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Alternative Scriptwriting, Second Edition: Writing Beyond the Rules
 
 

Alternative Scriptwriting, Second Edition: Writing Beyond the Rules [Paperback]

Jeff Rush (Author), Ken Dancyger (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)


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Paperback $21.77  
Paperback, July 12, 1995 --  
There is a newer edition of this item:
Alternative Scriptwriting, Fourth Edition: Rewriting the Hollywood Formula Alternative Scriptwriting, Fourth Edition: Rewriting the Hollywood Formula 4.2 out of 5 stars (15)
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Book Description

0240802187 978-0240802183 July 12, 1995 2
In a field where novelty often equals commercial success, scriptwriters often strive to create screenplays that are innovative and exceptional. Going beyond the conventional three-act structure and exploring more inventive approaches, Alternative Scriptwriting, second edition, challenges readers to take creative risks with genre, tone, character and structure. Examples and case studies demonstrate what works, what doesn't and why, and exercises encourage writers to explore new ways of viewing their work and test the limits of their skills.

Ken Dancyger has taught screenwriting for twenty years and is head of undergraduate studies for the Department of Film and Television at New York University. He has written numerous dramas and documentaries for radio and television. Jeff Rush is a professor in the Department of Radio, TV and Film at Temple University. He has written numerous screenplays.

Includes updated case studies and exercises.
A wide variety of film examples are used.
Goes beyond the standard methods of screenwriting


Editorial Reviews

Review

"I was pleased with the topics and their progression. I particularly liked the movies suggested and the comments about the films." Bill Neff, Montana State Univ.

Book Description

Learn to safely break the rules! --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 300 pages
  • Publisher: Focal Press; 2 edition (July 12, 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0240802187
  • ISBN-13: 978-0240802183
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,175,167 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

15 Reviews
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4 star:
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3 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A fresh look at screenwriting., August 17, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: Alternative Scriptwriting, Second Edition: Writing Beyond the Rules (Paperback)
If you have already read the "how-to" books from Syd Field, Linda Seger, and others, then you must know that the three most important things you should be doing to enhance your craft are: reading screenplays, watching movies, and writing screenplays. After that, if you still need some motivation to write, then reading an exceptional book such as "Alternative Screenwriting" might be just the kick in the pants you need to keep you going. It's presentation is clear and fresh. And it does not just emphasise "alternative" approaches, either. In fact, it presents some of the most useful and succinct summaries of "mainstream" dramatic screenplay structure I have ever seen. This is not just another "how-to" book.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars I bought it twice., January 12, 1998
This review is from: Alternative Scriptwriting, Second Edition: Writing Beyond the Rules (Paperback)
I already had the earlier edition of this book, but bought the update, thinking that it could even help my writing by osmosis. My god, I was right. This is not a book to be taken lightly, nor is it a "new" edition by virtue of adding a couple of new words, an updated comment here and there. These authors take their task very seiously, including taking to heart comments they'd received about the first edition, and making sweeping and important changes for this new version. Buy this book. It couldn't hurt. It could change your life. At the very least, it will give you a new list of rentals for the video store. And you'll understand why you like them.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough and Insightful, February 16, 2006
By 
A. Davis (Orange, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
As a screenwriting instructor who's been looking a long time for a good book on the craft, I can heartily recommend this book for an in-depth discussion of advanced screenwriting principles. The academic perspective provides concrete methods for successful deviation from conventional form, and chapters on genre and structure are a must-read for any serious screenwriter.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
negative main character, conventional main character, multiple main characters, working with genre, classic main character, identification with the main character, working against genre, mainstream script, character layer, film noir story, role reversion, foreground story, reflective agency, classic gangster film, plot layer, screen story, screenplay form, dramatic arc, linear film, digital features, ironic character, classic melodrama, foreground stories, mad character, screen stories
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Alternative Scriptwriting, New York, Act Two, Act One, Wyatt Earp, Los Angeles, Schindler's List, Act Three, The Verdict, Blair Witch, United States, Wall Street, Blue Velvet, Short Cuts, Full Metal, Indiana Jones, Steven Spielberg, World War, Black Robe, Personal Scriptwriting, Something Wild, Who'll Stop the Rain, The Fugitive, Time Code, Billy Wilder
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