The Complete Book of Scriptwriting

by Straczynski, J. Michael

• ISBN13: 9780898795127
• ISBN10: 0898795125
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1996-10-01
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books

Summary

To survive and thrive in the fantasyland that is show business, you need to know the realities of writing and selling. J. Michael Straczynski learned these realities the hard way. With his help, you'll learn them the easy way. Here the writer/producer of Murder, She Wrote and creator of Babylon 5 tells you how it really is - and how you can really succeed writing scripts. Straczynski shows you the importance of distinguishing yourself, through professionalism and discipline, from the wannabes. He helps you strengthen your writing technique while urging you to bring your own vision to your work, avoid formula, and create from passion. And he takes you in for a close look at every entertainment medium hungry for good scriptwriters.

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Introduction	1	(6)
PART I TELEVISION
A Brief History of Television	7	(9)
The Writer, the Language, the Formats	16	(19)
The Craft of Telescripting	35	(42)
Marketing the Television Script	77	(27)
A Look at the Future	104	(12)
PART II MOTION PICTURES
A Brief History of Motion Pictures	116	(13)
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Screenwriting	129	(10)
The Art of the Screenplay	139	(6)
The Craft of Screenwriting	145	(14)
The Screenplay	159	(22)
Marketing the Screenplay	181	(25)
PART III ANIMATION
Animation: Past, Present and Future	206	(10)
The Art and Craft of the Animation Script	216	(19)
Marketing the Animated Script	235	(6)
PART IV RADIO
Radiodrama Scripting: Past, Present and Future	241	(7)
The Art and Craft of Radiodrama Scripting	248	(25)
Marketing the Radiodrama Script	273	(16)
PART V THE STAGE PLAY
Writing for the Stage: Past, Present and Future	289	(5)
The Art and Craft of the Stage Play	294	(28)
Marketing the Stage Play	322	(10)
PART VI THE BUSINESS OF SCRIPTWRITING
Warning Signs	332	(9)
The Writers Guild of America	341	(7)
The Art of Getting and Keeping an Agent	348	(7)
Appendix	355	(13)
Appendix Two	368	(51)
Index	419