Writing & Selling Crime Film Screenplays

by Karen Lee Street

Advice from an expert, ranging from learning the subgenres to approaching financial partners Aimed at screenwriters, producers, development executives, and educators interested in the crime genre, this book provides an invaluable basis for crafting a film story that considers both audience and market expectations without compromising originality. A brief historical overview of the crime genre is presented for context along with an analysis of various crime sub-genres and their key conventions, police, detective, film noir, gangster, heist, prison, and serial killer. The book focuses on the creative use of these conventions and offers strategies for focusing theme and improving characterization, story design, structure, and dialogue. Paradigms, story patterns, and writing exercises are provided to assist the script development process, and strategies for revision are discussed along with key questions to consider before approaching creative or financial partners.

256 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 2013

About the author

Karen Lee Street is a long time Londoner, now living in Australia. She spent her earliest years in an old Pennsylvania farmhouse with far too many things that went bump in the night, memories of which bring a touch of the Gothic to her writing.

Her critically acclaimed historical mysteries follow the adventures of Edgar Allan Poe and C. Auguste Dupin. In Edgar Allan Poe & the London Monster, set in London 1840, the sleuthing duo investigate a true 18th century crime and its aftermath. Edgar Allan Poe & the Jewel of Peru sees the duo reunite in Philadelphia, 1844 to unravel a mystery involving old enemies, lost soul-mates, ornithomancy, and the legendary jewel of Peru. Edgar Allan Poe and the Empire of the Dead takes place in Paris, 1849 and is a tale of alchemy, mesmerism and magic, the shadows of the past and the endurance of love. It will be published in October 2019.

Other books by Karen include Writing and Selling Crime Film Screenplays a 'how to' book based on her experience working in the feature film industry and Tattoos and Motorcycles, a collection of interconnected short stories set in small town America.

Represented by Oliver Munson, A.M. Heath Literary Agents (London).

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of information about a multitude of crime films; the writing exercises were really useful and I like the idea of the 'image kit'. Industry interviews were interesting.