Games! (Ultimate Sticker Puzzles) and you're good to go!

Roadtrip.......2006-08-21

Great fun. The driver definitely cannot play. It would be good for the kids riding in the backseat. We played all day and added our scores when we arrived at our destination.

ABSOLUTELY love it........2006-08-08

I've had this game since it came out, and it still gets used at least 2-3x per month for long car rides. We live four hours from my inlaws, and the drive there (to rural Illinois) is soooo boring. But not with Rubberneckers! We don't REALLY follow the rules, but have modified them to match our needs.

We're looking forward to the day that our daughter will be old enough for us to buy Rubberneckers Jr!

Rubber Neckers.......2006-08-05

Very fun game for making the time go quicker when you are traveling!! Kids and adults will enjoy.

Book Description

Use your home to finance your retirement

Forgot to save for retirement, but bought a house? Saved a lot and also bought a house? Whatever your situation, Retire on the House can show you how to best use your home equity for a long and prosperous retirement.

Focusing on both retirement and real estate, Retire on the House is designed for retiree homeowners who want to use their home equity to finance their retirement. Filled with valuable insights and practical advice, this unique guide illustrates a number of ways this can be done, including:

Selling your current home at the top of the market, moving to a less expensive residence, and retiring on your profits
Obtaining rental income from your current home by renting to boarders
Remodeling your home into units for much higher rental income
Three options for obtaining cash from your home without selling, remodeling, or renting it
Reducing or eliminating retirement expenses such as taxes
Balancing your real estate portfolio by diversifying with other asset classes

Many of today's homes have tremendous value, and with Retire on the House as your guide, you'll discover how to use this value to achieve the retirement you deserve.

Customer Reviews:

A great resource with tons of tips and suggestions........2005-12-18

I love this book because it is well-written and market savvy, but it doesn't talk over my head. The suggestions for how best to utilize my real estate equity are clear and forthright. The predictions for new up and coming areas to purchase in are so helpful(and worth the purchase of the book alone.) Also, the various strategies for planning for retirement make this book an absolute must-have for anyone who owns or dreams of owning a home. I highly recommend this book. As far as financial books go, this gets my highest rating!

Great book on important subject.......2005-12-16

If you or anyone you know has questions about real estate and the investment aspects of it - particularly as they get older then this is the book. After reading it, I decided to give copies of it for Christmas to my parents and my inlaws.

It does a great job of laying out the options homeowners have of using their single family residence as an investment. The real life examples of using home equity with a variety of reverse mortgages, interfamily loans and home equity lines of credit were very useful. It helped clarify a dizzying array of options available to me and others as a homeowner who may one day need to use my home equity to assist in retirement. I found this book to be incredibly thorough, well-researched and well written.

I highly recommend it to anyone with a meaningful amount of home equity and to those who advise investors on home investment options.

I recommend this book to anyone who owns a home.......2005-12-14

This is the first book I have seen that clearly describes the many ways one can use home equity as a source of retirement income. With Social Security diminishing in importance, shrinking corporate pension plans, and a volatile stock market, using one's home as an investment can be the cornerstone of a comfortable retirement for many Americans. The authors provide very practical ways for using home equity to enhance retirement, including: renting, selling high and moving to other "value" areas, private annuity trusts, interfamily loans, and sales and reverse mortgages. I like that the authors have invested successfully in residential real estate themselves and that they have advised clients on many of the strategies described in the book. This book is a winner with timeless strategies and loads of advice.

Excellent book. Highly recommend it........2005-11-22

This is a great book. Well written and well thought out. I highly recommend it without any reservation, whatsoever.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books