Teach Yourself Screenwriting

By Raymond G. Frensham

Book Overview

Many readers dream of seeing their stories on the silver screen, but most do not know how to write a screenplay, let alone get their script into the right hands. For those readers wanting the "how-tos" of Hollywood, Teach Yourself Screenwriting is an easy-to-comprehend yet thorough introduction to this art. Here they will get the basics and advice on how to get their work onto celluloid. This book covers the techniques and specialized skills used in writing for this visual medium and answers the practical questions often asked by budding screenwriters. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0844231118
• ISBN13: 9780844231112
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/Contemporary
• Length: 250 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

A great starting point.

I spent over an hour browsing and skimming through all the highly accredited, big name screenwriting books. I found that this one, above all, was the most informative. Whilst some of the others were more helpful with generally improving your writing skills and story structure, etc, this one covers the fundamentals and is more ideal for those at a beginner level. Basically, it covers the same ground as the others but narrows...

The Only Book You Need

I've read other books about screenwriting but I was always somewhat disappointed with them. I realized why after I read "Teach Yourself Screenwriting." It's the only book I've seen on the subject that is really complete and comprehensive. All others have too many shortcomings. What I loved most was the way the book provides a detailed analysis of the structure of a good screenplay, clearly outlining the three act structure,...

My First and Still My Favorite

I read this before reading Syd Field, Christopher Vogler, and the others. This book is almost intimidating in its detail, but for a self-teaching writer I recommend it above the others because:1. MORE DETAILED STRUCTURE. Frensham breaks down the structure of a script into smaller, tighter detail than simply having three acts, or three plot points. Once you know the material, cliche cliche, you can play with it, but it's...

a sweet irony

There's a deliciously sweet irony here in that this humble (teach yourself series) little gem of a book is, in my opinion, better organized and more comprehensive and inspiring than other big-name books (including those written by screenwriting titans Robert Mckee and Syd Field) I've read on scriptwriting. It's an intelligent, no-nonsense, nuts and bolts instruction manual that is sprinkled with humor, insight, and inspirational...

In a class of its own. The Best.

Mr Frensham knows all the tricks and knows all the pitfalls. Read this book and you will have everything you need to know at a fraction of the price. No need to go to expensive script gurus and listen to their high powered sales talk. No need to read all the others on how to do the thing. Read this and then just write, and write well. The message of this book is that nothing succeeds better than having something to say and...