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How Not to Write a Screenplay: 101 Common Mistakes Most Screenwriters Make
 
 
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How Not to Write a Screenplay: 101 Common Mistakes Most Screenwriters Make (Paperback)

by Denny Martin Flinn (Author) "You would be amazed how many screenplays have no contact information at all on the manuscript itself ..." (more)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
RRP: £14.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Lone Eagle Publishing Co ,U.S. (1 Aug 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1580650155
  • ISBN-13: 978-1580650151
  • Product Dimensions: 22.6 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 20,995 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

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Product Description

Product Description

Having read tons of screenplays as an executive, Denny Martin Flinn has come to understand that while all good screenplays are unique, all bad screenplays are the same. Flinn's book will teach the reader how to avoid the pitfalls of bad screenwriting, and arrive at one's own destination intact. Every example used was gleaned from a legitimate screenplay. Flinn's advice is a no-nonsense analysis of the latest techniques for crafting first-rate screenplays that sell.


From the Publisher

A "must-have" new screenwriting book
Having read tons of screenplays as an executive, Denny Martin Flinn has come to understand that while all good screenplays are unique, all bad screenplays are the same -- they’re bad. Flinn's book will teach the reader how to avoid the pitfalls of bad screenwriting, and arrive at one's own destination intact. Every example used was gleaned from a legitimate screenplay. Flinn's advice is a no-nonsense analysis of the latest techniques for crafting first-rate screenplays that sell. Includes script excerpts.

* Don't list a cast of characters. * Don't use (CONTINUED) at the top and bottom of each page. * Don't number your scenes. * Don't use CUT TO unless it's a new scene. * Don't tell the actors what words to punch. * Don't interpret everything. * Don't put acting notes into your script unless they are unavoidable. * Don’t coach an actor on how to say his lines. * There is no such thing as (a beat) and using this amid dialogue because you want the actor to take a pause, is incorrect. * Leave the music track alone. * People don’t talk to themselves. * Don't put in a lot of gratuitous camera instruction. * Don’t lecture. * Don't write current fads. About the author: Denny Martin Flinn is a produced screenwriter. Flinn authored the books What They Did For Love (Bantam Books) and Musical! A Grand Tour (Schirmer Books). He has also written two mystery novels. Mr. Flinn lives in Los Angeles.

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Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
You would be amazed how many screenplays have no contact information at all on the manuscript itself. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
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1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars This is how to write a screenplay, 13 Jan 2007
By P. J. Muldoon (U.K) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This is not a book on story, or archetypes, but a great guide on how your screenplay should be written. That's your screenplay, not how your story should be written. This book is for someone who is ready to write, and all the questions that will come up about what you should put on the page, and how you should put it on the page, will be answered.
If you are ready to write your screenplay this is the book you will need at hand to dip into everytime you need to know how to formatt a telephone call or how not to give stage or acting directions to the actor.
Extremly helpful book you'll keep referring to as you write.
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23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Done Deal's Review, 3 Aug 1999
By A Customer
"Rather than learn how to write the 'perfect' screenplay (as if there is such a thing), Flinn preaches how not to write the one that will make the agents, producers, and readers laugh at you."

"Flinn gives a no-nonsense, brutally honest look at what makes a screenplay terrible, and how to avoid the fate most screenplays - reaching the reject pile. For the sake of your screenplay and the paper wasted on poorly written screenplays, buy this book, analyze this book, and learn from this book." -Excerpts from Jason Antebi's review at Done Deal (Scriptsales.com)

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37 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Learning through mistakes, and professionals, 4 Dec 2000
By A Customer
The book is devided into 3 sections. The first section (the most part of the book) I would give 5 stars. The reason being that it teaches you, through mistakes and quality writing how to/ or not to write for film.

I found myself laughing at the witty comments the author makes. Often referring to bad writing submitted through 'quality agents'. It's a shame that the rest of the book tapers off towards the end.

The second part, is story developemt. The book only glazes over story. Other books dedicated to story development I would have to recommend, McKee's Story, for example.

The third section, only lasted a few pages, and is not worth mentioning about.

Overall, the book is very helpful. I've read about 9 other screenwriting books before, and this one made a very good impression on me. Despite its later flaws, it's still worth buying for the larger 1st part.

over and out, Daniel

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars More than meets the eye
I actually like this book a lot. The five stars are kind of irrelevant on this I feel, as these screenplay books often have different emphases, so are not better or worse, but... Read more
Published 17 days ago by Anti propaganda

5.0 out of 5 stars A reference book you need to have by your side - assuming you're writing a screenplay
I got this book and a couple of others last week. This one is astounding. Denny Martin Flinn opens by telling you he isn't some successful writer (he has one Star Trek under his... Read more
Published 18 months ago by James Beggs

2.0 out of 5 stars Overpriced and disappointing.
I've recently bought several books on screenwriting and this is the most disappointing of the lot by a long way. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Brimsley The Flabby Egg Instep

5.0 out of 5 stars Fandabidozi
The best book I've read on how to write a screenplay (and I've got and read loads).

As another reviewer says this is how to write the screenplay rather than the story... Read more
Published on 22 Oct 2007 by rowan tree

5.0 out of 5 stars A Review from ScreenStyle.com - The Screenwriters Store
This is an excellent book that provides a very able "checklist" of things to avoid or eliminate as you write your script. Read more
Published on 8 Aug 1999

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