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Title: Screenwriting From The Heart by James Ryan ISBN: 0-8230-8419-1 Publisher: Watson-Guptill Pubns Pub. Date: 01 January, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.17 (6 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: feed the roots
Comment: James Ryan's idea of writing from the heart reinforces confidence in the hearts of novice writers. As opposed to most of the other approaches which scare the novice showing that the writing process is an alien mechanism which has to be learnt from the seasoned Gurus or some institutions, rather than by intuition. Ryan demystifies the myth behind the writing process as, "there is nothing very abstract or academic about writing; it is an art form, yes, but first and foremost it is a craft." (pp. 5) While reading the first half of the book, this starting assurance has helped me to proceed further with enthusiasm. But, somewhere along the line, I found a question which was bothering me. That is, "How do you judge your own work whether you have achieved a genuine product of your heart or synthetic product of overflowing intellect, based on this approach?" I didn't find the answer to this question yet, but, this question is not meant as a complaint. James Ryan explains how the intangible creative flow from the heart can be triggered consciously by choosing an object. This exercise sounded very interesting and promising. Over all, this is a very useful book for both beginning writers and experienced writers.
One small comment I cant resist sharing with the co-readers and the author: On the one hand, Ryan advocates the ORIGINALITY that a writer can discover from his/her work, and on the other hand he tells us how there are already existing/fixed styles and types of films. This comes as a slight contradiction in the book: if every writer starts respecting his/her own originality, he/she can't stop it at the content only..it could eventually extend to inventing a new style or type!
I wrap up again summing up that this is a great book which gives a deep insight into the complex writing process without scaring the novice writer.. and to an experienced writer, it serves as a tool to re-examine if he/she is on the right track. This book shows us how we can control the final product, the screenplay by working on the central controlling element, the heart, just like how we can affect the external beauty of a plant by just feeding its roots. 'the heart.'
Rating: 5
Summary: Smart and Artful
Comment: I really liked this book because it helped me in so many unexpected ways. I liked how he showed me that a screenplay can be one or five acts, not just three, as the formula tells us it should be. His Free-Write exercises were just great. They actually broke me of this block I was having with my work and lead me to some very interesting places. They helped to make my work more original, which, right there, is worth the price of the book.
This is not a dumbed down book. It is really smart, tough, and very original. Even if you don't agree with what he says, you have to admit he makes you really think about screenwriting in a very fresh and original way. And I do agree with him that without great characters a screenplay will never be great.
I thought is was very well written and I recommend you give it a try. It will broaden your skills.
Rating: 2
Summary: Poorly written!
Comment: Let me first state that this is the first book I have read on the subject. This book definitely has some really helpful exercises and ideas to help a budding screenwriter, like myself. I am however disappointed in the writing; a major flaw in an instructional book about... writing.
The author seems somewhat self-important. He likes to use large or obscure words where smaller, more common ones would not only suffice, but would not only suffice, but would probably work better; I believe I have a good vocabulary, but had to dust off the dictionary to read this one. The book is also poorly researched. Two examples: in the introduction, mentioned "Hollywood films such as 'Operation Condor,'" a film from Hong Kong (obvious to anyone who has actually seen the film, since the dialog is dubbed); in a synopsis of the film "Pulp Fiction," the author totally butchers the timeline, and states that BUTCH (Bruce Willis) only briefly meets JULES and VINCENT (Jackson and Travlota respectively), neglecting to mention that BUTCH kills VINCENT while VINCENT is camped out waiting to kill BUTCH (the mention of this would defeat the argument he uses the story to demonstrate).
I must repeat that the book was helpful in several ways. I would imagine there are much better books on the subject, and recommend you seek those first.
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Title: Stealing Fire from the Gods: A Dynamic New Story Model for Writers and Filmmakers by James Bonnet, James Bonnet ISBN: 0941188655 Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions Pub. Date: October, 1999 List Price(USD): $26.95 |
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Title: How Not to Write a Screenplay: 101 Common Mistakes Most Screenwriters Make by Denny Martin Flinn ISBN: 1580650155 Publisher: Lone Eagle Publishing Company Pub. Date: August, 1999 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Creating Unforgettable Characters by Linda Seger ISBN: 0805011714 Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, Inc. Pub. Date: 15 July, 1990 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee ISBN: 0060391685 Publisher: Regan Books Pub. Date: 17 December, 1997 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: 500 Ways to Beat the Hollywood Script Reader : Writing the Screenplay the Reader Will Recommend by Jennifer Lerch ISBN: 0684856409 Publisher: Fireside Pub. Date: 13 July, 1999 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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