Re-learning from Screenwriting books?

[Tigre de Oro]

Does anyone recommend purchasing screenwriting books if you've already gotten the basics down? I am going to a Borders today which (according to online inventory) has a few screenwriting books. Curious to know opinions if they can teach me more than I know. I don't know it all, but enough to "slide by", so don't get me wrong.

[Knaight]

Re: Re-learning from Screenwriting books?

If you're writing and optioning scripts as fast as you say, you should be writing your own book. Sounds like you've got this whole screenwriting thing down.

[Tigre de Oro]

Re: Re-learning from Screenwriting books?

I think my words have been twisted because I outlined my timetable and it took a little over 60 days. I don't have the attention span to write a book. That's why I write screenplays.

[Bono]

Re: Re-learning from Screenwriting books?

I find screenwriting books are always good to help get you thinking again about how to get it done. I always look toward my Save the Cat books to re-inspired me and make me focus on the task at hand. Am I learning things I don't know already? No. But it's like recharging the batteries for me.

I also read scripts too and that really helps.

[Tigre de Oro]

Re: Re-learning from Screenwriting books?

I think I will buy a Save The Cat if they have it. I've been asked if I've read it before by SM at Mad Hatter, so I guess I should get to reading it.

When I am writing a script of a specific genre, I collect EVERY similar script. Like right now, I've got NARNIA, THE NEVERENDING STORY, ALICE IN WONDERLAND all open in Nitro PDF. Reading scripts gives me that same motivation too.

[Patrick Sweeney]

Re: Re-learning from Screenwriting books?

I like the Save the Cat series a lot. Your Screenplay Sucks, by William Akers, has a lot of practical screenwriting advice. I find it especially useful in the later rewrite phase, where - hopefully! - I've solved most of the structure problems and am zeroing in on the nitty-gritty stuff. Plenty of good reminders and refreshers in that one.

[Moviequill]

Re: Re-learning from Screenwriting books?

forgo the how-to books now and concentrate on the ones about the industry itself, basically screenwriters talking about their craft... like any of William Goldman's tomes or Tales From The Script, 101 Habits Of Successful Screenwriters, Breakfast With Sharks, Screenwriters On Screenwriting, Real Screenwriting:Strategies & Stories From The Trenches, Screenplays: How 25 Screenplays Made It To A Theatre Near You

[emily blake]

Re: Re-learning from Screenwriting books?

Most inciteful book I ever read about the industry was Bruce Campbell's If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor.

[Jeff_Shurtleff]

Re: Re-learning from Screenwriting books?

As I've said many times before, read MAKING A GOOD SCRIPT GREAT by Linda Seger.

You'll see things differently after that.

Jeff Shurtleff

[dgl]

Re: Re-learning from Screenwriting books?

The Elements of Style (Strunk and White). Not a screenwriting book, but a must-have.

[poptart]

Re: Re-learning from Screenwriting books?

I've recently read and enjoyed "The Screenwriting Formula" by Rob Tobin.

[Tigre de Oro]

Re: Re-learning from Screenwriting books?

I went to an arcade yesterday and couldn't find time to get to the bookstore. Shooting Pool, playing shuffleboard, and drinking drinks got in the way.

Went to a Borders Express today and purchased the Screenwriter's Bible and the latest Save the Cat. (It was all they had per writing, but they had a lot of filmmaking books in general)

[chrischance]

Re: Re-learning from Screenwriting books?

I just ordered Save the Cat from amazon.co.uk, but I find reading scripts is good. Finding original spec scripts from successful movies is difficult, they all seem to be shooting scripts, so finding the original that sold the movie is the key for me.
Save the Cat has so many good reviews it must be worth having anyway.

[island]

Re: Re-learning from Screenwriting books?

In the Blink of an Eye, by Walter Murch. It's about editing, but taught me more about screenwriting than any other book I've read.

[dgl]

Re: Re-learning from Screenwriting books?

Just finished Stephen King's On Writing. Doesn't matter what you think of him, and though not specifically about screenwriting, it's hand's down the best book on writing I've read (okay, listened to).