Complete Screenwriter's Manual: A Comprehensive Reference of Format and Style, The [Paperback]

Stephen Bowles (Author), Ronald Mangravite (Author), Peter Zorn (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0321397932 | ISBN-13: 978-0321397935 | Publication Date: March 17, 2006 | Edition: 1

The most complete and comprehensive presentation of screenplay format and style ever written, The Screenwriter’s Manual is designed for beginning and intermediate screenwriting students.  Written by an author team with extensive professional and academic experience, The Screenwriter’s Manual is the only book that offers a systematic approach to mastering the complexities of writing for the screen.  With its step-by step approach, this text is appropriate for readers of all experience levels.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stephen Bowles, Ronald Mangravite, and Peter Zorn are screenwriters. Zorn and Bowles co-wrote “Florida City,” which was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 2001. Ronald Mangravite has spent several years in Hollywood as a screenwriter and story analyst for NBC, CBS, HBO, and Disney.  His latest project “Kennedy Boulevard” is in preproduction as an independent feature. Stephen Bowles and Ronald Mangravite currently teach in the University of Miami Motion Pictures Program.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon; 1 edition (March 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321397932
• ISBN-13: 978-0321397935
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,233 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELENT REFERENCE TO WRITE SCRIPTS, January 9, 2007

By 

H. Figueredo "truthworm" (Barcelona, Spain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete Screenwriter's Manual: A Comprehensive Reference of Format and Style, The (Paperback)

I was in the process of writting a script and had lots of questions on the Hollywood format, almost all were answer by this excelent book.

Do not look in here for dramatical structure, this you need to look for somewere else.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Easy Access Reference, January 5, 2007

By 

Mollie "girl who likes good books" (Hampton, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Screenwriter's Manual: A Comprehensive Reference of Format and Style, The (Paperback)

I recommend this as a reference for anyone who wants to find answers quickly. I have several screenplay formatting books and this one is definitely one of my faves. I don't think that any one book is the be-all-and-end -all guide to writing screenplays, but this is a must have for you collection. It allows you to reference information without searching for hours and having to read all of the preceeding information.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For those new to Screenwriting Formats a Must!, February 14, 2008

By 

Lisa M. Kucharski "Lisa Kucharski" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Complete Screenwriter's Manual: A Comprehensive Reference of Format and Style, The (Paperback)

Writing a screenplay requires understanding specific formatting rules, especially if you intend to try and have that screenplay sold or produced. I have just ventured into writing screenplays and this book certainly helps answer a lot of basic questions of formatting. Beyond the basics, it also gives advanced and varied options to communicate ideas. The use of examples is very helpful. At the end, common errors are reviewed and corrected in various ways. It is a book that helps you use the format to most effectively communicate your ideas. Certainly good to have has a reference once you get acclimated to the structure.