The Complete Book of Scriptwriting

by Straczynski, J. Michael

• ISBN13: 9781582971582
• ISBN10: 1582971587
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-07-01
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books

Summary

Michael Straczynski, writer/producer of Murder, She Wrote and creator of Babylon 5, teaches scriptwriters everything they need to know to write and sell work for television, movies, animation, radio and the theater. They'll find page after page of insider advice and uncommon insight, while learning how to: bull; Approach the craft and business of screenwriting professionally bull; Strengthen their writing technique bull; Bring their own unique vision to the work bull; Avoid scriptwriting formulas bull; Master script format bull; Secure an agent's services bull; Elude show business's trickiest traps Straczynski covers each medium in depth. He reveals facts, tells stories and offers observations from the vantage point of a career in the business. He shows writers how to make their scriptwriting dreams come true-and assures them it's possible. J. Michael Straczynski has worked on the New Twilight Zone, Walker Texas Ranger, Jake and the Fatman, Murder, She Wrote and other television programs, including the award-winning Babylon 5. He has also written films, plays, books, articles and comics. He lives in Sherman Oaks, California.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction	p. 1
Television
A Brief History of Television	p. 7
The Writer, the Language, the Formats	p. 16
The Craft of Telescripting	p. 35
Marketing the Television Script	p. 77
A Look at the Future	p. 104
Motion Pictures
A Brief History of Motion Pictures	p. 116
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Screenwriting	p. 129
The Art of the Screenplay	p. 139
The Craft of Screenwriting	p. 145
The Screenplay	p. 159
Marketing the Screenplay	p. 181
Animation
Animation: Past, Present and Future	p. 206
The Art and Craft of the Animation Script	p. 216
Marketing the Animated Script	p. 235
Radio
Radiodrama Scripting: Past, Present and Future	p. 241
The Art and Craft of Radiodrama Scripting	p. 248
Marketing the Radiodrama Script	p. 273
The Stage Play
Writing for the Stage: Past, Present and Future	p. 289
The Art and Craft of the Stage Play	p. 294
Marketing the Stage Play	p. 322
The Business of Scriptwriting
Warning Signs	p. 332
The Writers Guild of America	p. 341
The Art of Getting and Keeping an Agent	p. 348
Appendix	p. 355
App. Two	p. 368
Index	p. 419
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.