Crafty Screenwriting: Writing Movies That Get Made (Paperback)
by Alex Epstein
ISBN: 0805069925

Price: USD 10.88
47 used & new available from USD 4.39

Summary

A book on how to write crafty screenplays. Crafty as in “screenwriting is my craft.”

The Good

Lots of examples. The only screenwriting book I’ve read that covers the why of proper formatting, as well as how to write adaptations of books. Good stuff.

The first screenwriting book I’ve read that doesn’t assume you’ve seen all the films in the examples.

Includes advice on how to sell your screenplay, if you’re so inclined.

The Bad

Mild language throughout, with a few spots where some saltier words show up.

Cynicism about Hollywood is funny the first two times, but gets annoying as the book goes on.

Overall

Worth a read for the formatting section. Also, the author disagrees which much of the arguments concerning the importance of structure that were so prominent in Save the Cat.

Read this book to get an alternate angle or theory and become a more well-rounded screenwriter. Or just get more confused as you seek to reconcile the two methods.

• Book Review: Save the Cat
• Book Review: The DV Rebel’s Guide
• Book Review: Making a Good Script Great
• Book Review: Filmmaking for Teens: Pulling Off Your Shorts
• Book Review: The Five C’s of Cinematography

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