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It''s simple: films need to have commercial value for the studios to produce them, distributors to sell them, and theater chains to screen them. While talent definitely plays a part in the writing process, it can be the well-executed formulaic approaches to the popular genres that will first get you noticed in the industry. Genre Screenwriting: How to Write Popular Screenplays That Sell does not attempt to probe in the deepest psyche of screenwriters and directors of famous or seminal films, nor does it attempt to analyze the deep theoretic machinations of films. Duncan''s simple goal is to give the reader, the screenwriter, a practical guide to writing each popular film genre. Employing methods as diverse as using fairy tales to illustrate the ''how to'' process for each popular genre, and discussing these popular genres in modern television and its relation to its big screen counterpart, Duncan provides a one-stop shop for novices and professionals alike.>
List of contents
Chapter 1: The Basics of Dramatic Screenwriting
The Film Premise
Story Theme
Character
Suspension of Disbelief
Story & Plot
The Seven Elements of a Scene
The Sequence Approach
Screenplay Structure: Classic & Alternative Approaches
The "Rules" Versus the "Visceral" Approach
Chapter 2: Writing the Action-Adventure Genre
Lights! Camera! Action!
Origins of the Action-Adventure
Some Important Definitions
Hollywood's Love Affair with the Action-Adventure Genre
Key "How To" Elements to the Action-Adventure Screenplay
Writing Style Examples from Produced Screenplays
Action-Adventure & Television Series
Your Assignment
Chapter 3: Writing a Thriller Genre
Spine Tingling Nail Biter
First Things First: The Key Elements to the Murder Mystery
Brief Historical Perspective & Key Elements of Noir
The Thriller & Television Series
Your Assignment
Chapter 4: Writing the Science-Fiction-Fantasy Genre
The Illusion of Reality
Hollywood's Addiction to Computer Generated Images
Science-Fiction-Fantasy & Television Series
Your Assignment
Chapter 5: Writing the Horror-Fantasy
A Frightening Journey
A Brief Historical Perspective of the Horror-Fantasy Genre
Horror-Fantasy & Television Series
Your Assignment
Chapter 6: Writing the Comedy & Romantic Comedy Genres
Make "Em Laugh
The Origins of Comedy
The Romantic Comedy Genre
Comedy & Television Series
Your Assignment
Chapter 7: Marketing Your Finished Genre Screenplay
Nirvana: The Four Quadrants
From Script to Screen: How Films Get Made
Selling Your Screenplay
Landing Representation
The Screenplay Marketplace by Genre
The Appendix: Genre Screenwriting Templates
About the author
Stephen Duncan is an Associate Professor, and currently Chair of the Screenwriting Department, at Loyola Marymount University.
