The Complete Idiot's Guide to Screenwriting [Paperback]

Skip Press (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Complete Idiot's Guide | Publication Date: November 16, 2000

This guide is for anyone who has ever thought of screenwriting. Written by someone who has "been there, done that," and lived to tell the tale, it reveals the most popular genres, explains how stories need to be structured for feature films and TV movies, offers the freshest look at workshops and online classes, and disusses how to set up a step-by-step path to success.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

This guide is for anyone who has ever thought of screenwriting. Written by someone who has "been there, done that," and lived to tell the tale, it reveals the most popular genres, explains how stories need to be structured for feature films and TV movies, offers the freshest look at workshops and online classes, and disusses how to set up a step-by-step path to success.

About the Author

Skip Press is a veteran author, screenwriter, online writing instructor, and former editor of Entertainment Monthly. He has written and sold television scripts, feature films, plays, and a variety of books, including the acclaimed Writer's Guide to Hollywood Producers, Directors, and Screenwriting Agents and How to Write What You Want & Sell What You Write, now in its second edition. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Alpha (November 16, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028639448
• ISBN-13: 978-0028639444
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #479,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb book for the aspiring screenwriter!, December 17, 2000

By 

Bruce Weinstein (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Screenwriting (Paperback)

"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Screenwriting" is a phenomenal overview of the increasingly popular field of screenwriting, and it is written with care, compassion, and expertise by Skip Press. Like his earlier book, "Writer's Guide to Hollywood Producers, Directors and Screenwriting Agents," this volume is chock-full of helpful advice, thoughtful analysis, and best of all, LOTS of website resources that would take hours to find on your own. Like the very best books, it will inspire you, as it has me, and I know that the screenplay I'm writing now will be better as a result of my having read this book.

If your budget is limited, buy this book, along with Robert McKee's "Story" and Christopher Vogler's "The Writer's Journey." You'll be well-equipped to begin your own journey with these fine volumes.

Five stars!

24 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very General Introduction For The Young, February 17, 2004

By 

C. Ebeling "ctlpareader" (PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Screenwriting (Paperback)

What I want to know is, who is the complete idiot of the title? The author or me? After reading THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO SCREENWRITING, I'm not sure. It is not a complete guide, that's for sure. The author introduces a variety of components and considerations but explores none in depth.

The strengths of the book: before he gets to what and how goes on paper, Press insists that the reader go back to storytelling boot camp and read Aristotle's POETICS and Joseph Campbell's HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES. He also recommends a number of other resources, including books, websites, organizations and software that can prove helpful.

The weaknesses: the reader whose mission is to learn correct formatting will be frustrated to find that such nuts and bolts information does not really get underway until half way into the book, and should be warned that it is merely an introduction, not exhaustive. While suggesting that there are many ways to offend Hollywood with how a script is formatted or bound, Press waffles on exact rules. Most of his reasoning and support evidence come from half invoked anecdotes that are vague enough to keep him out of the YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO EAT LUNCH IN THIS TOWN AGAIN fire. When he does name names, the stories are very old news, even to those who do not watch "Entertainment Tonight!" In the format of the Complete Idiot's series, the pages are littered with sidebars that distract from the text without providing much more than the author's usual "I know a guy" stories. Typos are a presence.

So, this is what I know as a result of reading this book: my idea is right on, but I am too old, live too far from Hollywood, and don't know anyone there to make it count. I still have no specifics on what Press has scripted that has made it to the big screen. I do know he has written other books on the topic because he promotes them shamelessly.

15 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Skip this one!, September 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Screenwriting (Paperback)

I've been an agent for many years and have read a great many books on screenwriting. Some offer sound advice, and some don't. This one is at best basic, at worse really really bad. I have no idea who Skip Press is, but it's pretty obvious most of what he's gathered here can be found elsewhere--and written better. One to "skip" over.