Comments on: Crafty Screenwriting: Writing Movies That Get Made

By: Sam Mills

Sam Mills — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:10:27 +0000

Rubby ducky, pat the dog, and why don’t they just call the cops!

A pragmatic approach to screenwriting in commonsense language from a long-time development exec and scripter.

I read an early version of this book when it was still a webpage and found it filled with both practical advice – the Apple Mac’s Courier New is 10% smaller than the PC which means 12 extra pages – to the inspirational magic of the old Celtic myths.

A great new addition to the literature of the well-made script.
Rating: 5 / 5

By: montana malone

montana malone — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:41:57 +0000

INT. MONTANA'S OFFICE - NIGHT

Montana closes CRAFTY SCREENWRITING. A light bulb BURSTS.

MONTANA
Hook? You need a hook? Why
didn't anyone tell me that before?

Her mouth opens to speak. Nothing comes out. She sighs. Gives herself a pep talk.

MONTANA
Pay attention. Come on, you can do
it. Alex says the best way to tell
your story is by --

BACK TO REVIEW:
I highly recommend this book. It's clear. Funny. Extremely helpful. The End.

Rating: 5 / 5

By: Ace DeSone

Ace DeSone — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:17:35 +0000

When it comes to books on screenwriting, I make it my habit to read them all, as you never know when something will hit home.

I opened this book, and almost devoured it in one sitting, it’s that compelling. Every level of professional and wanna-be screenwriters will find something useful here, although I think that people with one or more screenplays under their belts will find more of what they NEED to know.

The author lays it out in no-nonsense style, which is great, ’cause I hate for someone to waste my time. This book isn’t so much about theory, or art, it’s about what has to be done to write a screenplay that will be SOLD. Epstein doesn’t ask screenwriters to abandon their art, just to adapt it in subtle little ways to make it suit the marketplace.

I, myself, found the sections on “genre” especially helpful, as it cleared up the problems I was having with a particular script, one that had been close to a deal several times.

And now, I have to go back and fix those problems, but now I know what exactly what they are. I’ve been working on this script for almost six years now, and for ten bucks and change, Alex Epstein got right to the root of my problem!

Thanks, Alex!
Rating: 5 / 5

By: MAX HAMMER

MAX HAMMER — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:30:33 +0000

No nonsense book, sly, satirical and funny, destructive or realest viewpoint of the profession. This is the rage in showbiz. I enjoyed it and like his approach.
Rating: 4 / 5

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:51:02 +0000

While Epstein’s book is better than most on this subject — most consisting of books that suggest a total outsider can write a screenplay this year and pick up his or her Oscar next year –’Crafty Screenwriting’ still suffers from the fact that it’s pretty close to impossible to break into the entertainment industry without knowing someone in it, and generally someone high up in it, who will sponsor you.

If you want to know how competetive the movie industry truly is, stay in your seat and watch the end credits of the next film you see.

Guess what? All those people have screenplays or outlines of or ideas for screenplays, and they’re already in the business!

Nonetheless, if you’re crazy enough to want to try anyway, this book is worthwhile.
Rating: 4 / 5