A little dated (1997) but still an excellent resource ...
These books and reviews were compiled from the writers' comments on the SCRNWRIT list and some aol.com message boards. Information provided is as current as humanly possible. Prices are quoted in US dollars, and, as always, are subject to change without notice. e-mail comments for suggested additions to: msbkworm@aol.com. Categories of books are: * Books on Film and Hollywood * Books on Screenwriting * Books on Writing Comedy * Books on Formatting the Screenplay * For Young Writers * Turning Professional * In Print But Not Reviewed ****************************** BOOKS ON FILM AND HOLLYWOOD: ****************************** The books in this section are recommended reads on any and all areas of activity that pertain to film and Hollywood and the adventures of those that cross it's borders. To enjoy, to ponder, to relax, to study. -- Nadine ********************* "ADVENTURES IN THE SCREEN TRADE," by William Goldman, Warner Books, New York, 1983. $15.99 ISBN: 0446391174 A must for anyone in the business. - Wryturguy ********************* THE AGENCY: WILLIAM MORRIS AND THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF SHOW BUSINESS, by Frank Rose, Harper Collins Publishers Inc., 10 East 53rd Street, New York, New York 10022, 1995. $30.00 ISBN: 0887307493 It won't matter what I say about this book, you will want to read it anyway. Not another history like it anywhere. -- Nadine White ********************* AKIRA KUROSAWA AND INTERTEXTUAL CINEMA by James Goodwin, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218-4319. 1994. $14.95 Goodwin draws on contemporary theoretical and critical approaches to explore Kurosawa's use of a variety of texts in his creation of an intercultural cinema. He examines major films as well as lesser known works and looks at the capacity of Kurosawa's themes and techniques to restructure perceptions of Japanese and Western culture. I found this to be an interesting look at the work of one of my favorite film creators. - Nadine White ********************* BREAKING THE FRAME: FILM LANGUAGE AND THE EXPERIENCE OF LIMITS by Inez Hodges, Midland Books, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana, 1991. $14.95 ISBN: 0253206219 Looks at the different approaches to cinematic art that are offered by cognitive psychology, feminist theory, aesthetics and psychoanalysis. The focus is on films that tend to challenge accepted norms, break out of conventional frameworks, and upset the expectations of the audience. The alternative viewpoint is worth examining. -- Nadine White ********************* DOUBLE VISION - MY LIFE IN FILM: by Andrzej Wajda. As well as a fascinating insight to the development of modern Poland, it also is a witty and informative book on film-making and screenwriting from the perspective of one of Europe's finest. -- Jac Fraser ********************* EBERT'S LITTLE MOVIE GLOSSARY: A COMPENDIUM OF MOVIE CLICHES, STEREOTYPES, OBLIGATORY SCENES, HACKNEYED FORMULAS, SHOPWORN CONVENTIONS, AND OUTDATED ARCHETYPES by Roger Ebert, Andrews and McMeel , 4900 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64112, 1994. $12.95 ISBN: 0836280717 Get it for the next family gathering that you have to attend. Then sneak away from all the dull relatives, find a private corner and enjoy yourself for a change. -- A.E. Thompson Someone gave me this book for Christmas. At first I thought it was just a goofy gift book, but it is priceless. Should be on every screenwriter's desk. -- Douglas Brodoff Is the whole book full of these things?!? If so, I must have it! -- Eric Troup ********************* THE END: NARRATION AND CLOSURE IN THE CINEMA by Richard Neupert, Wayne State University Press, Detroit, Michigan, 48201, 1995. $19.95 ISBN: 0814325254 This turned out to be a must read for this writer. The focus is on the difference between "endings" and "conclusions" in films. The point is a critical one for achieving the catharsis that marks the completion of a journey in film, rather than just an endpoint for the filmmaker. "Closure may be regarded as a modification of structure that makes stasis, or the absence of further continuation, the most probable succeeding event," said Barbara Herrnstein Smith in her book, Poetic Closure. The discussion here centers on the ways to determine if a problem is sufficiently solved that continuation will occur on the newly attained level of resolution. This determines if a work closes, or simply ends. Gave me a new way to look at my overall work and sharpen the focus. I had more of an exact notion of what I needed to examine. -- Nadine White ********************* FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS, by Hunter Thompson, Random House, New York, 1989. $10.00 ISBN: 0679724192 Has nothing to do with screenwriting or writing process, but every time I read it inspired and enlightened as to the endless possibilities of the written word. -- Wryturguy ********************* FILM DIRECTING: SHOT BY SHOT - VISUALIZING FROM CONCEPT TO SCREEN: by Steven D. Katz, published by Michael Wiese Productions, 3960 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Suite 331, Studio City, California 91604, with Focal Press, 80 Montvale Ave, Stoneham, Massachusetts, 02180, 1991, ISBN: 0941188108 Pretty great insights along with standard film school fare. great shot by shot analysis of some familiar films. -- Tim August ********************* FILM FLAM: ESSAYS ON HOLLYWOOD: by Larry McMurty This fun little opus is written by, Larry McMurty, who's credits include, Texasville, Lonesome Dove, The Last Picture Show, Terms of Endearment, and many, many more. The wit alone makes this a worthy read. -- Jerry Hammond ********************* THE FILM WRITERS GUIDE: edited by Susan Avallone, Lone Eagle Press, 2337 Roscomare Road, Suite Nine, Los Angeles, California 90077-1851. It's most useful for getting from the movie to the writer's name and possible agent--a listing, really, with some interesting front and back matter. For example: Robin Swicord: ...."This is all by way of saying that you go into these story meetings with men who have never had to project themselves into the female one time--except maybe to understand their girlfriends' point of view when they're quarreling. ...."I have no problem putting myself in that character [Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon] and being him....we [females] are trained to do that. But if you have the same thing of a girl doing all that, there's a great distance that a male executive has to cross before he can understand that he is Geena Davis or Jodie Foster." -- Mysti Rubert ********************* HIGH CONCEPT: MOVIES AND MARKETING IN HOLLYWOOD, by Justin Wyatt, University of Texas Press, P.O. Box 7819, Austin, Texas 78713-7819, 1994. $11.95 ISBN: 0292791910 The essence of high concept, [Wyatt] explains, is a striking, easily reducible narrative which also offers a high degree of marketability. Typically, high concept films combined several elements: a narrative that could be summarized in a single phrase; an image or song that the potential audience associated with the film; a "total look" style of cinematography characteristic of television and magazine advertisements and music videos; pre-sold stars or subject matter; character typing rather than character exposition; and merchandising tie-ins. Vilified by critics as the proof of Hollywood's creative bankruptcy and the growing dominance of the industry's marketing apparatus, high concept was in fact, according to Wyatt, the product of specific historical, institutional, and economic forces...... -- from a summary by Steve Mintz, posted to list H-FILM, reposted to the SCRWRIT list. Wyatt used to be a market research analyst in the film industry. His is a thought provoking book for very solid reasons. -- Nadine White ********************* HOLLYWOOD DAYS, HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS: THE DIARY OF A MAD SCREENWRITER: by Ben Stein, Bantam Books, New York, 1988. Ben Stein's diary is a vivid snapshot of all that is fascinating and frightening about trying to become a mainstream Hollywood screenwriter. It answers such questions as "do I need a rich spouse," "is it what you write or who you know" and "is there any hope for nerds in this industry." The answers may surprise you. -- Mysti Rubert ********************* MAKING MOVIES: by Sidney Lumet , Alfred Knopf, publishers, New York, 1995. $23.00 ISBN: 0679437096 He talks about making movies by department. Fascinating and inspiring. -- Mysti Rubert Lumet discusses every aspect of directing film - from divine inspiration to marketing. This is a wonderful look at the process through the eyes of one of the business's most talented individuals. -- Nadine White ********************* MOVIE MADE AMERICA: A CULTURAL HISTORY OF AMERICAN MOVIES, by Robert Sklar, revised edition, Vintage Books, Random House, New York, 1994. $20.00 ISBN: 0679-755497 This is another nice read. The book looks at the impact of film on American society and the transformations in attitudes such as pleasure and sexuality that have taken place in American culture because of the existence of film. Great read with good illustrations and interesting commentaries. -- A. E. Thompson ********************* A POUND OF FLESH, by Art Linson, Avon Books, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10019, 1995. $9.00 ISBN: 0380724014 A book on the business to take you behind the scenes in your copious spare time. Both funny and enlightening. -- Nadine White ********************* SCREENWRITERS ON SCREENWRITING: Edited by Joel Engel, Hyperion Press, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, 1995 (not to be confused with an earlier series with a similar name). $12.95 ISBN: 0786880570 It's great to read the opinions by these writers: Bruce Joel Rubin, Ernest Lehman, Amy Holden Jones, Nicholas Meyer, Ted Tally, Horton Foote, Caroline Thompson, Michael Mann, Charles Fuller, Robert Towne, Richard LaGravenese, Andrew Bergman and Scott Frank. -- Mysti Rubert ********************* SCRIPT GIRLS: WOMEN SCREENWRITERS IN HOLLYWOOD by Lizzie Franke, British Film Institute, BFI Publishing, 21 Stephen Street, London W1P 1PL, available in the US at bigger bookstores for $18.95. 1994. ISBN: 0851704786 Women have been writing for the screen since the earliest days of the industry. This book traces the history of women in the screenwriting profession from Gene Gautier's 1911 version of "Ben Hur" to Callie Khouri's "Thelma and Louise." Includes interviews with women working today. I found this a fascinating read and one of the few books available on the subject anywhere. -- Nadine White ********************* SCULPTING IN TIME: by Andrei Tarkovsky The title alone is one of the best metaphors I've ever savored. --Steve Deeble I agree with your choices there, Steve. I'm a big fan of Tarkovsky's book. -- Jac Fraser ********************* SELECTED LETTERS OF RAYMOND CHANDLER: edited by Frank MacShane (who also wrote a bio of Chandler). Columbia University Press, 1981. ISBN: 0231050801. A look at what happens between the book and the screen. Being a university press, I don't believe the book was ever released in paperback, but I could be wrong. -- Ron Peer ********************* STANISLAVSKY DIRECTS: by Nikolai M. Gorchakov, Limelight Editions, New York 1985 Because writers are ultimately toiling for actors to deliver their lines, here's a timeless book, not only for directors, but for screenwriters as well. About understanding and directing actors, Stanley Kubrik singled it out as the book he learned from the most. No argument there. -- George Lois ********************* THINKING IN PICTURES: THE MAKING OF MATEWAN, by John Sayles ON DIRECTING FILM by David Mamet Sayles and Mamet books both excellent. - Jac Fraser ********************* A SONG IN THE DARK: by Richard Barrios, Oxford University Press, 200 Madison Avenue, New York, New York, 10016, 1995. $21.95 ISBN: 0195088115 This guy writes with verve, and in incredible detail, about the birth of musical films. He is the definitive source on this topic, has done research which corrects material printed in other established works on the subject. -- Mysti Rubert ****************************** BOOKS ON SCREENWRITING: ****************************** This section contains books devoted to screenwriting in all its many aspects. Some are textbooks, some help a writer break the rules creatively, and some give information on where to put that screenplay when you are finished with it. -- Nadine ********************* ALTERNATIVE SCRIPTWRITING: by Ken Dancyger & Jeff Rush, Focal Press, Butterworth Heinemann, 80 Montvale Ave, Stoneham, Massachusetts, 02180. 1991. It has great ideas for going beyond the "rules". It discussed structure (restorative 3-act plays), counter-structure, genre, working against genre, character (primary & secondary), tone and subtext. It uses MANY movies for examples and even compares popular movies with fictitious ones to illustrate topics. It's great for breaking out of derivative screenplays. - PJ44 Found it a great source of ways to get a new viewpoint while I am writing and not get bogged down. - Nadine White ********************* THE ART OF DRAMAT!C WR!T!ING by Lajos Egri, Touchstone Books, Simon and Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10020, 1960. $10.95 ISBN: 0671213326. He also wrote The Art of Creative Writing -- Nadine I like it because he talks clearly about the hardest part of screenwriting, structuring a story so that it has tension, drama and vivid interest. -- Mysti Rubert "I'm reading Mr. Egri's "The Art of Dramatic Writing" I recommend this book to anyone working in this folder [On Story Movement]. Lajos is very clear and makes what could be difficult concepts easy to understand. There aren't too many current books out there that I haven't read. They all seem like primers in comparison. -- Room2Rest ********************* THE ARTIST'S WAY: by Julia Cameron, with Mark Bryan, Jeremy P. Tarcher Books, Putnam, New York, 1992. $13.95 ISBN: 0874776945 [This book] is, IMHO, genius. , It's very step-by-step, which is excellent for me, as I have difficulty getting motivated at times. -- BushTetra Yes! Yes! Yes! I think this is a wonderful book and recommend it to any artist (or shadow artist) who is ready to recover from their blocks. -- Brian Fitzhugh Okay, two screaming thumbs up. I think I'll go shopping. -- Jennise Hall I adore The Artist's Way. -- Patricia Burroughs ********************* CREATING UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTERS, by Linda Seger, Owl Books, Henry Holt & Company, 115 West 18th Street, New York, New York, 10011, 1990. $12.95 ISBN: 0805011714 Like Making A Good Script Great, but with the focus more on character than on structure and story. A good reference, but could have been better. It seemed "thin." -- Richard Carter Jr. ********************* THE DRAMATIST'S TOOLKIT, by Jeffrey Sweet, Heinemann, Div. of Reed Elsevier Inc., 361 Hanover Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire 03801-3912, 1993. $12.95 ISBN: 0435086294 It's primarily oriented toward playwriting, but he has quite a bit of insight into screen and TV writing as well. Changed the way I work completely. -- CVPlaywrit ********************* IF YOU WANT TO WRITE: A BOOK ABOUT ART, INDEPENDENCE, AND SPIRIT, by Brenda Ueland, Graywolf Press, 2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55114, 1987. $8.95 ISBN: 0915308940 "But we must try to find our True Conscience, our True Self, the very Center, for this is the only first-rate, choice-making center. Here lies all originality, talent, honour, truthfulness, courage, and cheerfulness." -- Barbara Ueland I started reading a book last night called "If You Want To Write," by Brenda Ueland. In light of my recent posts, the following passage made me smile: "Families are great murderers of the creative impulse, especially husbands....The only good teachers for you are those friends who love you, who think you are interesting or wonderfully funny. And if you have no such friend -- and you want to write -- you must imagine one." So there you are, my friends [of the list]!A lot of good stuff about creativity and originality. I'd recommend it. -- DiAnne Olson Wosepka I second that. I just started the book last week and I love it. Maybe we should add this title to the list reading list. -- Amanda Quimby Consider it done. -- Nadine White ********************* LEW HUNTER'S SCREENWRITING 434 by Lew Hunter, Perigee Books, Putnam, New York, 1993. $13.95 ISBN: 039951838X I found Hunter's tips on writing habits pretty helpful. I tried cranking out 5 pages per day and polishing them at night. It worked well. His re-writing regimen is also fast and efficient. I think it was one generic re-write, then one for dialogue, one for action, one fore "touches," and one focused pass for each character. -- Jeff Beres [Also recommended by Charles Deemer -- Nadine] ********************* MAKING A GOOD SCRIPT GREAT, by Linda Seger, Samuel French Trade, 7623 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, California 90046, 1987. $11.95 ISBN: 0573606900 Indispensable for any screenwriter still honing his/her craft (i.e., most unsold screenwriters) -- and a good refresher for those more experienced to help them remember stuff they have forgotten or have let become sloppy. Recommended. -- Richard Carter Jr. [Also recommended by Charles Deemer] ********************* POETICS, by Aristotle, Prometheus Books, 59 John Glenn Drive, Buffalo, New York 14228-2197, 1992. $5.95 ISBN: 0879757760 Hard to slog through sometimes, but worth the trouble if only to remind us how old the art of storytelling is, and how little human nature changes over time. -- Mysti Rubert ********************* SCREENPLAY: THE FOUNDATIONS OF SCREENWRITING, by Syd Field, revised edition, Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, 1994. $11.95 ISBN: 0440576474 The baseline, though I think it's been showing its age for a number of years. You get the Field paradigm in most of the other books -- so this might not be as necessary a reference as it once was. -- Richard Carter Jr. ********************* THE SCREENWRITER'S WORKBOOK, by Syd Field, Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, 1984. $10.95 ISBN: 0440582253 A much more useful book than SCREENPLAY - especially if you've written at least a rough draft script first (i.e., you the writer have *some* first-hand knowledge of what Field is talking about), but is still a better book for rank beginners than SCREENPLAY, IMHO. It expands the paradigm to include structure elements in the second act. Recommended. -- Richard Carter Jr. ********************* SCREENWRITING: THE ART, CRAFT AND BUSINESS OF FILM AND TELEVISION WRITING by Richard Walter, Plume Books, Penguin USA, 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York, 10014, 1988. $12.95 ISBN: 0452263476 He steers more clear of formula than many, and the voice of the book is full of the excitement for writing and storytelling, which I found very inspiring early on. -- Mysti Rubert ********************* SCREENWRITING TRICKS OF THE TRADE, by William Froug, Silman James Press, publisher, distributed by Samuel French Trade, 7623 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, California 90046, 1993. $10.95 ISBN: 1879505134 If you are one of the fortunate ones who are privileged to have taken screenwriting classes under "Bill" Froug at UCLA, USC, University of Hawaii or Danmarks Radio, then you know that he has been mentor to many students that have had exemplary careers as screenwriters. This volume, first published in 1993, does not belie its name. Jeffrey Boam, student and eventual collaborator, says "This is not a "how to " book about screenwriting. It is a book of wisdom and good sound advice about the process of screenwriting." On every page there are gems to be devoured and burned into memory. Bill's advice, not limited to pithy sayings, includes observations on the best method for garnering story elements, for approaching the development of character, and preparing for a pitch. He shares his knowledge in a very powerful way. For example, on the handling of exposition: "The people who insist upon telling you everything about themselves up front are the most boring people of all. " It is a suggestion about characterization that has stuck in my mind and given me pause when I feel the need to elaborate on backstory. This book is one that is honed through years of teaching experience and brings that harvest of insight and guidance to the thoughtful reader. -- Gloria Stern ********************* THE SECRETS OF ACTION SCREENWRITING by William C. Martell, Rogue Publications, 6440 Bellingham Avenue #155, N. Hollywood, California 91606. 1994 $9.95 Direct Mail Only. This book is a great read, a great synopses of all the major factors to consider when doing action movies or even just action scenes. A wealth of choice ideas. Worth every penny. -- Nadine White ******************** SELLING A SCREENPLAY: THE SCREENWRITER'S GUIDE TO HOLLYWOOD, by Syd Field, Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, 1989. $11.95 ISBN: 0440502446 A nice introduction to the world of Hollywood. Not required reading. -- Richard Carter Jr. ******************** STEAL THIS PLOT by June and William Noble, available from Paul S. Eriksson, publisher, Middlebury, Vermont 05753. Cost is $12.95 plus $2.00 S&H last time I checked. Direct mail is fastest for getting this one as this has to be a very small press. 1985 ISBN: 0839778813 This is one of four books on writing by Noble and all are interesting. The others are SHUT UP! HE EXPLAINED (1987 ISBN: 08397-77787) SHOW DON'T TELL (1991 ISBN: 0839777671) and MAKE THAT SCENE (1988 ISBN: 0839757093). All are $12.95 each with some additional S&H if you want to order them together. A great reference set and good for brainstorming. Good for looking at archetypes and motivation. -- Nadine White ********************* 20 MASTER PLOTS AND HOW TO BUILD THEM by Ronald B. Tobias, available through Writer's Digest Books, 1507 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45207. 1993. $16.95 plus S&H This book has twenty fundamental plots that occur throughout fiction and fact in every country and in every culture. There are analyses and examples noting pitfalls, benefits, and how to adapt to suit your own work. -- Nadine White ********************* THE THIRTY-SIX DRAMATIC SITUATIONS by Georges Polti, available from The Writer, 120 Boylston St., Boston, Mass 02116-4615. Reprinted 1993. Cost is $8.95 plus $1.75 S&H Direct Mail Only ISBN: 0871161095 I ran into this little gem in my first screenwriter's class and ran to buy it (along with Alternative Screenwriting). Found I had to mail order. Traces the first known appearance in print of these dramatic situations, and uses in ancient and modern literature. Great for inspiration. -- Nadine White ********************* THE WRITER'S JOURNEY. by Chris Vogel, Michael Wiese Productions, 4354 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Suite 234, Studio City, California 91604, 1992. $22.95 ISBN: 0941188132 An excellent alternative to the Field paradigm. Very recommended especially for (but not limited to) those writing action/adventure, myth/fairy tales, and other high concept forms. A must buy! -- Richard Carter Jr. ********************* WRITING SCREENPLAYS THAT SELL, by Michael Hauge, Harper Perennial, Harper Collins Publishers Inc., 10 East 53rd Street, New York, New York, 10022, 1991. $13.00 ISBN: 0062725009 Took the seminar. Took copious notes. Liked the seminar. Read the book. Took copious notes. Liked the book. -- Nadine White [Also recommended by Charles Deemer] ********************* WRITING THE CHARACTER CENTERED SCREENPLAY by Andrew Horton, University of California Press, Berkeley, California, 1994. $13.00 ISBN:: 0520084578 WRITING GREAT SCREENPLAYS FOR FILM AND TV by Dona Cooper, ARCO Publishing, Prentice Hall, New York, 1994. $14.00 ISBN: 067184783X In the past year, I have read two books which pushed my screenwriting to a level beyond the basics of structure (I hope!). They were WRITING GREAT SCREENPLAYS FOR FILM AND TV by Dona Cooper and WRITING THE CHARACTER-CENTERED SCREENPLAY by Andrew Horton. -- PTF117 ********************* WRITING THE SCREENPLAY: TV AND FILM by Alan Armer. 2nd edition, Wadsworth Publishing Co., Belmont, California 94002, 1993. $22.95 ISBN: 0534166687 It has been my experience that screenwriting books are a "wheat and chaff" proposition. They are rarely a cover-to-cover read where each section or chapter is indispensable or equally useful to every writer. The best, like Alan A. Armer's WRITING THE SCREENPLAY, hold up well as reference works and to re-reading for reminders and encouragement. The book is broken down into manageable sections for quick reference or re-reading. The sections are excellent reminders for a screenwriter in the middle of a work or working on a re-write. The book also includes inserts and sidebars by the likes of Chayefsky, Kelly McWhorter, and Frank Pierson, who's thoughtful essay on character is one of the best things in the book. -- Dale Jellings ****************************** BOOKS ON WRITING COMEDY: ****************************** Ways to look at comedy, develop it, sustain it, analyze it, and maybe turn it into a movie. -- Nadine ********************* COMEDY WRITING SECRETS by Melvin Helitzer, Writer's Digest Books, 1507 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45207, 1987. $16.99 ISBN: 0898795109 Looks at the basics of comedy writing, analyzes humor, discusses the nightclub comedian, twenty basic comic personas, and scripting for TV. Lots to adapt for screenwriting, even with the focus being elsewhere. -- Nadine White ********************* COMEDY WRITING: STEP BY STEP by Gene Perret, Samuel French Trade, 7623 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, California 90046, 1990. $11.95 ISBN: 0573606056 With the author being the head comedy writer for Bob Hope, the focus here is on writing jokes a standup comedian would use. There are some useful exercises to check your sense of humor; the sketch writing chapter offers tips on how to sustain complications in a humorous situation; and there is a section on writing for sitcoms. -- Nadine White ********************* THE COMIC TOOLBOX, by John Vorhaus, Silman James Press, publisher, distributed by Samuel French Trade, 7623 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, California 90046, 1994. $14.95 ISBN: 1879505215 This is a workbook approach that looks at comedy writing as creative problem solving. "Tools" include Tension and Release, the Law of Comic Opposites, Clash of Context, the Wildly Inappropriate Response, Running Gags, and the Doorbell Effect. Could be used seriously too. Easy to understand, more time needed to apply it well. -- Nadine White ********************* COMIC VISIONS: TELEVISION COMEDY AND AMERICAN CULTURE, by David Marc, Media and Popular Culture Series, Routledge Books, 29 West 35th Street, New York, New York 10001, 1989. $15.95 ISBN: 0044452845 Comic Vision looks at the evolution of television comedy. There is historical research with analyses that combine both a cultural and aesthetic view. The American sense of what is funny and how that may best be conveyed has changed a great deal over the last 40 years. Interesting read. -- Nadine White ********************* SUCCESSFUL SITCOM WRITING by Jurgen Wolff, St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010. 1988. $17.95 While this is aimed at writing for TV, there are very few books available that look at the elements of comedy in writing. Any writer will find useful information here for working with comedic characters, situations and alternatives. -- Nadine White ****************************** BOOKS ON FORMATTING THE SCREENPLAY: ****************************** All your worst nightmares resolved in single, easy-to-find volumes. -- Nadine ********************* THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO STANDARD SCRIPT FORMATS: PART I THE SCREENPLAY by H.R. Cole Jr. and J. H. Haag, CMC Publishing, 11642 Otsego Street, North Hollywood, California 91601, 1991. Seventh printing 1994. $18.95 ISBN: 0929583000 FORMATTING YOUR SCREENPLAY by Rick Reichman, Booksmiths Inc. Lexington, Kentucky, 1992. $14.95 ISBN: 0964159406 THE WRITER'S DIGEST GUIDE TO MANUSCRIPT FORMATS by Dian Dincin Buchman and Seli Groves, Writer's Digest Publishers, 1507 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45207, 1987. $18.95 ISBN: 0898792932 All of these books have been on the market for some time and may not reflect some of the format simplifications that have occurred. All will get you to a fairly decent draft in usable format. -- Nadine White ********************* THE SCREENWRITER'S BIBLE by David Trottier, The Screenwriting Center, 2034 E. Lincoln Ave. #300, Anaheim, California 92806. Revised edition 1995. $17.95 ISBN: 1885655045 Gives you more than the lowdown on formats. Lots of extra information and good suggestions for spec scripts, then also takes on the art part of writing in a primer for theme and plot development and scene writing. For a single reference, gives you a great deal for the money. -- Nadine White ****************************** FOR YOUNG WRITERS: ****************************** This section is for teachers and parents trying to encourage written expression through dramatics and other forms of story. Also good if a writer in block needs a Montessori session. -- Nadine ********************* ANY CHILD CAN WRITE, by Harvey Weiner, revised edition, Oxford University Press, 200 Madison Avenue, New York, New York, 10016, 1990. $11.95 ISBN: 0195094158 A home program for parents to encourage their children to write. Provides creative techniques such as using a crayon drawing to inspire a written story, use of ordinary experiences, rhymes, games and riddles, and playing with dialogue to develop enthusiastic written expression. One of the techniques encouraged is that of taking pictures of interesting things and only then writing a story. This should help lots of writers who have deal with that technique with filmmakers. -- Nadine White ********************* GAMES FOR WRITING by Peggy Kaye, Noonday Press, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 19 Union Square West, New York 10003, 1995. $13.00 ISBN: 0374524270 Contains more than 50 ways to help children become skilled, confident and enthusiastic writers. Some appear to be the perfect way to procrastinate and you still end up working on your writing. -- Nadine White ********************* IF YOU WERE A WRITER by Joan Lowery Nixon, Aladdin Books, Simon and Schuster, Children's Publishing Division, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10020, 1988. $495 ISBN: 0689719000. How to explain to your children (or your friends) where you got the idea for that screenplay you're writing and won't discuss with anyone. -- Nadine White ********************* THINKING LIKE A WRITER by Lou Willett Stanek, Random House, New York, 1994. $5.99 ISBN: 0679-86217X To help older writers refresh and re-think what their creativity is about, and to encourage younger writers to see with a writer's eyes. -- Nadine White ********************* WRITING IS CHILD'S PLAY by Donna Reid Connell, Addison Wesley Publishing Company, New York, 1994. $12.95 ISBN: 0201818841 Provides strategies that use a child's natural language development to encourage the joy of communicating in writing. Lots of interesting examples for inspiration. -- Nadine White ****************************** TURNING PROFESSIONAL: ****************************** Books to help writers through those all important first and second and third and fourth contracts. -- Nadine ********************* DEALMAKING IN THE FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY by Mark Litwak, Fast Forward Productions, Silman-James Press, distributed by Samuel French Trade, 7623 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, California 90046, 1994. $26.95 ISBN: 1879505150 Looks at the strange ins and outs of entertainment law, with practical advice for producers, writers, directors and actors. Nice analyses. Covers options and alternatives for selling scripts in something far more understandable than the usual legalese. -- Nadine White ********************* DO THE WRITE THING: MAKING THE TRANSITION TO PROFESSIONAL, by Gloria Stern, Myriad Press, 12535 Chandler Blvd. #3, North Hollywood, California 91607-1934. 1993 $18.95 ISBN: 0964126605 Gloria discusses the myths, perceptions, terminology, pragmatics and procedures of going from writing for a hobby to being a knowledgeable professional. Originally designed to answer the questions of her students, it is user friendly, clearly and concisely written and a reference I am glad to have on my "use-it-all-the-time" shelf. -- Nadine White ********************* KIRSCH'S HANDBOOK OF PUBLISHING LAW, by Jonathan Kirsch, Acrobat Books, P.O. Box 870, Venice, California 90294, 1995. $21.95 ISBN: 0918226333 Contains information on working with electronic and multimedia rights, a library of sample forms, contracts, agents and packaging, co-authoring, and deal memos. The author is both a writer and practicing attorney and hence has a decent understanding of being on both sides of the fence. -- Nadine White ********************* THE WRITER'S LAWYER, by Ronald Goldfarb and Gail Ross, Times Books, New York, 1989. $19.95 ISBN: 0812917448 The book provides essential legal advice for writers and editors in all media, according to the cover. Major topics include copyright, libel, privacy, contracts for books, and other contracts writers normally require. While not specifically about screenwriting, it still is a good reference. -- Nadine White ****************************** IN PRINT, BUT NOT REVIEWED: ****************************** These are books on all the areas of screenwriting and life in Hollywood known to be in print as of August 1995, but remained unreviewed by members of the list. If you wish to provide a short (3-5 sentence) review or comment, please e-mail msbkworm@aol.com AMERICAN SCREENWRITERS: THE INSIDERS LOOK AT THE ART, THE CRAFT, AND THE BUSINESS OF WRITING MOVIES, by Karl Schanzer and Thomas Lee Wright, Avon Books, 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10019, 1993. $12.00 ISBN: 0380767279 THE ART OF ADAPTATION: TURNING FACT AND FICTION INTO FILM, by Linda Seger, Owl Books, Henry Holt & Company, 115 West 18th Street, New York, New York 10011, 1992. $14.95 ISBN: 0805016260 THE ART OF SCREENWRITING: STORY, SCRIPT, MARKETS by William Packard, Paragon House Books, 90 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, 10011, 1987. $10.95 ISBN: 091372937X ATTACK OF THE MONSTER MOVIE MAKERS: INTERVIEWS WITH 20 GENRE GIANTS, by N.C. Jefferson, McFarland Books, 1994. CLAUSE BY CLAUSE: THE SCREENWRITER'S LEGAL GUIDE, by Stephen Breimer, Dell Books, Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1540 Broadway, New York, New York, 10036, 1995. THE CRAFT OF THE SCREENWRITER: INTERVIEWS WITH SIX CELEBRATED SCREENWRITERS, by Joseph John, Simon and Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10020, 1981. FADE IN: THE SCREENWRITING PROCESS by Robert A. Berman, published by Michael Wiese Productions, 3960 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Suite 331, Studio City, California 91604, with Focal Press, 80 Montvale Ave, Stoneham, Massachusetts, 02180, 1988. $18.95 ISBN: 0941188078 FEATURE WRITERS 1980-1992: THEIR CREDITS AND THEIR AGENTS, by Michaelina Lee, Hollywood Creative Directory Publishers, Santa Monica, California, 1992. FILMMAKING: NARRATIVE AND STRUCTURAL TECHNIQUES by Bob Foss, Silman-James Press, distributed by Samuel French Trade, 7623 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, California 90046, 1992. $15.95 ISBN: 1879505142 FILM SCRIPTWRITING: A PRACTICAL MANUAL, by Dwight Swain, with Joye Swain, second edition, Focal Press, 80 Montvale Ave, Stoneham, Massachusetts, 02180, 1988. $29.95 ISBN: 0240511905 FROM SCRIPT TO SCREEN: THE COLLABORATIVE ART OF FILMMAKING by Linda Seger and Edward Jay Whetmore, Owl Books, Henry Holt & Company, 115 West 18th Street, New York, New York, 1994. $14.95 ISBN: 0805023038 GETTING YOUR SCRIPT THROUGH THE HOLLYWOOD MAZE by Linda Stuart, Acrobat Books, P.O. Box 870, Venice, California 90294, 1993. $14.95 ISBN: 0918226309 A GUIDE TO AMERICAN SCREENWRITERS: THE SOUND ERA 1929-1982, by Larry Langman, Garland Publications, New York, 1984. A HOLLYWOOD EDUCATION by David Freeman, Carroll and Graf, Publishers Group West, 260 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York, 10001, 1992. $10.95 ISBN: 0881848700 HOW TO MAKE IT IN HOLLYWOOD, by Linda Buzzell, Harper Collins Publishers Inc., 10 East 53rd Street, New York, New York, 10022, 1992. $11.00 ISBN: 0060965967 HOW TO PITCH AND SELL YOUR TV SCRIPT, by David Silver, Writer's Digest Books, 1507 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45207, 1991. $17.95 ISBN: 0898794676 HOW TO SELL YOUR SCREENPLAY by Carl Sautter, New Chapter Press Inc., Old Pound Road, Pound Ridge, New York, 10576, 1992. $14.95 ISBN: 0942257243 HOW TO WRITE A MOVIE IN 21 DAYS: THE INNER MOVIE METHOD by Viki King, Perennial Library, Harper and Row publishers, New York, 1988. $11.00 ISBN: 0062730665 THE LOS ANGELES AGENT BOOK by K. Callan, Sweden Press, Box 1612, Studio City, California 91614, 1994, $15.95 ISBN: 1878355023 THE MOVIE BUSINESS BOOK, edited by Jason E. Squire, Fireside Books, Simon and Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10020, 1992. $14.00 ISBN: 067175095X THE NEW SCREENWRITER LOOKS AT THE NEW SCREENWRITER, by William Froug, Silman-James Press, distributed by Samuel French Trade, 7623 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, California, 90046, 1992. THE NEW YORK AGENT BOOK by K. Callan, Sweden Press, Box 1612, Studio City, California 91614, 1993. $15.95 ISBN: 0961733691 NO ONE KNOWS THEIR NAMES: SCREENWRITERS IN HOLLYWOOD, by Jorja Prover, Bowling Green State University Popular Press, Bowling Green, Ohio, 1994. PLAYWRITING FOR THEATER, FILM AND TELEVISION by Laura Shamas, Betterway Publications, P.O. Box219, Crozet , Virginia, 22932, 1991. $11.95 ISBN: 155870213X SCORCESE ON SCORSESE, Edited by David Thompson and Ian Christie, Faber and Faber, publishers, Boston, Massachusetts, 1990. $12.95 ISBN: 0571152430 SCREENWRITER'S HANDBOOK by Constance Nash and Virginia Oakley, Harper Perennial, Harper Collins, 10 East 53rd Street, New York, New York, 10022, 1993. $10.00 ISBN: 006463454X THE SCREENWRITER LOOKS AT THE SCREENWRITER by William Froug, Silman-James Press, distributed by Samuel French Trade, 7623 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, California, 90046, 1991. $14.95 ISBN: 1879505010 THE SCRIPT IS FINISHED NOW WHAT DO I DO? by K. Callan, Sweden Press, Box 1612, Studio City, California 91614, 1993. $15.95 ISBN: 1878355007 SELLING YOUR SCREENPLAY by Cynthia Witcomb, Random House, New York, 1988. $11.95 ISBN: 0517570084 [Recommended by Charles Deemer] SUCCESSFUL SCRIPTWRITING by Jurgen Wolff and Kerry Cox, Writer's Digest Books, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1988. $14.95 ISBN: 0898794498 [Again, also check out Kerry's Hollywood Scriptwriter -- Nadine White] TELEVISION WRITING: FROM CONCEPT TO CONTRACT, by Richard Blum, revised edition, Focal Press, 80 Montvale Ave, Stoneham, Massachusetts, 02180, 1984. $24.95 ISBN: 0240517377 THE TOOLS OF SCREENWRITING, by David Howard and Edward Mabley, St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010, 1993. $13.95 0312119089 [See Charles Deemer's recommendation] TOP SECRETS: SCREENWRITING, by Jurgen Wolff and Kerry Cox, Lone Eagle Publishing Company, 2337 Roscomare Road, Suite Nine, , Los Angeles, California, 90077-1851, 1993. $19.95 ISBN: 0943728509 [See Charles Deemer's recommendation - Kerry also publishes the Hollywood Scriptwriter Newsletter, another nice piece of work. -- Nadine White] TV SCRIPTWRITER'S HANDBOOK by Alfred Brenner, Silman-James Press, distributed by Samuel French Trade, 7623 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, California, 90046, 1992. $13.95 ISBN: 187950510X THE UNDERSTRUCTURE OF WRITING FOR FILM AND TELEVISION, by Ben Brady and Lance Lee, University of Texas Press, P.O. Box 7819, Austin, Texas, 78713-7819, 1988. $12.95 ISBN: 0292785151 VIDEO SCRIPTWRITING, by Barry Hampe, Plume Books, Penguin USA, 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York, 10014, 1993. $14.00 ISBN: 0452268680 WORKING IN FILM: THE MARKETPLACE IN THE 90s, by Paul Lazarus, St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010, 1993. $14.95 ISBN: 0312094183 WRITING FOR FILM AND TELEVISION by Stewart Bronfeld, Touchstone Books, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1981. $7.95 ISBN: 0671628283 WRITING SCRIPTS FOR TELEVISION, RADIO AND FILM by Edgar Willis and Camille D'Arienzo, 3rd edition, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers, 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, California 32887, 1993. $23.00 ISBN: 0030750113 WRITING SCRIPTS HOLLYWOOD WILL LOVE by Katherine Atwell Herbert, Allworth Press, 10 East 23rd Street, New York, New York 10010, 1994. $12.95 ISBN: 188055920X WRITING THE SCRIPT: A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR FILMS AND TELEVISION, by Wells Root, Owl Books, Henry Holt & Company, 115 West 18th Street, New York, New York, 1979. $10.95 ISBN: 0805002375 ****************************** ***** RECENT ADDITIONS (JULY, 1997) ***** ****************************** The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script, by D. Trottier, Order from: Box 520248, Salt Lake City, UT 84152 (and bookstores everywhere) $18.95 ISBN: 1-879505-26-6 Remains one of the best and most solid references a screenwriter can buy. N. White ***** WRITING TREATMENTS THAT SELL by Kenneth Atchity and CHi-Li Wong, Owl Books, Henry Holt and Company, 115 West 18th Street, New York New York 10011. published 1997. $14.95 ISBN: 0-8050-4283-0. (Also published in Canada, through Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 195 Allstate Parkway, Markham, Ontario L3R 4T8 at $20.95) Has discussions of the differences between treatment, synopsis, coverage, outline. Looks at treatments for movies, TV and speaks to adaptations as well. First book I have seen that addresses the subject in depth - worth checking out. N. White **** STORY SENSE: WRITING STORY AND SCRIPT FOR FEATURE FILM AND TELEVISION, by Paul Lucey, McGraw HIll Books, New York, $20.00. 1996. ISBN: 0-07-038996-9 I had one individual on the Net who contacted me not once but twice about this book. It took a little time to find. Builds nicely to make important points. Lots of good examples.- N. White ***** SPEC SCREENPLAY SALES DIRECTORY (Regular Edition) $29.95. SPEC SCREENPLAY SALES DIRECTORY (Deluxe Edition) $59.95. >From bookstores that feature film industry books in the following cities, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, New York, Vancouver, and Toronto. Also by mail order from: In Good Company Products, 2118 Wilshire Blvd, #934J, Santa Monica, CA 90403-5784. Include $4.00 shipping and handling and $2.45 tax CA.residents, for the $29.95 book and $5.00 shipping and handling and 4.95 tax CA. residents for the $59.95 book. For more info call (310) 828-4946. SPEC SCREENPLAY SALES DIRECTORY (Regular Edition) $29.95. There are two new directories being published for screenwriters and other industry professionals. The regular edition of the Spec Screenplay Sales Directory documents more than 300 spec screenplay sales to Hollywood including such info as the logline, writer, genre, agent, agency, date of sale, purchase price, producer, company contact, attorney etc. It lists sales from 1994 to the present and is cross-referenced four ways...sales by agent, sales by agency, sales of a million dollars and up by writer and first-time spec sale by writer. SPEC SCREENPLAY SALES DIRECTORY (Deluxe Edition) $59.95. The Deluxe version of the Spec Screenplay Sales Directory lists more than 700 screenplays and goes from 1990 up until the end of May of this year (1997). It includes all the info in the regular edition but has more listings and is cross-referenced eight ways. It includes four more cross-referenced sections than the regular edition...sales by screenwriter, sales by buyer, sales by genre and sales by date. These books are helpful to writers in a few different ways: 1. The writer looking for an agent can target a screenplay to agents that might have sold similar material in the past. 2. The writer can get an idea as to what the industry has bought and is buying. No sense writing the same script that was bought six months ago. 3. The writer without an agent can find out who at the companies found the material and maybe get their screenplay to that person. 4. By studying the hundreds of loglines, the writer should be able to write better query letters with an interesting 2-3 sentence synopsis of the available screenplay. Howard Meibach, Publisher *********
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