How to Write: A Screenplay [Paperback]

Mark Evan Schwartz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 8, 2005

There are hundreds of books on the market, all trying to teach you how to write a screenplay. Several of them are excellent and useful books. But never – until now – has there been a screenwriting manual written in the form of a screenplay. Our hero, the aspiring screenwriter Danny, is hopelessly in love with Bebe: a hot young starlet. But Bebe won’t sleep with Danny until he proves that he can write a brilliant screenplay for her. Helped along the way by a mysterious guide (Virgil) with seemingly magical powers, Danny travels to Screenwriting Hell to see what happens to writers who never make the grade. Virgil teaches him the tricks of the trade, the fundamental techniques that all screenwriters have to master, no matter how great their ideas. But there’s something a little strange about Virgil, and Danny is never sure whether to trust him or not… As well as the screenplay itself, the book includes a foreword explaining how to get the most out of the screenplay; the log line; the synopsis; character bios, and the treatment.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School–This is one of the best books available for aspiring screenwriters. What makes it so useful for novices is that it follows the cardinal rule Show, Don't Tell. Instead of explaining how to write a script, the book is one. The characters illustrate the craft through an action-adventure story in which Danny, a young writer, is trying to score a tryst with a sexy actress. Bebe La Rue denies him any action until he writes a hot script for her to star in. Enter Virgil, mystery man and screenwriting guru, who takes Danny to the netherworld, where they encounter ghouls, zombies, and giant slugs while exploring concepts like story structure and dramatic conflict. The book makes it clear that writing movie scripts is much harder, and takes much more strategy and expertise, than most people think. Students with dreams of winning the next Project Greenlight contest will leap ahead of the competition by learning the concepts presented in this volume. If their goal is to sell to Hollywood, this book shows them other items frequently requested by producers and agents during the pitching process: the script logline, synposis, and treatment. There's also information about how to copyright and register finished work.–Lois Kirkpatrick, Fairfax County Public Library ,VA
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Review

"Schwartz delivers a wonderfully unique concept...a great idea and the most entertaining way of learning the process." -Script Magazine

Adult/High School--This is one of the best books available for aspiring screenwriters. What makes it so useful for novices is that it follows the cardinal rule Show, Don't Tell. Instead of explaining how to write a script, the book is one. The characters illustrate the craft through an action-adventure story in which Danny, a young writer, is trying to score a tryst with a sexy actress. Bebe La Rue denies him any action until he writes a hot script for her to star in. Enter Virgil, mystery man and screenwriting guru, who takes Danny to the netherworld, where they encounter ghouls, zombies, and giant slugs while exploring concepts like story structure and dramatic conflict. The book makes it clear that writing movie scripts is much harder, and takes much more strategy and expertise, than most people think. Students with dreams of winning the next Project Greenlight contest will leap ahead of the competition by learning the concepts presented in this volume. If their goal is to sell to Hollywood, this book shows them other items frequently requested by producers and agents during the pitching process: the script logline, synposis, and treatment. There's also information about how to copyright and register finished work.--Lois Kirkpatrick, Fairfax County Public Library ,VA
(School Library Journal )

"An interesting and worthwhile experiment. A fast and informative read... A fun way to learn how to write a script!" Screenwriting magazine

Adult/High School–This is one of the best books available for aspiring screenwriters. What makes it so useful for novices is that it follows the cardinal rule Show, Don't Tell. Instead of explaining how to write a script, the book is one. The characters illustrate the craft through an action-adventure story in which Danny, a young writer, is trying to score a tryst with a sexy actress. Bebe La Rue denies him any action until he writes a hot script for her to star in. Enter Virgil, mystery man and screenwriting guru, who takes Danny to the netherworld, where they encounter ghouls, zombies, and giant slugs while exploring concepts like story structure and dramatic conflict. The book makes it clear that writing movie scripts is much harder, and takes much more strategy and expertise, than most people think. Students with dreams of winning the next Project Greenlight contest will leap ahead of the competition by learning the concepts presented in this volume. If their goal is to sell to Hollywood, this book shows them other items frequently requested by producers and agents during the pitching process: the script logline, synposis, and treatment. There's also information about how to copyright and register finished work.–Lois Kirkpatrick, Fairfax County Public Library ,VA
(, School Library Journal )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Continuum (February 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826417116
• ISBN-13: 978-0826417114
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,433,816 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Book, July 12, 2005

By 

Elaine Chekich (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Write: A Screenplay (Paperback)

"How to Write: A Screenplay" is a dynamo, converting the generally tiresome discussions about screenwriting
into a concise demonstration manual.

The first part of the book sets forth useful creative development tools, such as the Log Line, the Synopsis, Character Profiles, etc. Quickly, author informs the new writer of the work required to build an infrastructure for a cinematic story. No formulas, no magic tricks. The foundation work simply must be done. A range example and advice supports the writer in his/her fledgling efforts.

The larger, second half of the book is devoted to a "demo" screenplay, as it were, called "Screenwriting for the Hell of It," which demonstrates many of the current tools, principles, and devices of good screenwriting. Writing technologies are conveyed by lively character dialog, exposition, and story momentum (like a script should have).

The script's story, based liberally and comically on Dante's "Inferno," concocts a modern "Virgil" who befriends and mentors a frustrated, helpless writer "Danny," the protagonist. As his guide, Virgil takes him through the different levels of screenwriting hell, explaining the writing faults that condemned the victims. When they first arrive, "thousands of people" scream on a "Nether Beach" and hop around on toe-scorching sand. Danny asks, "Sinners?" No, Virgil's acid reply, "Bad screenwriters." So with great fun, the author charms new writers into internalizing the notions of good screenplay writing.

No small feat! As an UCLA Extension Instructor, I am excited and relieved to have the resource of such an incisive teaching aide for my film & TV courses.

Elaine Chekich

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Idea & Concept Well Presented, June 27, 2005

By 

Raymond A. Mardo "raymardo" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Write: A Screenplay (Paperback)

Mark Evan Schwartz has delivered a powerful and effectively entertaining way to present the proper steps involved in completing a properly formatted screenplay. First the talented author briefly provides the reader with enough information on preparing to write the screenplay.

Before delving into actually writing the screenplay Schwartz guides you by the hand and eases you into writing a logline, synopsis, and character descriptions. He may use different terms then you or I use, but after following his instructions and viewing the examples, you will have the necessary information to charge ahead and write your screenplay.

The brilliance of "How To Write A Screenplay" lies in the fact that the examples that the author provides are used to support the book itself; which is indeed a screenplay.

You actually learn to write a screenplay by reading one that is about a character who needs to write a great screenplay to save his relationship. Throughout his journey, he is given examples of how to write better dialogue, create strong characters, build effective conflict, and all the while you learn also with the added advantage of the information being provided in screenplay format.

"How To Write A Screeplay" is a quick read. Shouldn't take you more then 2-3 hours tops. That time is well spent.

My only warning is not a flaw in the book, it is simply a fact that the author eludes to also. Some parts of the sample screenplay show you how "NOT" to do certain things. Schwartz even explains in the dialogue that this screenplay could never be made into a movie. That shows the true talent that this witty author posseses. You learn by good example and bad.

One would be well advised to read this excellent book a couple of times and then read screenplays of movies that you have seen. You'll get the format down in no time.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Useful Tool for Writing and Selling Screenplays, May 3, 2007

By 

James McDonald (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Write: A Screenplay, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

The addition of a section on "pitching" in Mr. Schwartz' Second Edition is the icing on the cake of his excellent guide to screenwriting. Having worked inside the studio system for several decades as a story analyst, development executive, and producer, I've seen many cases where a screenwriter had a good story and/or script but failed to sell it because he/she blew the "pitch." As he did with screenwriting in the First Edition, Mr. Schwartz provides the keys to successful "pitching" in his user-friendly format: keep it simple, clear and entertaining. I will continue to recommend Mr. Schwartz' book to writers, producers and development execs as a very useful tool in developing, and NOW in selling screenplays.