Customer Reviews

Writing the Screenplay: TV and Film, 2/E

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I've been a professional television writer for twenty years, including "Remington Steele," "Hill Street Blues," "Northern Exposure," "Picket Fences," and "Early Edition." I have won an Emmy and Golden Globes for my work and have taught at UCLA Extension among other places. For my money, Alan Armer's book is the best guide to the actual work of professional screenwriting that exists. This is the real thing. It is honest, wise, and free of jargon. It contains useful exercises so that both instructor and student can concentrate on the work at hand rather than spend a lot of initial time and emotional energy discussing an aspiring writer's personal work, a process which often puts unnecessary and unfortunate obstacles in the way of learning the craft. Armer doesn't try to sell you any shortcuts, smake oil, or magic formulas. Quite the contrary, he encourages you to open your mind and imagination through the discipline of solid craftsmanship. He understands the process of writing. He gives many examples about what works and what doesn't and explains why. He includes priceless interviews with some great writers. It's simply a marvelous textbook from a great teacher, a lovely man, and a master practitioner of the art.

About four years ago, when I started to think I would like to write screenplays instead of novels, I bought THIS BOOK first. However, I continued to search "THE BEST BOOK" which will teach me to do it properly.

Until today, I bought a dozen of books about the subject - The Foundations of Screenwriting from Sid Field, Writing screenplays that sell (Michael Hauge), The Writers Guide to Writing Your Screenplay (Cynthia Whitcomb). Writing a Great Movie (Jeff Kitchen), Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting, The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers, to name a few.

Some of them I have read, and some only skim through. After all that time I finally have found that this book deserves THE TITLE. Why?

Because no other book alone will help you to write as good as your limits are and will push that limits up as this book does.

It is so colorful and dense and chances are you will read it twice, maybe three times. After all, it is very enjoyable to read.

So It's going to open your eyes widely, and everything about screenwriting will fit in its own place. There won't be any doubt about what you should do to improve your own writing, and if you follow exercises for practice they will help your writing tremendously.

It is some kind of a brilliant among screenwriting books and it's a shame that only a small number of writers know of it.

Sorry, my English is not good as this book is.

Alan Armer will take you through every step of creating your screenplay masterpiece with the most valuable and practical advice you could ever wish to have. His words are worth reading to anyone who cares about the craft of screenwriting.

I was most fortunate to be a screenwriting student of Alan Armer's at Cal State Northridge and I can tell you this man knows ALL when it comes to the subject of writing and how to inspire people to follow their dreams. His books are probably the most valuable tool any screenwriter could have. If you are serious about your writing, you will buy this book.

Alan armer lays out the fundamentals of screenwriting in an easy to understand and apply way. Since reading the book I have taken three classes from him. He is incredible and his book can only improve your writing. It's worth the price!

I recommend this book to my screenwriting students.