Author Appreciates Awesome Advice! | Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting...

A necessary evil for screenplay writers | Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting | Robert Mckee

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	• Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting Robert Mckee HarperEntertainment, 1997 - 480 pages average customer review:based on 174 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Great Starting Point.

You have an idea for a movie script, but are just looking at a blank white piece of paper. Here's a book that will get you going in the right direction.

Author Appreciates Awesome Advice!

I found Robert McKee's book STORY to be very helpful. Although it comes at the development of storyline from a screenwriters perspective there is plenty enough powerful information here to benefit every writer who wishes to hone their craft, whether they be screenwriter or not.

I am currently using Robert's insightful revelation of STORY: elements of a great story via effective use of plot-types, proper structures, intriguing character development, etc ... Plus it reveals to you ways to keep your STORY moving at a vivid, movie-like pace. It's all here in STORY!

Thank You Robert for your work in STORY. As an Author of Middle-Grade to Young-Adult novels myself, the need for great STORY is ever present. I have used your advice in the development of my EAFIN LOKDORE TRILOGY commencing with BOOK I - EAFIN LOKDORE and the MAGICIAN'S LOST MEDALLION.

Sincerely,
R.G. Edwards
[...]

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A necessary evil for screenplay writers

Don't get me wrong, this is a book that every screenwriter should read, but... I find myself at odds many times when reading it. First look at Robert McKee's IMDb listing. Here is a man who has NOT written a number of award-winning screenplays. I also believe that many of his observations about movies (and Hamlet) are just plain wrong... citing his opinion as fact. Unfortunately there are not many good books on the subject of screenwriting as the good screenwriters are writing screenplays rather than books about how to write screenplays. In the book's defense there are great insights about developing interesting characters and the need for conflict.

Like most people who have studied film, he puts too much stock in the classics. Not that they are not to be admired, but if you look deep enough you will find flaws with them as well.

All in all a good read but a little long for the actual information content. Still the best book on the subject of story writing in my opinion is "Backwards & Forwards" by David Ball if you're lucky enough to find it. I've also found that "The Screenwriter's Workbook" by Syd Fieldd gets a lot more use especially when you're trying to write your first few screenplays.

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Best book on screenwriting

I bought this book for an advanced screenwriting class and was very happy with the work I produced based on the guidance from this great film teacher. I read Syd Field's book too but STORY is much more indepth. It helps you focus on the question of your film and how it gets answered in the the three act model. If you're thinking about writing a screenplay I highly recommend it over all other choices.

The only book on writing you will ever need

Heaven forbid this book ever be confined to the world of screenwriters. I have been reading 'writing' books for the last fifteen years, and probably 40 or so have been read cover to cover. This is THE book I was always looking for and never realised until i read it. It is written with such depth and unparalleled understanding of story that I have read it 3 times through, noting every chapter, highlighter in hand, just to absorb all of its mouthwatering lessons. Every facet of storytelling is demystified.

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