Basics Film-Making 02: Screenwriting

by Robert Edgar, John Marland, James Richards

Overview

Basics Film-Making: Screenwriting is the second in the Basics Film-Making series and is aimed both at students on film production courses, as well as those wishing to write a short film. The book teaches the key elements of screenwriting through examining areas such as dialogue, sound, setting, shots and structure. It also provides advice to new film-makers on how to market their productions. This is an essential guide to screenwriting and will teach you to write and produce artistically satisfying shorts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9782940373895
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/18/2009
Series:	Basics Filmmaking , #2
Edition description:	Illustrate
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Robert Edgar-Hunt is programme head of Film and TV Production at York St John University. He also practises as a screenwriter and has research interests in creative writing, postmodernism and film directing. John Marland is senior lecturer in Film and TV Production at York St John University. His research interests include the relationship between film and psychoanalysis. James Richards is a lecturer in Screenwriting at York St John University and a freelance writer for television, film and radio as well as journalism and corporate videos. He won a Bafta award and has worked as a writer and script editor on soaps, dramas and documentaries.

Table of Contents

How to get the most out this book. Introduction. What is screenplay?: The screenwriter; Writing for the screen; What is script? Script forms - feature film/short film; Good practice; Finding your ideas. Concept/Treatment/Pitch: Essential elements of storytelling; Genre/form; Log lines; Treatment; Step treatment; The pitch; Script formats. First draft: Character; Creating the world; The physical world - mise en scene; Action; Tone and genre; Dialogue. Second draft: Writing the second draft; Whose story is this?; Voice-over; Making dialogue convincing; How do I explain what's happening?; Refining dialogue; Mise en scene - next steps; Beginnings and endings. Script editing: Critiquing and feedback; Analysis: character and world; Analysis: action, interaction and structure; Analysis: word and image; Analysis: closure/ambiguity; After effects and meaning. Screenwriters: unscripted 144: Alisha McMahon; James Condon; Thomas Gladstone and Alexander Johnson; Alexander Woodcock; Mark Herman. Conclusion. Glossary. A Nice Cup of tea; complete drafts. Picture credits. Acknowledgements.

Editorial Reviews

A superbly illustrated compendium of information, examples, concepts, and more... Basics Film-Making: Screenwriting is an ideal and effective introduction that should be considered an invaluable instructional guide and continuing reference manual for anyone who aspires to write a professional quality screenplay.
Library Bookwatch, June 2009

Easy to read, accessible, covers all the main industry requirements. Excellent use of contemporary examples.
Elaine Pierson, London Metropolitan University, UK

The book addresses the basic elements of screenwriting, while encouraging the aspiring writer through the stages of the process. In addition, the use of examples provides clarification of the authors' main points.
Andrew Maietta, Art Institute of Pittsburgh, USA

From the Publisher