The Craft of Scene Writing: Beat by Beat to a Better Script

A professional screenwriter's master class in writing the most critical and challenging script element--the individual scene. No one comes out of a movie talking about structure. What audiences love and remember about a movie are great scenes. Marlon Brando in the back seat in On the Waterfront giving his "I could'a been a contender" speech. Meg Ryan's fake orgasm in Katz's Deli in When Harry Met Sally with the climactic punch line: "I'll have what she's having." In Superbad, Jonah Hill professing "I love you" to his friend Michael Cera by touching his nose with a "boop." Great scenes will elevate your script from ho-hum to extraordinary--and from the slush pile to sellable. In The Craft of Scene Writing, accomplished screenwriter and master writing teacher Jim Mercurio analyzes and systematizes the beats, conflicts, character moments, action, dialogue, and structure that create powerful scenes. Citing examples from scripts old and new, The Craft of Scene Writing breaks down how great scenes reveal character, advance the story, and emotionally connect with audiences, plus demonstrates how to use these techniques in your own scripts. This incredibly detailed exploration of screenwriting technique will help beginning writers to write great scripts and experienced writers to gain a more complete mastery of their craft.

Author: Jim Mercurio
Publisher: Quill Driver Books
Published: 02/01/2019
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.09lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.77d
ISBN: 9781610353304

About the Author
Mercurio, Jim: - Jim Mercurio is a writer, author, screenwriter and filmmaker. He has directed or produced five feature films and has helped countless writers as a teacher, story analyst and script doctor. Mercurio is a former development executive, and has sold or written as work-for-hire several screenplays. He wrote and directed the bonus material for the film Making Hard Scrambled Movies--a two-hour seminar on making indie films--which The Washington Post called "a must for would-be filmmakers." Creative Screenwriting magazine ranked him as one of the top screenplay consultants in the country. Mercurio divides his time between Los Angeles and New York City.