How to Write a Movie in 21 Days: The Inner Movie Method
by Viki King
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.53 You Save: $10.46 (65%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.40 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of How to Write a Movie in 21 Days: The Inner Movie Method
Book Review: for the procrastinating screenwriter
Summary: 4 Stars
I roll my eyes and sigh every time a screenwriting book mentions tired old forumula's and routine screenplay templates such as plot point number 2 has to fall on page 45 or the turning point has to be on page 90, etc. This book is riddled with them.
However, I found this book to be a nice roadmap for the writer who deliberates much too much in their head and thusly produces nothing in effect. I followed the 21 days writing excercise and managed to get a first draft on paper roughly around 27 days.
For that alone, I recommend this book. But if you want to learn how to 'write', don't look for any book to teach you that. It's true that every story has a beginning, middle, and end but when you rely on Hollywood standards you end up with a generic film script.
Book Review: I'd give it more stars, if I could.
Summary: 5 Stars
If you have at least a glimmer of an idea for a screen play, this is the book for you to get it into manuscript form. It's writing by the numbers, i.e., the first crisis by a certain page, but it's an exceptionally easy formula to follow. In addition, the author gives specific instructions to set up the page format in acceptable script form. I know college writing classes where this little book is required reading before you can even enroll. I write stage plays, 12 that have been produced, several off-Broadway, and I have found this book helpful for that medium as well. Again, if you've got the idea for a plot, follow the instructions herein, and you will have a completed script in 21 days using this painless method. But, there's the rub -- you do need an idea.Book Review: Terrific Little Book
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a terrific little book! I agree with the general thrust of many other reviewers - Good solid information (so much of this literature is utter trash and worthless filler), quite motivating. And - no - you won't write a movie in 21 days BUT you will at least finish a first draft. For those like me who have started numerous scripts and finished none of them that is something! I can understand why this book seems to have a very fervent following of almost AA/Amway intensity. I've purchased 40 or more books on screen writing and story writing. I'm adding '21 Days' to my short list along with: Screenplay/Syd Fields, Screenwriter's Bible/David Trottier, Story/Robert McKee, The Key/James Frey and The Art of Dramitic Writing/Lajos Egri.Book Review: Worked for Me!
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a gimmick book with substance, if such a thing is possible. At the risk of sounding like a cheesey testimonial, I want to say that I bought the book, read it, followed the simple advice she offered and the result was a finished screenplay.
Viki King understands all the things that prevent people who want to write from doing so. She can chase away all the negative thoughts that cloud a writer's mind. I also appreciated the way she assures you that quitting your job and selling all you own will not make it any easier to finish something if you are not in the right frame of mind.
Have I sold my screenplay? No. But the satisfaction I got in finally finishing one was worth the price of the book and then some.
Book Review: Haste makes waste
Summary: 1 Stars
This was the first book I bought when I was learning how to write screenplays. I have a finished screenplay now, but this book was not at all helpful. In my opinion this book adds to the difficulty of writing a screenplay when there is a time factor. I would suggest a period of at least 2 months, most of the time going into planning. Who really cares about how quick you can write a screenplay, isn't the real goal to see how good you can write one? By the way of all the seminars by professional screenwriters that I've been to, I've brought this book up. None of them cared for it. Suggested instead was WRITING SCREENPLAYS THAT SELL by Michael Hauge, and after that Syd Field's books which go more into detail.