Invisible Ink: A Practical Guide to Building Stories that Resonate [Paperback]

Brian McDonald (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 11, 2010

Acclaimed by successful screenwriters and authors, Invisible Ink is a helpful, accessible guide to the essential elements of the best storytelling. Brian McDonald, an award winning screenwriter who has taught his craft at several major studios, supplies writers with tools to make their work more effective and provides readers and audiences a deeper understanding of the storyteller's art. When people think of a screenplay, they usually think about dialogue-the "visible ink" that is readily accessible to the listener, reader, or viewer. But a successful screenplay needs Invisible Ink as well, the craft below the surface of words. Invisible Ink lays out the essential elements of screenplay structure, using vivid examples from famous moments in popular movies as well as from one of his own popular scripts. You will learn techniques for building a compelling story around a theme, making your writing engage audiences, creating appealing characters, and much more. Praise for Invisible Ink: "...If I manage to reach the summit of my next story it will be in no small part due to having read Invisible Ink." -Andrew Stanton (cowriter Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc., and cowriter/director Finding Nemo and WALL-E) "...Brian McDonald uses his deep understanding of story and character to pass on essential truths about dramatic writing. Ignore him at your peril." -Jim Taylor (Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Sideways and Election) "... I recommend this fine handbook on craft to any writer, apprentice or professional, working in any genre or form." -Dr. Charles Johnson (National Book Award-winning author of Middle Passage) "If you want to write scripts, listen to Brian. The guy knows what he's talking about." -Paul Feig (creator of NBC's Freaks and Geeks, co-executive producer The Office) "With Invisible Ink Brian McDonald has written us a book to keep and heed forever because through the simple, graceful, graspable, original wisdom of it, we might just save our screenwriting lives." -Stewart Stern (Screenwriter of Rebel Without a Cause)

Product Details

• Paperback: 170 pages
• Publisher: Libertary Company (January 11, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984178627
• ISBN-13: 978-0984178629
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.4 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,020 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Movies > Screenwriting

More About the Author

Brian McDonald is an award-winning director/writer who has written for comic books, A&E's HOARDERS and directed spots for VISA. His film WHITE FACE has run on HBO and CINEMAX and is used in corporations nation-wide as a diversity-training tool.

A sought after instructor and consultant, Brian has taught his story structure seminar at PIXAR, DISNEY FEATURE ANIMATION and LUCASFILM's ILM.

McDonald is the author of INVISIBLE INK -- A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO BUILDING STORIES THAT RESONATE, THE GOLDEN THEME - HOW TO MAKE YOUR WRITING APPEAL TO THE HIGHEST COMMON DENOMINATOR, FREEMAN -- A NOVELLA IN SCREENPLAY FORM and INK SPOTS -- COLLECTED WRITINGS ON STORY STRUCTURE, FILMMAKING AND CRAFTSMANSHIP.

His books are considered required reading for Pixar story interns. McDonald has worked on the Red Badge project for the US Army - a program designed to help returning vets suffering from PTSD learn to write stories in order to help them in their healing.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dissecting stories 101 March 4, 2010

By Marcio Catalano

Format:Paperback

Great movies aren't made up of just a bunch of scenes with characters and dialog thrown together. They have a purpose and are well constructed. Films like Casablanca, It's A Wonderful Life, 12 Angry Men, Psycho, The Godfather, One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest, Schindler's List, Star Wars, E.T., Aliens, The Terminator, Ghost, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, The Silence Of The Lambs, The Shawshank Redemption, Toy Story, Finding Nemo and other "classics" stand the test of time and still resonate with audiences many years later because at their core are perfectly constructed stories with a clear message. Any movie can entertain, but only great movies impact us on an emotional level and teach us something, while being entertaining.

When telling ANY story, the construction is what's most important (A good idea, executed poorly, is a bad idea). Every detail (plot, characters, scenes, dialog, etc.) all hang from it's skeleton. If the foundation is weak, the details won't matter.

I've read and owned every major book regarding stories, screenwriting, dialog and character development (Poetics, Robert McKee's "Story," Syd Field's Books and DVD, All of Joseph Campbell and Linda Seger's work, Bill Idelson's Writing Class, etc.)... and still NONE OF THEM teach what this book does!!! Brian breaks down stories better then anyone! He does to story structure what Bruce Lee did to Martial Arts. He's come along and smashed conventional wisdom by simplifying everything and getting to the heart of what stories are about and what makes them work. Here you will get the bedrock fundamentals on the purpose, creation and power of the art of storytelling. No frills, just the straight goods.

It scares me to imagine writing (or even watching a movie) without knowing the information contained in this marvelous little book. I can see it now, a life as an amateur writer/filmmaker parroting back all of the limited and typical information out there and creating "clever" films that look interesting but that only "artists" care about. No thanks! I want to write and create stories that are good, period. Brian teaches you how to do that, even if your last name isn't Wilder, Hitchcock or Kurosawa.

Andrew Stanton, August Wilson, Stewart Stern and Dr. Charles Johnson (among others) all consider Brian McDonald a MASTER at the craft of structure and storytelling. The folks at Pixar, Disney and ILM (Industrial Light & Magic) listen to Brian... What does that tell you?

Brian McDonald WAS the best-kept secret in Hollywood... Now his book is out.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It'll change the way you view movies! March 3, 2010

By J. H. Kim

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is literally true in my case. The contents of this book really messed with my enjoyment of films for a while. I've come to comfortable terms with it now, but beware! Change isn't always pleasant! But Brian's book is illuminating if you are interested in telling stories in any medium and not just films.

Some will look at the contents of this book and brush it off as Hollywood 'formula.' Just another in a long line of guides spouting more Joseph Campbellisms! I completely understand this sentiment. I admire that rebellious streak. But simply keep it in check while you take a gander at Invisible Ink and be open to Brian's wisdom and realize that most of our contempt for 'formula' stems from those who use it poorly. There will be great films mentioned in the book... true favorites... of which you won't even realize these fundamentals were chugging away without you even knowing.

Brian practices what he preaches. His writing is always simple, clear, and a breeze to read. The book will fly by. But don't think for a second that means its creation was a cinch. If you get anything out of this book, it should be that it takes a lot of hard work and discipline to make this stuff look easy. It is anything but.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars MicroFilmmaker Magazine reviews Invisible Ink with a Perfect 10/10... March 12, 2010

By Jeremy T. Hanke

Format:Paperback

Invisible Ink is an amazingly lucid and gripping book on how to structure stories in a way that makes sense and will connect with your audience. Just using its ideas on the Depleted feature we're working on has already shaved hours and hours off the script development process. (Some of the methods helped us quickly be able to chop off unnecessary portions of the film and focus our efforts on those things that will support the armature of the film more effectively.) I highly recommend this to anyone who has any interest in writing anything creative for any medium. Just remember to go ahead and buy a couple copies of this book, as folks will not "remember" to return your copy when they "borrow" it from you.
-Jeremy Hanke, Editor-in-Chief, [...], Issue 53, Final Score: 10/10