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Writing Great Screenplays for Film and TV
 
 
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Writing Great Screenplays for Film and TV [Paperback]

Dona Cooper (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)


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Book Description

April 1994
Revised to cover the latest techniques for crafting first-rate screen plays for film and TV, this 2nd edition provides advice on innovative ideas for structuring the plot, developing characters and building momentum, professional guidance on marketing and a concise encyclopedia of screen-writing techniques.


Product Details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Arco Pub; 1st edition (April 1994)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 067184783X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0671847838
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,435,090 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews
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4 star:
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3 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent take on writing good stories, September 18, 1998
Before I begin my praise for this book, let me make one note: despite the back cover and the PR, it does not give any guidance on script marketing. It is, however, true to the title - it is a solid primer on how to write great stories for the big and small screens.

Rather than present a cookie-cutter or one-size-fits-all approach to script development, Ms. Cooper offer solid theory and evidence regarding the elements of a good story, the active role of the audience, determining screenplay goals, etc. She presents a useful roller-coaster model of the story and a system of instruction, examples, and self-Q/A to help the reader/screenwriter approach his material on the macro- and micro-levels. Her ultimate aim is to match the speed, tempo and size of the roller-coaster to the desired story effect. This approach provides great flexibility and can accommodate most genres and personal styles.

This is a good read and a valuable reference tool for any screenwriter's personal library. I will refer to it over and over again, especially during the re-write process (when inspiration is always needed!).

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone remotely interested in screenwriting, January 20, 2000
If only every book was as well written as this one.... This book is one of the best books on screenwriting I've ever read for one simple reason: Clarity. The material in this book is presented in a wonderful "reader friendly" streamlined structure. Full of useful information yet straight and to the point. A great read for the beginning screenwriter.
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great tool for writing and perfecting scripts!, August 24, 1999
Dona Cooper takes a fresh and innoative approach to the screenwriting craft and presents material not found in other how-to books, such as the chapter that deals with structure. I recommend it to my screenwriting students! Marisa D'Vari, author, Script Magic.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
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First Sentence:
You sit down. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
dramatic equation, story roller coaster, educated gut, momentum devices, dramatic center, story pillar, dramatic stakes, author credibility, same roller coaster, emotional build, author logic, cinematic stories, cinematic story, rooting interest, emotional proximity, pillar height
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Lost Soul, Jurassic Park, Level of Normal Abilities, Lizzie Borden, Bermuda Triangle, Die Hard, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mary Tyler Moore, The X-Files, Blade Runner, Body Heat, James Bond, Jim Carrey, Natural Born Killers, The Day of the Jackal, The Terminator, Toy Story
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