Product Description

The up-to-date, acclaimed guide to writing and selling screenplays to today's film and TV markets. This is the new screenwriter's bible.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #106382 in Books
• Published on: 1991-09-25
• Released on: 1991-09-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 325 pages

From Library Journal
If you've got a half-finished screenplay in the drawer, these two unflaggingly optimistic additions to the how-to literature will make you want to dig it out and get to work. Aimed at beginners, both are by academics who not only teach the subject, but are professional screenwriters themselves. In agreement on most of the basic points, each gives a solid discussion of the craftcharacters, story development, etc.and industry; lays out the all-important details of format; then tells how to market the finished product. Hauge's volume is a detailed manual offering a step-by-step methodology, a scriptual analysis of a hit film, The Karate Kid , and handy chapter summaries. Walter's is more general and breezily written. Both authors argue that screenwriting is a developable craft rather than an art and stress the overpowering need for strong-willed commitment to achieve success. They also agree that, despite all the high-paid, well-established hacks, especially in TV, if you don't have talent, perseverance, imagination, and some luck, you're in the wrong field. For those libraries that can buy only one more title in this crowded field, Hauge is the preferred choice. Two other recent books are Jurgen Wolff and Kerry Cox's Successful Scriptwriting, Writer's Digest, 1988; and Ben Brady and Lance Lee's The Understructure of Writing for Film & Television, Univ. of Texas Pr., 1988. The latter seems aimed at replacing Brady's Keys to Writing for Television and Films as the standard college text. Ed.David Bartholomew, NYPL
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"The most practical and best single book on the subject." -- --Hollywood Scriptwriter

Review
"The most practical and best single book on the subject." (Hollywood Scriptwriter )

"If you're serious about becoming a screenwriter, start by reading this book." (Robert Mark Kamen, screenwriter, The Karate Kid and The Power of One )

"The craftsman's blueprint for anyone who is serious about writing or developing good screenplays." (Roger Birnbaum, Chairman, Spyglass Entertainment; former President of Production, Twentieth Century Fox )

Customer Reviews

Beginners start with this book
This was fortunately one of the first books I started with and it was a dandy. Much better than Syd Field and several of the other starting books. Hague remains upbeat (something you need to break in to screenwriting) and covers all the main points and questions for starting out. Even more important, he talks about why you should and should not be doing it and living a good life.

When you're read for something intermediate, check out Armer's WRITING THE SCREENPLAY and Thom's THE BIG DEAL (about spec scripts that sold in the last decade or so).

And, for advanced techniques go to: Lagos Egri's THE ART OF DRAMATIC WRITING (more for plays but it does apply) and McKee's STORY . . . and, of course, the superlative WORDPLAYER.COM with free articles by two working screenwriters . .. Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio.

One of the best
This is by far one of the best books on screenwriting that I own. Hauge is a skilled and experienced teacher and his methods are communicated clearly. I find that the book is a perfect blend between the over-technical school (Syd Field) and the "just write it" school (Lazarus, Viki King). Highly recommended.

The best first book on screenwriting you should read!
Michael Hauge is one of the top screenwriting consultants in Hollywood. If you're interested in becoming a screenwriter or just curious about the process professional Hollywood screenwriters go through, this is the book for you. It's considered an industry standard by many of the top film schools in New York & L.A. In clear and simple language, Hauge lays out the basic fundamentals of screenwriting. This is a great book for both the novice screenwriter as well as the working professional looking to reacquaint themselves with the fundamentals of screenwriting.