Get Your Hero Up a Tree: How to Write a Movie

by Mark Achtenberg

Created for the college classroom, and intended for aspiring screenwriters, Mark Achtenberg’s Get Your Hero Up a How to Write a Movie (That Doesn’t Stink) is a surprisingly refreshing and entertaining how-to book that tackles the medium of film. A long-time educator and respected expert in the field, Achtenberg approaches his topic from a position of deep understanding, producing a guide that at times reads like a philosophical treatise but for the healthy dose of wit and humor throughout. Indispensable for serious students of film and screen writing, this book will also prove a pleasingly insightful read for movie aficionados and enthusiasts alike. 

91 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Henry Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sort of book that every aspiring scriptwriter should read. It is simple and concise and full of hard won wisdom. Achtenberg has worked in many facets of the film and TV industry and has watched more movies than you and I put together. He knows what he's talking about. This book is written in an easily-accessible style and it will leave you wanting to go out and write a script.
That being said...this is a great book for any film buff that is looking for a deeper understanding of how movies work, and how they fail.

[Roderick Vonhogen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The author teaches you some very fundamental elements of good screenwriting, and illustrates it with a lot of examples from classic and recent movies. Some great observations about Star Wars, Disney movies and classic movies like Jaws and the Shawshank Redemption.