Writing the Script

by Wells Root

This essential guide to writing for the screen goes step-by-step through the process of getting the script on paper, and then onto the screen.

Genres: Writing, Film, Nonfiction

210 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was, as advertised, a useful and practical guide to what makes a screenplay or teleplay good and sellable. Root emphasizes the importance of character as being at the heart of the audience's interest in almost any type of story. Perhaps his crystal ball was unable to perceive the degree of flatness and simplicity that most movie characters have today. Besides character, Root also trumpets the importance of conflict as being the basis for any decent drama. Even small scenes, according to Root, need to have a "three act structure" and conflict - this is true for comedy as well as drama and action. He recommends reading dialog out loud and making lists of characters' traits. This is done in a straight from the shoulder journalistic style; no fancy prose stylist is Mr. Root. But he is an effective teacher of the basics of sound screenwriting.

[Collin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lot of basic information with a few gems. Those were mostly simplifications of concepts that writers should know, or do know, but either don't think of or don't know they know.

Of course, there's all the charming 70s/80s sexism and racism, too, which, you know, heaven knows why that belongs in a book about writing. It's made all the more frustrating by Root sometimes pointing out that the degradation/objectification of women is wrong, but following it up by the justification, "But it sells, so [shrug]". Ugh.

I also skimmed the chapter or two that had mostly to do with prices/selling ranges.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read. Some obvious things. Could use more concrete examples of scripts and discussion of solving basic technical problems presented by story telling with the camera.

[Danny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good tips and observations here. "Push your character off a cliff..."

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Character development based on responses to crises is what makes a compelling story.