Screenplay story analysis : the art and business / Asher Garfinkel.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Garfinkel, Asher, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Motion picture authorship.

Motion picture plays--History and criticism.

Motion picture plays.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

xx, 187 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Allworth Press, [2007]

Summary:

Learn how to become a professional story analyst. In addition to explaining the basic who, what, and why of writing story analysis--called "coverage" in the industry--this book reveals the skills and techniques needed to take your career to the next level, including: terms and story elements all professional readers must know; standard coverage format and content; methods for sharpening your analytic skills; how to acquire work as a professional story analyst; thought processes involved in reading and evaluating a screenplay. This book offers tips on the business aspect of being a story analyst that will prepare you for everything from finding clients to pleasing them to keeping them coming back.--Adapted from back cover.

Contents:

Introduction: What is coverage, who uses it, and why? ; Why learn how to read scripts and write coverage?

Section I: What's in a screenplay?. Plot ; Structure ; Character ; The supporting elements

Section II: What's in coverage? : the nuts and bolts of writing story analysis. The top sheet

a look inside your coverage ; The synopsis ; Comments ; The character breakdown

Section III: The business. Getting work ; Once you do get work.

Section I: What's in a screenplay? : terms, techniques, and general story elements you must know before evaluating a screenplay. Plot (central conflict; story; complications; reversals; holes) ; Subplot ; Backstory

Structure : the three acts ; other structural considerations ; Memento: a study of nonlinear substructure and how the three acts emerge

Character. The hero ; the villain ; archetypes ; cardboard and stereotyping ; the ensemble ; character-driven scripts ; Finding Nemo: a case study of structure in relation to character

The supporting elements : pace ; dialogue ; believability ; predictability ; payoff ; tone ; point of view ; theme ; formatting ; concept and marketability

a look inside your coverage : the top third ; the logline ; commercial potential ; element ratings ; story brief ; budget ; the recommendation (to be continued...)

The synopsis : synopsis format ; technique and tone ; sales and the one-pager. when scripts go bad ; synopsizing other forms

Comments : comments format ; content and "the four types" ; more about style ; at a loss for words ; commenting on other forms ; moment of truth: the recommendation ; recommending the writer

The character breakdown

Section III: The business : getting the work, keeping it, and using it to forward your career. Getting work : step one: practice ; taking notes ; develop your portfolio ; who's hiring and how to reach them ; and if that doesn't work... ; spec coverage; must I live on a "coast"?

Once you do get work : the life (and pay) of a reader ; five ways to keep your client satisfied ; the issue of subjectivity ; five responses to the disgruntled client ; increasing your work load ; taking it to the next level ; staying current and looking to the future

Appendixes. Coverage examples ; Bibliography and recommended reading ; Where to find completed screenplays tor practice ; Other resources for the story analyst ; The story analysts checklist ; Development notes guidelines ; Filmography.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (page 164) and index.

ISBN:

9781581154788

158115478X

OCLC:

76074353

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description