The Complete Idiot's Guide to Screenwriting (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Some of the best screenplays are based on historical events..." (more)
Key Phrases: screenwriting schedule, beginning screenwriters, midpoint change, Skip's Tips, Hollywood Heat, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This guide is for anyone who has ever thought of screenwriting. Written by someone who has "been there, done that," and lived to tell the tale, it reveals the most popular genres, explains how stories need to be structured for feature films and TV movies, offers the freshest look at workshops and online classes, and disusses how to set up a step-by-step path to success.

From the Back Cover

This guide is for anyone who has ever thought of screenwriting. Written by someone who has "been there, done that," and lived to tell the tale, it reveals the most popular genres, explains how stories need to be structured for feature films and TV movies, offers the freshest look at workshops and online classes, and disusses how to set up a step-by-step path to success.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Alpha (November 16, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028639448
• ISBN-13: 978-0028639444
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #826,000 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb book for the aspiring screenwriter!, December 17, 2000

By	Bruce Weinstein (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Screenwriting" is a phenomenal overview of the increasingly popular field of screenwriting, and it is written with care, compassion, and expertise by Skip Press. Like his earlier book, "Writer's Guide to Hollywood Producers, Directors and Screenwriting Agents," this volume is chock-full of helpful advice, thoughtful analysis, and best of all, LOTS of website resources that would take hours to find on your own. Like the very best books, it will inspire you, as it has me, and I know that the screenplay I'm writing now will be better as a result of my having read this book.

If your budget is limited, buy this book, along with Robert McKee's "Story" and Christopher Vogler's "The Writer's Journey." You'll be well-equipped to begin your own journey with these fine volumes.

Five stars!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars INSIGHTFUL & WITTY - THE PERFECT BOOK FOR A STARTER, March 18, 2001

By	ANTHONY L VALDES (PEMBROKE PINES, FL United States) - See all my reviews

Beginning screenwriters... this is a must!

A wonderful piece of information at your fingertips. Skip provides the most important details needed to start, sell or just simply write a script for fun.

The book contains side-notes from Skip himself, providing helpful information on what to do and not to do in Hollywood.

If you're a novice or an expert, The Complete Idiots Guide to Screenwriting should sit in your office.

22 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very General Introduction For The Young, February 17, 2004

By	C. Ebeling "ctlpareader" (PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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What I want to know is, who is the complete idiot of the title? The author or me? After reading THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO SCREENWRITING, I'm not sure. It is not a complete guide, that's for sure. The author introduces a variety of components and considerations but explores none in depth.

The strengths of the book: before he gets to what and how goes on paper, Press insists that the reader go back to storytelling boot camp and read Aristotle's POETICS and Joseph Campbell's HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES. He also recommends a number of other resources, including books, websites, organizations and software that can prove helpful.

The weaknesses: the reader whose mission is to learn correct formatting will be frustrated to find that such nuts and bolts information does not really get underway until half way into the book, and should be warned that it is merely an introduction, not exhaustive. While suggesting that there are many ways to offend Hollywood with how a script is formatted or bound, Press waffles on exact rules. Most of his reasoning and support evidence come from half invoked anecdotes that are vague enough to keep him out of the YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO EAT LUNCH IN THIS TOWN AGAIN fire. When he does name names, the stories are very old news, even to those who do not watch "Entertainment Tonight!" In the format of the Complete Idiot's series, the pages are littered with sidebars that distract from the text without providing much more than the author's usual "I know a guy" stories. Typos are a presence.

So, this is what I know as a result of reading this book: my idea is right on, but I am too old, live too far from Hollywood, and don't know anyone there to make it count. I still have no specifics on what Press has scripted that has made it to the big screen. I do know he has written other books on the topic because he promotes them shamelessly.