Screen Teen Writers: How Young Screenwriters Can Find Success [Paperback]

Christina Hamlett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2002

Can teens be taught to write scripts for the movies? Absolutely! This 'for teens only' informative text demonstrates how any student can create a salable screen play, idea or script. After telling the reader how to sell their work in Hollywood this workbook gives nuts and bolts instruction in all basic writing principles for visual media. The activity assignments provided with every chapter may be used in a full cIassroom or for independent study. Inspirational interviews with successful Hollywood writers of all ages accompany most of the fourteen chapters. This book is helpful for adults as well.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9-Up This book certainly offers some useful information, but it seems to have an identity crisis in not knowing whether it is a guidebook, an interview book, or a self-guided course (which the author also teaches online). The instructions cover the basics for any novice screenwriter, and each chapter includes assignments (and extra credit projects) for readers to complete. An interview with an "industry professional" is appended to each section; it usually includes an obligatory question about teens but has little to do with the material just covered. Each chapter ends with "Topics to Think About and Talk About," to be written as further short assignments or essays. Syd Field's Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting (MJF, 1998) is a more straightforward and better-organized choice. -Betty S. Evans, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Hamlett covers everything you'll need to know to produce and sell your script in Hollywood's growing teen film market. -- The Toronto Star (Sept. 3, 2002)

Hamlett's extensive experience and enthusiasm, along with many exercises, links, interviews and encouragement are valuable. -- The Compulsive Reader Review by Magdalena Ball (June 2002)

I found the interviews in particular extremely useful. Hamlett's book has a lot to offer to aspiring screenwriters. -- Write On! New Zealand Writers Foundation (June 10, 2003)

Screen Teen Writers fills a gap where a majority of high school guidance counselors, parents and teachers leave a void. -- Hollywood Writers Block Review by Kiran Verma (Feb. 2002)

Written with humor, this basic how-to manual is delightful even for those who might not want to be screenwriters. -- Voice of America Advocates Book Review (Sept. 4, 2002)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Meriwether Publishing; 1 edition (April 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566080789
• ISBN-13: 978-1566080781
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #808,261 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Budding William Goldmans Start Here!, July 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Screen Teen Writers: How Young Screenwriters Can Find Success (Paperback)

Now, here's a book I wish I'd had when starting out as a screenwriter! It covers everything from plot points to page counts in an incredibly imformative and entertaining style, geared directly at younger writers.

The book also includes tips from writers around the world - essential if you want to break free to the Hollywood mold and forge a style of your own.

So, next time you watch a movie and think to yourself, "I could do better than that!" - turn to this book, and you'll do much better!

A must buy!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT CAN I SAY!, August 14, 2002

By 

dani (South Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Screen Teen Writers: How Young Screenwriters Can Find Success (Paperback)

I fully endorse all the previous reviews of this book. ScreenteenWriters is excellently structured, full of everything a budding playwright would need to know (and not only a budding writer!) This book is extremely user friendly, and simple in its explanations of complex concepts. Definitely, A MUST BUY. Thank you, Christina Hamlett!

5.0 out of 5 stars For Teens of all ages, May 30, 2011

By 

Sable Jak - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Screen Teen Writers: How Young Screenwriters Can Find Success (Paperback)

So you're in the bookstore and you see this book and you think, "I'm an adult. I'll pass."

Don't!

This is one of those books that, if you've got a question about the business or craft of screenwriting, it delivers an answer in a clear, quick style.

Yes, there are times when you'd like a full chapter on Character Arc or a long dissertation on contracts. And frankly you can find a lot of screenwriting books that do that. But author Hamlett's book provides a surprisingly thorough overview of just about everything you need to know about the business and the craft of screenwriting.

From finding agents to finding story ideas this is a great guidebook. She draws, not only on her years of acting, writing, directing but on several interviews with notable people in the film industry.

I truly think this is a good book no matter what age you are.