Customer Reviews

Screenwriting on the Internet: Researching, Writing and Selling Your Script on the Web

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

With all the hundreds of books on screenwriting and breaking into the entertainment business, this has to be among the top ten "must have" for screenwriters! Not only has Christopher Wehner mastered an online site to assist writers at screenwritersutopia.com, but now he has created a step by step instruction booklet that is easy to read, understand, and hopefully put into action! From writing your screenplay to marketing it upon completion, the book also lists production companies and agencies that are "writer friendly"! A book like this has been long overdue, and could not have been scribed any better than this! I'm sure many writers will have greater successes in screenwriting thanks to Mr. Wehner!

I bought the book last week, it arrived a day or so ago and I was amazed at all of the information it had. Not just a book of links, or just a directory. But of instruction on e-mail queries and marketing info. Chris Wehner knows what he is talking about.
I highly recommend this book to beginner and intermediate screenwriters.

Although this book sounded great, it was written in 2000 and the information is WAY OUT OF DATE. It mentions [...] as an up and coming website that may be helpful for searching the internet. Many of the websites listed as a resource no longer exists, and it talks about how email is becoming more prevelant in day-to-day business! YIKES! What a waste of money.

I find this book, very informative. The table of contents is very useful. it is easy to read and list resources for researching and vital information on screenwriting on the web. Very good subject matter with great references included. It is a keeper!

Janie P. Bess
Author "Visions"

Despite the dotcom crisis, the Internet has become one of the most important assets for screenwriters everywhere. However, it's not easy to find your way through the maze of websites, lists and newsgroups, and many very interesting sites might be hard to find or practically unknown. Christopher Wehner, creator of Screenwriters' Utopia, has written a guidebook to lead internauts to the good stuff out there. And the sites list is very impressive, and will keep many a screenwriter surfing happily along. Wehner does not just list screenwriting sites, but also gives some extremely interesting research links which will greatly benefit any writer.
However, Screenwriting On The Internet is not a glorified favourite links-collection. Wehner also provides very hands-on information on using the internet as a new way to break down the padlocked doors of Hollywood. To this purpose, he has added chapters on how to query by email, lists of agencies looking for new writers, and a large amount of production companies who take email pitches and queries. Most impressively, Wehner actually comments on each of these sites, in many cases adding query tips from the executives in charge. To many writers, this information will be pure gold.
But there is more : a listing of the recent script sites where writers can submit their log lines, synopses or scripts to interested producers, and a detailed presentation of a number of script consultants - including Syd Field. A chapter on marketing your screenplay online and some interviews with professionals round off this tome.
It should be clear that Christopher Wehner has produced a review-proof book. Sure, there are a few typos, and there are a few surprising omissions (Larry Brody's essential [...], Bill Martell's classic site and Nick Smith's more UK-oriented Scriptwriting Success are not mentioned). And for the inevitable next edition, I would like to see more international screenwriting sites mentioned, as well as a listing of internet screenwriting workshops. But the enormous amount of hard-to-find information and the practical tips on some very new aspects of the screenwriter's life make this an essential resource. Unfortunately, it hasn't really been updated since it was first published, and Wehner's site [...]which promised to provide updates is not accessible today (May 18 2007). This is definitely a book which deserves a second edition.

Not bad, not great. About half of it I could do without, but the other half is rather good. The producer and agent listings are good, and the chapter about e-mail querries is excellent. There's also some good instruction on how to use the Internet to market your script. All solid stuff. So is it worth your money? Yeah, I think it is. This is a book for someone wanting to sell a script.

I currently have this volume sitting on my desk. I have been waiting for a book like this one for some time and this book gives you that reassuring pat on the back: "It's okay to query by email. It's 21st century for God's sake!". I was worried upon purchasing the book that it would spend too much time on the subject of researching your work on the internet, but only one small chapter is dedictated to how to use Google and the like. The rest of the book is fantastic with reviews on those "pay to post your script sites" and what producers think of those sites and a very detailed listing of prod. companies that accept email queries, what type of material they like and quotes from a number of the producers on what catches their attention when you query. The book also contains a number of success stories of those who have used the internet to sell their work and tips and tricks for getting your work read. I would definitely say this is a book you should add to your screenwriting library.

A solid resource that provides instruction on email queries, pitching, contacting agents and producers. It's not just an "Internet" book. It's much more than that. It really is. And it's well written by someone who knows what they're talking about.

I found this book to be excellent and accurate.