From Shorts to Features
Paperback, 300 pages
ISBN: 978-1-7331502-4-8
ISSN: 2690-0424
by Donald H. Hewitt
“Mastering Screenwriting” is a complete guide to writing both short and feature-length films. Author Donald H. Hewitt draws from his many years as a working screenwriter and as a screenwriting professor at UCLA, USC, and other top film schools. He provides a practical and actionable method for getting from the idea stage to a finished script. He also offers advice on screenplay writing samples for film school applications and a detailed teachers guide for those who wish to use the book as a textbook, including self-learners. Throughout the book, you’ll find information on the business of filmmaking and what it means to be a working screenwriter in Hollywood, plus some interesting anecdotes from Don’s career. Part of The Digital Filmmaking Handbook Presents series of books for filmmakers.
About the Author:
Donald H. Hewitt is a working screenwriter with over twenty-four years of experience. He is a member of the Writers Guild of America and teaches screenwriting at USC School of Cinematic Arts and UCLA Extension. His feature film credits include the English-language screenplay for the Oscar-winning film Spirited Away, as well as the Oscar-nominated Howl’s Moving Castle.
Look Inside
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 1 Why Shorts? Why Features?
- 2 Story and You
- 3 Loglines
- 4 Basic Story Structure
- 5 Character
- 6 Getting the Audience to Care
- 7 Character-Based Structure
- 8 Outline
- 9 Screenplay Format
- 10 Scenes
- 11 Start Fast
- 12 The Role of Dialogue
- 13 Dialogue Techniques
- 14 Scene Descriptions
- 15 Suspense
- 16 Set Pieces
- 17 The Non-Traditional Film
- 18 Film School Applications and Breaking In
- Appendix: Course Outlines for Teachers or Self-Paced Learners