Screenplay Workbook: The Writing Before the Writing [Paperback]

Jeremy Robinson (Author), Tom Mungovan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

An instructional manual combined with proprietary worksheets, charts and fill-in lists designed to give screenwriters a better way to focus on the task of writing a screenplay.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Lone Eagle; 1st edition (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580650538
• ISBN-13: 978-1580650533
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.5 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #484,691 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pre-production for writers, August 26, 2004

By 

J.A.R. "mobuli" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Screenplay Workbook: The Writing Before the Writing (Paperback)

Robinson and Mungovan are very honest with the reader from the beginning of this book. The introduction clearly states "The Screenplay workbook" is not a how-to guide to screenwriting.

Let's all thank them for creating a book that addresses the rarely covered planning of your screenplay. Yes, other books cover plotting and conceptualization, but this workbook is specifically designed to get the writer familiar with their ideas before they attempt to write. The worksheets drive the writer into asking questions about their own project, opening ideas up to a more fleshed out planning process. They are correct in saying that a lot of writers don't plan, they just write (it has to be true... I've read too much crap, including my own, for this to be wrong). With this book, you do both: writing in the planning state, see your concepts hit the page without committing to page one of your screenplay.

Specifically, the worksheets hit vital elements that are often ignored until you are knee deep in writing without a paddle. For example, the character relationship worksheets are a great way to chart changes, twists and growth for your relationships, but also get you thinking about what the heck is going to happen during the second act.

Does it cover all the bases? I don't think so, some worksheets are more useful than others. But it's better than any other book out there (really, the only book out there) that gives a writer a solid start- by actually getting you to write. If you're looking for a something to illuminate the writing process, this isn't the book for you. If you are looking for a way to ramp up that screenplay that's been elusively running around in your head for a while, this workbook is a good way to nail it down so you can put some ideas on paper, and give you a head start on writing.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointed, August 22, 2004

By 

S. Shimozawa - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Screenplay Workbook: The Writing Before the Writing (Paperback)

I just had to post my opinion because I recently bought this book after reading the majority of positive reviews. This book simply doesn't have enough to it. The information is very basic and can be found in any screenwriting book or on the internet (for free). The main problem is the amount of worksheets, 4 or 5 pages of the same worksheet. They ideas aren't terribly original and they could have just included one copy and offered it as reproducible then there would be room for a wider variety of material. As it is there are only 7 types of worksheet in this book. Save your money and just organize your information the way any of the many quality books suggest. There are very few ideas in this book and none of them are new.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classroom resource, August 30, 2004

By 

English teacher "Teach" (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Screenplay Workbook: The Writing Before the Writing (Paperback)

I teach playwriting to high school students, and this book fits right in with my curriculum. The worksheets on plot and character really help kids focus on how to structure coherent plot lines and dynamic characters. Disscovering this resource has made my planning so much easier.