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Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting by [Robert McKee]

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Robert McKee

Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting 1st Edition, Kindle Edition

by Robert McKee (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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Robert McKee's screenwriting workshops have earned him an international reputation for inspiring novices, refining works in progress and putting major screenwriting careers back on track. Quincy Jones, Diane Keaton, Gloria Steinem, Julia Roberts, John Cleese and David Bowie are just a few of his celebrity alumni. Writers, producers, development executives and agents all flock to his lecture series, praising it as a mesmerizing and intense learning experience.

In Story, McKee expands on the concepts he teaches in his $450 seminars (considered a must by industry insiders), providing readers with the most comprehensive, integrated explanation of the craft of writing for the screen. No one better understands how all the elements of a screenplay fit together, and no one is better qualified to explain the "magic" of story construction and the relationship between structure and character than Robert McKee.

ISBN-13

978-0060391683
Edition

1st
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

HarperCollins e-books
Publication date

September 28, 2010
Language

English
File size

1497 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Writing for the screen is quirky business. A writer must labor meticulously over his or her prose, yet very little of that prose is ever heard by filmgoers. The few words that do reach the audience, in the form of the characters' dialogue, are, according to Robert McKee, best left to last in the writing process. ("As Alfred Hitchcock once remarked, 'When the screenplay has been written and the dialogue has been added, we're ready to shoot.' ") In Story, McKee puts into book form what he has been teaching screenwriters for years in his seminar on story structure, which is considered by many to be a prerequisite to the film biz. (The long list of film and television projects that McKee's students have written, directed, or produced includes Air Force One, The Deer Hunter, E.R., A Fish Called Wanda, Forrest Gump, NYPD Blue, and Sleepless in Seattle.) Legions of writers flock to Hollywood in search of easy money, calculating the best way to get rich quick. This book is not for them. McKee is passionate about the art of screenwriting. "No one needs yet another recipe book on how to reheat Hollywood leftovers," he writes. "We need a rediscovery of the underlying tenets of our art, the guiding principles that liberate talent." Story is a true path to just such a rediscovery. In it, McKee offers so much sound advice, drawing from sources as wide ranging as Aristotle and Casablanca, Stanislavski and Chinatown, that it is impossible not to come away feeling immeasurably better equipped to write a screenplay and infinitely more inspired to write a brilliant one.--Jane Steinberg --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

About the Author

Robert McKee teaches his 3Story Structure2 class annually to sold out auditoriums in Los Angeles, New York, London and film capitals throughout the world. A Fulbright Scholar, this award-winning film and television writer has also served as project and talent development consultant to major production companies such as Tri-Star and Golden Harvest Films. He lives in Los Angeles and Cornwall, England. --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0042FZVOY
Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins e-books; 1st edition (September 28, 2010)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 28, 2010
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1497 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 490 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #49,091 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #4 in Television Screenwriting
- #10 in Performing Arts (Kindle Store)
- #11 in Screenplays

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Robert McKee

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Robert McKee, a Fulbright Scholar, is the most sought-after story authority in the world. The best-selling author of STORY, DIALOGUE: The Art of Verbal Action for Page, Stage and Screen, and soon to be published STORYNOMICS, McKee occupies a unique place in modern media storytelling. His teachings have spread beyond the screen, stage and page and his influence in corporate storytelling has become a global phenomenon. Writers of fiction and non fiction, producers, directors, media professionals, and business leaders from the world over read McKee's books and attend his sold-out international seminars (http://mckeestory.com) for an exclusive deep dive into the mastery of the story arts.

McKee’s former students include over 65 Academy Award Winners, 250 Emmy Award Winners, 2,000 Emmy Award Nominees, 150 WGA (Writers Guild of America) Award Winners, 250 WGA Award Nominees, 50 DGA (Directors Guild of America) Award Winners, and 100 DGA Award Nominees.

McKee continues to be a project consultant to major film and television production companies such as 20th Century Fox, Disney, Paramount, & MTV. In addition, Pixar, ABC, BBC, Disney, Miramax, PBS, Nickelodeon, Paramount, GLOBOSAT, MNET and other international TV and film companies regularly send their entire creative and writing team to his lectures.

In the corporate world, McKee consulted his STORYNOMICS to companies such as Microsoft, Intel, BOLDT, Marriott International, Arm and Hammer, and Deutsche Telecom/T-Systems to name a few.

Since 1984, more than 100,000 students have taken McKee’s courses in various cities around the world.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5

2,410 global ratings

5 star		82%
4 star		11%
3 star		4%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

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D. R. Martz

Excellent, but

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 1, 2022

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Just wanted to emphasize what some other reviewers have noted. The book is masterful, but does not address story ideas or inspiration. It is about technical execution of screenplays, in particular the proven methods for creating, maintaining, and advancing suspense, character, and backstory. Inspiration itself may be inhibited by concentration on method. For example, he recommends NOT writing any dialogue or presumably poetic exposition to set a mood; whereas in practice a paragraph or two of description or an intense dialogue constructed in advance of any other writing might be the gem at the heart of the creation, the bridge between idea and story. Or perhaps it is a sense of the culminating revelation of the climax that does the trick. The Muse needs to take hold in some way if your creation is going to be art, and be completed. The other aspect of the book's technical description that is present, but overshadowed, is how the interactions between story and audience relate to interactions between characters in the story. Both subjects are discussed, but it seems like a more integrated view would prove useful. Finally, I think there are some very good (award winning and not 'artsy') films that exceed the boundaries of the box McKee constructs, so if a budding writer has a brilliant idea, he /she should not let adherence to methods ruin it.

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

bbky

BEST BOOK ON HOW TO CREATE STORIES 100% hands down

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 7, 2021

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Sorry I don’t have time to write a succinctly profound review but if you’re even barely considering buying this book, JUST DO IT. I honestly can’t believe the price is 25$.
If you have an ounce of raw story telling talent, or if u consider yourself professional, this book is for you. Or if you appreciate the art of storytelling; or if u work in the industry and get scripts across your desk, this book is for you.
I do not write scripts and have no plans to; I was introduced to this book years ago when reviewing a script someone was interested in getting funded and felt appropriate to educate myself on what makes a script great... Bc we all know when a script isn’t, but not necessarily Why. Robert blew my mind w this one; the depth, the clarity, the profundity and the genius simplification of one of the most complex art forms - telling stories about the human experience.
The essence of the art form is principled out in the book. I’ve been raving about this book since I first read it in 2017, lent my hand-me-down copy, and bought my own last week to do a little book club w my gf. We enjoy watching episodics and movies and have a great time articulating why we think stories are great. I’m super excited diving back into this book again especially w a partner.
In my over simplified, outsider opinion, this book is THE formula, the “bible” so to say, of the who what where when and most importantly WHY of scripting for screen.
Just buy it. Buy two copies and gift one to your writing buddy or a director u work with. Heck, buy 3 copies and keep on in the car or at the office. Again, ~25$ - wow.
If u want to get your script funded - this is the next place for you to go. Scripts are picked up bc they will sell, and in order to sell they have resonate universally. This book explains the essence, the principles of the art form of script writing. If you really think you have what it takes to be an all star writer then digesting this book should 100% fun for you.
Just my 3 cents... again I have no plans of writing and I’m not a writer. But I enjoy the art form and I respect the mastery of technical and creative that blend as genius and excellence. For me, having this knowledge has made stories on screen that much more enjoyable as I watch the principles outlined in this book play themselves out like clockwork.
I hope I’ve made it clear how magnificent and remarkable this book is in both knowledge and presentation. The hugest shoutout to Robert McKee and his wife who apparently edited this. And shoutout to all the other people behind the scenes on making this book happen. It’s brought me tons of joy, entertainment, knowledge and invigoration. And quite honestly had widened my perspective of the human condition and life itself.
Just buy it, and read it. Take notes. Study it. Use it. Capitalize on it if script writing and story telling is in your cards.
And if u love this book as much as I do let’s start a club lol.

6 people found this helpful

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Jean Pickett

Beautiful book!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 4, 2022

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I was greatly surprised and pleased when I saw how perfect the book was that I ordered. It was brand new, larger than I expected and just inspired me to open and review it. The delivery was quickly and packaging was outstanding. I can’t wait until I have time to sit down and read it. Thank you.

Helpful

Lori Puma, Fiction Editor

Classic text. More a theoretical framework then a step-by-step guide

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 27, 2022

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One of the classic texts on storytelling theory. McKee covers three-act structure, story design, scene design, conflict, and character development.

This is more of an academic text then a step-by-step guide to creating a screenplay or novel. I don't disagree with anything McKee says, but I find some of his approach difficult to apply when you're drafting. For example I've tried using value shifts and teaching them to other writers and mostly failed. It's not that value shifts are wrong, it's just that using them requires you to engage the analytical part of your brain. When you're drafting, you need to turn the analytical part of your brain off and let your creative part take over. When you're revising, value shifts are more useful.

A lot of the theory presented in this book is like that. It'll tell you what you're shooting for in the finished product, but not how to go from blank page to something worth continuing to shape.

Additionally, McKee occasionally goes on tangents to express strong opinions about the state of storytelling that show why earned a reputation for being grumpy and made me reconnect with my eye-rolling inner teenager.

As you'd expect in a book about screenwriting, the examples are all films, several of which were a few decades old at the time of the book’s publication in the 90's. (Casablanca, Kramer vs. Kramer, Chinatown)

Even if you don't love everything McKee says, he's so famous and influential as a storytelling expert it's good to know how he describes storytelling concepts. You're sure to meet people who've attended his seminars and use his ideas. This book is a low-cost alternative to attending one of those seminars yourself.

8 people found this helpful

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Cory M Tsuhako

One of the Best Writing Books

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 17, 2022

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This was a great book on writing. It's one of my favorites.

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The Reader

Great book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 8, 2018

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Really interesting book that goes into great depth on the art of writing stories. The focus is film but the info easily relates to novels / TV / theatre.
The book is well written and gives so much insight into the process. It has made watching films / TV shows very different for me now as I feel like I understand story much better

10 people found this helpful

Ewan Ashford

Authoritative, not for the faint-hearted!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 24, 2013

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This book is a confidence builder. It's about as complete a text as possible on what it means to be a writer, and what demands that makes of the individual.

There's no doubting the author's credentials, he is one of the heavyweights of Hollywood. He pulls no punches in pointing out the many (in his eyes) flaws in modern screenwriting. Some of the concepts are a bit hard to follow, but hey it's a book you can always re-read when it comes to preparing your masterworks.

My only niggle with the book is he does cite the French New Wave - Brunuel, Godard as well as Ingmar Bergman an awful lot. The only American writer who gets a look in is Robert Towne. Perhaps McKee doesn't rate any of the Scorseses or Spielbergs but it would have been good to at least get his take on their (immensley successful) approaches to story.

Despite all the self-analysis, smashing of preconceptions, and an awful lot of honest (are you sure you can do this?) talk, McKee has crafted a text that spurs the budding writer on. It builds confidence by presenting the tools, saying 'Look, this works' and then setting you free. His parting message is to be courageous. Something that I have learned and will be putting into practice today, and everyday from now on.

18 people found this helpful

A. Perry

Still #1 on Subject

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 31, 2021

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Well written and structured, this is deservedly very well respected. First section is about story structures, content, characters, characterisations, etc. Much of this you may feel you knew, but here it is rendered clear, citing many examples from popular films. It then examines the detail, again with examples. I read it steadily rather than quickly, to give each section due attention. It is an excellent choice if you are interested in the subject and want to achieve a better understanding.

Robin

Forget the rest

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 10, 2017

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Simply, numero uno... for screenplay writers, stage dramatists, and novelists, too - even though this is not aimed at novelists. This book offers no easy solutions; but it tells it how it is, and in full. It's honest, profound, pragmatic, and the real deal. Forget every other 'how to' book. This is the one you need if you want to learn the craft.

9 people found this helpful

Lauren

Read This Book!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 10, 2021

Verified Purchase

If I could give six stars, I would. This book absolutely delivers.
I was bogged down, struggling to write when I realized that I did not have any knowledge or tools for the job, and I needed to learn about writing. So I bought this book.
Robert McKee beautifully and succinctly gives you everything you need to create a good story.
A must read for screenwriters, but certainly a recommended read for directors, playwrights, actors, novelists, and anyone who endeavors to be a storyteller.

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