Writing Scripts Hollywood Will Love

by Katherine Atwell Herbert

A veteran story analyst reveals what is demanded of scriptwriters in today's competitive marketplace and offers guidance on everything from the script's appearance to plot, structure, characters,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1581150741
• ISBN13: 9781581150742
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: Allworth
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Worthwhile but a little negative

Ms. Herbert paints what I believe is a realistic picture of what any screenwriter will find himself/herself up against in the world of motion pictures. Having a great story is one thing, getting it sold (or even read) by someone is hard work.Ms. Herbert's book covers the script development and review process more than most books. She doesn't delve quite so much into story development, act structure etc. that you would expect to find in standard screenwriting books. This gives her book a refreshing edge because it looks at the industry rather than the art of script writing. Having said that, however, the writer does come across as a little too negative. By the end of the first couple of chapters, it's quite obvious that Hollywood is a tough place to break into and it will be hard work to do so, but she keeps beating it into the reader so that, by the time, you've reach the halfway mark you want to say "HEY! I'VE GOT IT. OKAY!". I'm also a little unsure about some of her suggested methods for getting a script into the hands of a producer or director (dressing up as a pizza delivery person and delivering it) or her seemingly strong belief that you can't break into the movie industry unless you live in California (preferably in LA).Nontheless, there are some good parts of the book that make it worth reading (hence the 4 stars). Ms. Herbert does have a unique insiders perspective (she was a scripts reviewer and teaches screenwriting) so it's worth paying attention.

Fantastic and funny!

Herbert's book was helpful in every creative area imaginable. She included step-by-step process so that your script won't be recognized as an amatuer. The book also contains many interesting bits of information about actors, writers, and the hollywood process. A definite MUST for anyone interested in screenwritring.