- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Teach Yourself Books (18 Nov 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 034060378X
- ISBN-13: 978-0340603789
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 13 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 425,225 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
"Everything that you need to know can be found between these covers"
(- Total Film Magazine )"Raymond Frensham's invaluable guide to writing screenplays, 10th in the film best-sellers..."
(- The Independent Arts and Book Review ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.Product Description
In this guide to screenwriting, Raymond Frensham draws on his experience to take the reader through the processes involved in transforming creative ideas into a format that will work on screen. He offers regular checklists on structuring work, concentrating on visual language, dialogue, characterization and plot; he then shows how to present and sell the finished product in a crowded marketplace.
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is brilliant, not only showing you how to lay out a screenplay but going into the fine detail of how to structure plots without being confusing or full of jargon. Frensham also provides a lot of help in generating and refining ideas, an area that is neglected by many other screenwriting texts. I refer to this book on an almost daily basis, I can't give higher praise than that!
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The best thing about Frensham is his emphasis on characterisation.
The main arguement of Robert McKee's book is plot-structure being far more important than characterisation. Thus if you want to know about plot-structure then buy McKee but if you want a great character biography analysis checklist buy Frensham.
The main arguement of Robert McKee's book is plot-structure being far more important than characterisation. Thus if you want to know about plot-structure then buy McKee but if you want a great character biography analysis checklist buy Frensham.
Also frensham has lots to say about how to approach rewriting: he outlines his 6 different stages: again with good checklists.
Best of all he has a typical production company script reader's (story analyst) checklist, so that we know what how the enemy thinks.
However, on plot-structure he is too formulaic: he doesn't prove story principles the way McKee does. McKee's principles are based on Aristotle and Stanislavski.
I'd suggest you'd buy "An Actor Prepares" if you really want to 'Act at the desk' so that you feel what the characters feel.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Frensham begins at the beginning and finishes at the end: visual layout of your script (including size of pages, colour, text size, UK or US), synopsis, genres, the 8 basic stories, development of your story, character development, 1st draft, 2nd draft, to promotion.
Frensham takes you on a journey, he advises films to watch and take note from. HE IS TEACHING, it's kind of an interactive book.
If you are thinking of writing for film or TV, to say this book is invaluable is an understatment.
Alfred Hitchcock said 'To make a great movie, you need just three things: a great script, a great script, and a great script.' (taken from TY Screenwriting By Raymond Fresnsham.)
I say 'To learn to write that great movie, you need just three things: this book, this book, God! You need this book!'
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Using my copy as a door wedge.
Avoid this book, it will put you in the wrong direction completely. Robert Mckee "story" is a very good choice. The author, after some Googling, has done zero in screenwriting. Read more
Published 4 months ago by ST
Essential Reading
This is the ideal book for learning about the craft of writing screenplays. It really goes into the nuts and bolts of creating the bones of a story. Read more
Published 9 months ago by C. Campbell
Completely invaluable to every amateur screenwriter.
An enormously useful book. As a baby screenwriter, I've read practically every book, blog, website on screenwriting possible and this has to be the most comprehensive book that... Read more
Published 18 months ago by GloGlo
don't expect miracles
Writing a good script is difficult. Best way to do it, is to develop your own (unique) style, but you should learn the craft of screenwriting from those who have gone before... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Zeynep Ates
Ewww... AVOID!
With the likes of Robert Mckee and Syd Field around - this book has no place. It took me in completely the wrong direction, and looking back now - the writing was a disaster. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Bonnie Loves Coldplay
Terrible
This was absolutely terrible, it didn't hold my attention, it told me little I needed to know. In fact I began to dislike the author immensely afterwards. Read more
Published 24 months ago by FuzzyLou
A good introduction
I belive this book is a good introduction to the craft of screewriting. I'm no expert on the matter but I found it very useful and complete. Read more
Published on 2 April 2010 by G. Carvalho
badly written, but a nice checklist at the back,
There are many (maybe hundreds!) of screenwriting books outthere.
Only a handful of them are any good, this is certainly NOT one of them. Read more
Only a handful of them are any good, this is certainly NOT one of them. Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2010 by Mrs K Digby
Rubbish from start to finish
As a previous review states - this book is off putting to any aspiring screenwriter.
Not only does it make the task seem monotonous and dull, it takes you on a journey... Read more
Not only does it make the task seem monotonous and dull, it takes you on a journey... Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2010 by Ian Dennis
Useful and comprehensive
Ray Frensham offers a straightforward manual on the craft of screen writing. The examples are well chosen and the exercises will lead the aspiring witer towards their first script. Read more
Published on 22 Dec 2009 by Donald A. Mcintyre
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