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Dan Obannon's Guide to Screenplay Structure: Inside Tips from the Writer of Alien, Total Recall and Return of the Living Dead by [Dan O'Bannon, Matt Lohr, Roger Corman]

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Dan O'Bannon

Dan Obannon's Guide to Screenplay Structure: Inside Tips from the Writer of Alien, Total Recall and Return of the Living Dead Kindle Edition

by Dan O'Bannon (Author), Matt Lohr (Author), Roger Corman (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition

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Dan O’Bannon famously crafted his screenplays using a self-designed system which he called “dynamic structure.” This book outlines how O’Bannon’s method differs from those of other well-known screenwriting gurus, and illustrates with examples from classic (and not-so-classic) films how dynamic structure can be applied to craft narrative and character. O’Bannon also includes his insights on subjects such as the logic of the three-act structure, the role of the producer in screenplay development, and the psychological principle known as “hedonic adaptation,” which has a unique effect on the structuring of screen stories.

Print length

274 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Michael Wiese Productions
Publication date

March 21, 2012
File size

813 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Book Description

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Dan O’Bannon was an acclaimed screenwriter whose eleven feature writing credits include the international blockbusters Alien and Total Recall, as well as Return of the Living Dead, which he also directed.

Matt R. Lohr is an award-winning screenwriter, essayist, and critic. His views on contemporary and classic cinema can be found on his blog, “The Movie Zombie.” He lives in Los Angeles.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00BX2BBKC
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Michael Wiese Productions (March 21, 2012)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 21, 2012
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 813 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 274 pages
Lending ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #991,209 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #436 in Screenwriting (Kindle Store)
- #1,292 in Screenwriting (Books)
- #1,559 in Video (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
83 ratings

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D. Endecott

Good stuff. Structure by Conflict

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2015

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I picked up “Dan O’Bannon’s Guide to Screenplay Structure” last week. I am a huge fan of his movies. A lot of Sci-Fi schlock braced with moments of awesome ness. Dark Star (1974), Alien (1979), Dead & Buried (1981), Blue Thunder (1983), Total Recall (1990) to name a few. By the way Blue Thunder is way underrated, love that movie, I miss Roy Scheider. What’s interesting is each one of his movies relates to an interesting time in my life and I can remember vividly the first time I watched each one.

Anyways, I saw that he wrote a screenplay book and thought I would pick it up and see what one of my favorite screenplay writers has to say. I was pleasantly surprised at the oddness of this book.

Mr. O’Bannon starts his book by reviewing a handful of other seminal story how-to’s. Poetics, Story, The Art of Dramatic Writing among a few others. He gives an opinionated run down of the high points of each book.

He then goes into structure by conflict. Something I found refreshing and somewhat similar to the process Mr. Etheredge teaches. He also breaks down several movies using this structure technique.

The most interesting point in the book is how he defines conflict as a transaction. Two characters or groups of characters who disagree on how to resolve an issue. I like this thought process and I am using it on my current story to see where it goes.

The last few chapters he goes on a rant about different aspects of film production. Not sure what to make of that but it was interesting reading none the less.

I am always looking to refine my writing process. I think everyone’s is different. The only way to find out what works for you is to write, read and try new things.

Cheers,

-Jim

7 people found this helpful

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Steven Farmer

The book ultimate book on screenwriting

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2019

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Not only a book by a successful screenwriter that practices what he preaches, but reviews all the other popular books on the subject as well. Told in a simple conversational style with great exercises and lessons, and shows multiple ways to do it. Also doesn’t force you to follow specific old school rules, but let’s you stay creative. I’ve already learned so much that has made me grow but will also continue using this as my writing bible to keep my stories engaging all the way through.

2 people found this helpful

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Morrigau

Great resource for both new and experienced writers!

Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2014

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Dan O'Bannon's guide to screenplay structure is an approachable and at times very funny look at the problems facing screenwriters at every level of proficiency. It examines various approaches to story structure, going all the way back to antiquity to look at Greek tragedies such as the Oedipus plays of Sophocles and then traces the evolution of writing through Shakespeare to the plays and films of the early 20th century and today.

O'Bannon, who penned such popular films as Alien and Total Recall, presents what he calls "Dynamic Screenplay Structure." His deceptively simple method looks at the modern three-act structure and how it relates to "reversals" of the plot – in other words, developments which send the story in a completely new and (hopefully) surprising direction. It is his belief that this simple approach can salvage even hugely problematic scripts.

Citing examples from both classic and contemporary cinema, O'Bannon and his co-author, Matt Lohr, skillfully provide an entertaining look at how both successful and unsuccessful films either use or fail to use this approach and what this means to the would-be writer. At once a witty commentary on the current state of filmmaking and a helpful tool for the writer who needs to rework a flawed script, this book is bound to be of interest to even the casual student of film theory.

Dan O'Bannon tragically passed away in 2009 after a lengthy battle with Chrohn's disease, but his legacy lives on, both in his on-screen work and in this useful and engaging book that belongs in every serious film enthusiast's library.

3 people found this helpful

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Stephen Wimer

Essential Reading for the Serious Screenwriter

Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2013

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I really enjoyed reading this book because the man summarizes and contrasts and compares all the other writer gurus before him, from Aristotle onward, with a rock solid understanding of what makes sense and what does not. He's fair to the old masters. He points out Aristotle's strengths and weaknesses and Ergi's confusion with premise and character. This man has put in his time studying the craft, as well as writing brilliant movies, and adding his own contribution to the art. I do think he spends a little too much time dissing the directors, but he's hardly the first screenwriter to do that. He's wordy, but easy to understand, which isn't always the case with screenwriter gurus. This certainly isn't the only book you need to read to become a screenwriter, but it's one of the best. And make no mistake about it, this isn't a rehash of old ideas. It shows a healthy respect for what came before as it moves the craft forward.

8 people found this helpful

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C. Alex Smith

Story or screen play structure really doesn't have to be that hard.

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2015

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Dan O'Bannon proves it. Dan O'Bannon wrote "Total Recall" and most of the "Alien" franchise. He understood how to make a story so fast paced that a reader or a movie-goer couldn't look away. His secrets are deceptively simple and easy to implement. He breaks the story into three acts based on conflict and leads you through his structuring style in a hands on, easy to read narrative.

As a bonus he gives you the run down on the evolution of story structure from the beginning of Greek theater. This synopsis alone would make the book worth reading.

One person found this helpful

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AMZN Customer in the USA

Excellent outline!

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2017

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The book is a lot shorter than "Story" but don't let that fool you. This is an excellent book. I loved the outlining process for breaking down the conflicts and the other structure of the screenplay.

I think this book would be helpful for people who are interested in the process of screenwriting but it'll be even more helpful for people who already have story ideas and are looking for an answer to the question "how can I best present my ideas to the audience (and producers)?"

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

E Griffin

An accessible, lightly erudite and fun guide

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2021

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A guide to three act structure, and why it works for narrative cinema: including the Alien screenwriter’s own variant. Completed posthumously, this is an accessible, lightly erudite and fun guide to onscreen storytelling. One third structural analysis, one third application of O’Bannon’s version of the three act template to selected movies, one third industry observations.

AVP

a joy to read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 18, 2014

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O'Bannon talks with his trademark intelligently sardonic style, for those who happen to have watched him in several video interviews he has given in the past, especially about Alien. The book contains good exercises and is nicely laid out. A joy to read with chapters devoted specifically to classic writers such as Aristotle and many more. I don't particularly agree here with everything 'O Bannon says but for anyone interested in writing a screenplay or is already in the process of writing in general, or wants to get more intimate with O'Bannon's very interesting thought process this book is certainly worth a try.

One person found this helpful

Tim

Really good insight into structure

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 4, 2013

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This is a great book that explains how Dan O'Bannon believed that certain structures of screenplay work better than others and it uses various films as examples of what works and what doesn't. It makes sense, and is very readible too.

One person found this helpful

S Smyth

A sound guide towards a workable story.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2014

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I found this to be a useful book which re-alerted me to the importance of not losing sight of the essential elements of the story, especially the specificity of the issue to be resolved, when one is down in the trenches of the intricacies of the story, that may be developed via Dramatica. Intricacies that, when finessed into place, too quickly become an end themselves. It was interesting to note that Dan did not do an analysis of the Alien that he wrote. Which, although substantially similar to the Ridley Scott movie version, neither of them conforms to Dan's dynamic structure, as I understand Dan's dynamic structure. By contrast, the James Cameron movie sequel, Aliens, does.

The Alien that Dan wrote, and the variation that Ridley Scott directed, is based on rhetorical repetitions that build to a dramatic climax of options. Dan's criticism of Dramatica (and I am not an advocate for Dramatica, even though I do use Dramatica), is somewhat cursory. The Alien that Dan wrote, is a fundamental piece of Sci-Fi, as in the literature of an idea for a monster that is distinctive and distinctively different to the Vampire, the Predator, the Werewolf, for example, that did not require much in the way of development, as per the dynamic interplay of the story and characters' dynamics. Aspects of story that Dramatica does help to develop and guide one, to keep consistent. It should be pointed out that the original Predator follows a similar form to that of Alien, which is probably why it was that Predator did not WOW the critics, on it s release.

The Ridley Scott version of Alien, did try to fatten things out, beyond the appeal of a straight Sci-Fier, via an emphasis of the characters' interrelationships and their relationship to the company. I felt that this was rather overly done, via the whining of Parker and Brett, and one could conclude that Alien is akin to an industrial dispute without the option of arbitration, with the Alien acting as the company's unstoppable, union-busting enforcer.

Dan's dynamic structure will help to make it more likely that the story will work. Yet the writer needs to be mindful of how their workable story, may face significant issues, when it comes to broadening the appeal of their story. A phenomenon that is a challenge for many other stories. For example: Predator, The Verdict, etc.

One person found this helpful

Tam

big hit as a present

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 22, 2013

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This arrived promptly and went down really well with the recipient. Just what i needed as it was so easy and fast.