The Tyranny of Story: Audience Expectations and the Short Screenplay [Paperback]

Ric Beairsto (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1998

The Tyranny of Story offers a unique perspective on the art of storytelling, regardless of format. For writers intending to craft a successful short screenplay, this book offers a detailed and incisive presentation of the particular demands of the short screenplay form.It includes references to major Hollywood feature length screenplays, as well as numerous short screenplays in their entirety. The Tyranny of Story is both a useful analytical tool for the shaping of any story, and an unmatched aid in the drafting of a short screenplay.

This book will assist individuals and film students with the special challenges of writing short narrative screenplays.

The book was written because of the absence of any comprehensive text on the subject and the demand from Vancouver Film School's own students to provide formal reference materials related to the creation of story in short films.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...years of teaching experience make this book eminently comprehensible, comprehensive, grounded , and intellectually exciting without being academic. Because the thinking behind this book is so solid, it fires in the reader a desire for the work of creating something excellent, authentic, arresting; it caused one to look forward to each step of that work with confidence and pleasure." -- Claudia Casper Novelist, book critic, The Vancouver Sun

Because it dares to suggest that the short fiction film is a worthy artistic medium in and of itself, Ric Beairsto's The Tyranny of Story: Audience Expectations and the Short Screenplay is an invaluable addition to the small library of books on the screenwriters craft. It belongs on every aspiring scenarist's 'how to' shelf. -- Mark Harris, PhD, Film Critic, the Georgia Straight

About the Author

Ric Beairsto is a screenwriter/director/producer with several professional credits and has actively workshopped more than 1,000 short screenplays. This extensive experience has provided him with a perspective and authority few could claim. We believe his incisive, detailed examination of the subject makes this book an excellent reference for any student or professional originating a short screenplay.

Product Details

• Paperback: 255 pages
• Publisher: Vancouver Film School (December 1, 1998)
• ISBN-10: 096842130X
• ISBN-13: 978-0968421307
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,408,421 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars very good, July 28, 2004

By 

JJ - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tyranny of Story: Audience Expectations and the Short Screenplay (Paperback)

This book fills a gap, and helped clear up some questions about short script writing. I thought I'd simply write a short script as practice before taking on a feature. But after reading it, more than anything, this book made me appreciate how challenging a short script can be regarding story. Reading the various screenplays provided in the book was a big help too. Some were excellent. Good, bad or indifferent, any short I watch now will be viewed with greater appreciation. I even appreciate good tv commercials now!

5.0 out of 5 stars Straight and to the point, May 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tyranny of Story: Audience Expectations and the Short Screenplay (Paperback)

I am an animation student, and this book, along with Robert Mckee and Linda Seger's books, were invaluable to me during the pre-production of my short film.

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars It ain't much, June 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tyranny of Story: Audience Expectations and the Short Screenplay (Paperback)

This book is really thin. Most of the book consists of lousy short screenplays and the author's analysis of them. I've read many screenwriting books; this one has very little insight. The only reason I bought it was because I was forced to.