If there is one skill that separates the professional screenwriter from the amateur, it is his or her ability to rewrite successfully. But rewriting can be confusing and difficult even for the most battle-hardened screenwriter. From the screenwriter ofTop Gun, Dick Tracy and The Secret of My Success comes a comprehensive guide that explores the art and craft of rewriting. Jack Epps, Jr. guides the writer to identify the weaknesses in his screenplay by using the pass method to solve individual story or character problems one at a time, rather than the common model of trying to fix everything in one giant rewrite, by taking the writer on a journey from First Draft to Final Polish.
With Screenwriting is Rewriting, Epps gives practical tips on organizing notes, creating a game plan, and then executing a series of precision focused passes that address the major story, character and plot issues. He includes sample notes, game plans and beat sheets from the his own work on films such as Sister Act, Tootsie andTop Gun. Also included are exclusive interviews about rewriting with screenwriting masters Robert Towne (Chinatown), Frank Pierson (Dog Day Afternoon), and Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich), and a companion website containing an instructor's guide for a 10 week term or 16 week semester.
By:
Jack Epps Jr. (University of Southern California USA)
Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
Spine: 28mm
Weight: 548g
ISBN: 9781628927405
ISBN 10: 1628927402
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 28 January 2016
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Introduction Glossary Chapter 1 - Receiving and Organizing Notes - Critical Feedback Chapter 2 - Interpreting Notes - Reading Tea Leaves Chapter 3 - Annotated Draft - Your Reference Guide Chapter 4 - Game Plan - Creating a Road Map for the Rewrite Chapter 5 - Index Card Method of Outlining - The Visual Outline Chapter 6 - Brainstorming & Problem Solving - Tools to Generate New Ideas Chapter 7 - Writing your First Pass - Getting Started Chapter 8 - Character Pass - The Emotional Core Chapter 9 - Story Pass - The Emotional Underpinning Chapter 10 - Plot and Structure Pass - Architecture and Design Chapter 11 - Feedback on the First Pass - Checking-in Chapter 12 - Revised Game Plan - Planning for the Next Series of Passes Chapter 13 - Relationship Pass - Interconnecting Chapter 14 - Obstacles and Complications Pass - Making Life Much More Difficult Chapter 15 - Scene Pass - The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts Chapter 16 - Consistent Pass - Motivated Actions Chapter 17 - Dialogue Pass - Less is More Chapter 18 - Polish Pass - Details, Details, Details Chapter 19 - Final Notes - Is it Ready to be Sent Out? Chapter 20 - The Last Read - One More Time from the Beginning Chapter 21 - Working with Directors, Producers and Executives - Patience, Patience, Patience Chapter 22 - Becoming a Script Doctor - Revising Other Writers' Works Appendices: Screenwriters on Screenwriting - Interviews: Robert Towne - Chinatown, Shampoo, The Firm, Mission Impossible Frank Pierson - Cool Hand Luke, Dog Day Afternoon, Mad Men Susannah Grant - Pocahontas, Erin Brockovich, The Soloist Index of Craft Tools Anatomy of a Rewrite Studio Notes Annotated Draft The Essential 50 Questions Character Wheels Game Plans Beat Sheet Index Cards
Author Website:
ScreenwritingisRewriting.com
Jack Epps, Jr. is the co-author of the films, Top Gun, The Secret Of My Success, Dick Tracy, Anaconda, and Turner and Hooch. Epps is also a script doctor and has contributed to films such as Sister Act and Die Hard With a Vengeance. Epps is a Professor and Chair of the Writing for Screen and Television Program at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, USA.
Reviews for Screenwriting is Rewriting: The Art and Craft of Professional Revision
And just when we thought we didn't need another book about screenwriting along comes this one, which in short order makes itself a must-have. Jack Epps is a great writer, a master teacher, as smart about character as he is about structure. He's distilled this part of our craft to its essence, and by heeding his book's fine wisdom we will all of us become better rewriters-and better writers. Howard A. Rodman, Screenwriter and President of the Writer's Guild of America, We Never in the history of Hollywood has a screenwriter heard the words: 'It's perfect; don't change a thing.' Even if someone were to say that, we know better and would change it anyway, and change it again, and again, and again. This book teaches the why and the how of rewriting and is written by a real, live, honest-to-God professional screenwriter who has successfully had many of his scripts made into movies. Stephen Sommers, Writer and Director of The Jungle Book (1994), The Mummy (1999), and Van Helsing (2004) An exemplary text on screenplay writing. Drawing from both his professional and academic experiences, Jack Epps, Jr. provides an excellent distillation of ideal screenwriting practice, creating an indispensable resource for both students and self-taught screenwriters. David Dunn, Principal Teaching Fellow in Film Studies, University of Southampton, UK
