The Understructure of Writing for Film and Television

by Brady, Ben

• ISBN13: 9780292785151
• ISBN10: 0292785151
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1988-06-01
• Publisher: Univ of Texas Pr

Summary

This unique, comprehensive introduction to screenwriting offers practical advice for the beginning writer, whether college student or freelancer. Based on their experience as professional writers and as teachers in a large, successful screenwriting program at California State University, Northridge, the authors provide a progression of assignments at manageable screenwriting lengths for beginners. They lead students through development of a premise, treatment, stepsheet, and, finally, miniscreenplay--essential elements in writing a longer script.A major feature of the text is the use of many example scenes from contemporary and classic American films, such as On the Waterfront, Kramer vs. Kramer, The Godfather, The Graduate, Tootsie, and more. Other scenes are drawn from international films and dramatic literature. The criticism of these scenes invites students to develop their own comparative models, while simultaneously providing exposure to the central analytical terms of good dramatic writing.The authors also place screenwriting within the larger tradition of dramatic writing in order to put the beginning writer in touch with the wealth of art, experience, and practical ideas the drama contains. They provide an up-to-date, practical discussion of marketing and copywriting a screenplay, with addresses of relevant professional societies. Most importantly, they never offer an ill-advised shortcut or restrict students to only one way of thinking about a character, situation, or scene. In The Understructure of Writing for Film & Television, the student' thought and creativity are central.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Getting on Your Feet

Your Dramatic Heritage

What Is a Dramatic Conflict?

What Is a Scene?

Camera Language and Format

Developing Character and Conflict

Introduction

Establishing Character and Conflict

Developing Character and Conflict to Crisis

Achieving Crisis and Climax

Handling Dialogue, Theme, Values, and Moral Urgency

Writing the Miniscreenplay

A Last Word

Appendix: The Market

Glossary of Film Terms

Index

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