Screenwriting Unchained: Reclaim Your Creative Freedom and Master Story Structure
470
Screenwriting Unchained: Reclaim Your Creative Freedom and Master Story Structure
470Hardcover
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Overview
Note: ISBN 9780995498129 has color interior, ISBN 9780995498174 has B&W interior.
In Screenwriting Unchained, Emmanuel Oberg sets out a dogma-busting, method for developing screenplays
This practical, no-nonsense guide leaves behind one-size-fits-all story theories and offers a refreshingly modern approach to story structure, making it a precious resource for anyone involved creatively in the Film and TV industry (or aspiring to be): writers, directors, producers, development execs, showrunners and storytellers eager to reach a wide audience at home and abroad without compromising their creative integrity.
Oberg identifies three main story-types-plot-led, character-led, theme-led-then reveals in a clear, conversational style how each of these impacts on the structure of any story and how we can use a single set of tools to develop any screenplay, from an independent crossover to a studio blockbuster. Crucially, he also looks at hybrids and exceptions, those unique gems that don't fit any of the story-types but still work beautifully.
This leads to the Story-Type Method, a powerful yet flexible way to handle the script development process. Oberg's inspiring framework doesn't tell filmmakers what to write and when, but focuses instead on why some storytelling tools and principles have stood the test of time, and how to use them in the 21st century.
Including case studies from films as diverse as Gravity, Silver Linings Playbook, Crash, , Birdman, Edge of Tomorrow, The Secret in Their Eyes, L.A. Confidential and The Lives of Others, Screenwriting Unchained will transform the way you write, read, pitch, design, assess and develop screenplays. Guaranteed!
Emmanuel Oberg is a screenwriter, author and creative consultant with twenty-five years of experience in the Film and TV industry. After selling a first screenplay to Warner Bros, he has by StudioCanal, Working Title / Universal, Gold Circle and Film4. He has also designed an internationally acclaimed Advanced Development Workshop and modules on thriller, comedy and TV Series, all based on the Story-Type Method®. He delivers them with passion to filmmakers all over the world. Emmanuel lives in the UK with his wife and their two daughters.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780995498129 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Screenplay Unlimited Publishing |
| Publication date: | 07/14/2016 |
| Series: | With the Story-Type Method , #1 |
| Pages: | 470 |
| Sales rank: | 972,800 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.44(d) |
About the Author
Table of Contents
ContentsAcknowledgements
Introduction
1. The Story-Type Method®: A New Framework for Developing Screenplays
1.1 What's Wrong with the Three-Act Structure?
Key Point 1: Story Structure Is Flexible
Key Point 2: The Fractal Aspect of Story Structure
Key Point 3: The Difference between a Plot-Led and a Character-Led Story
Key Point 4: Theme-Led Stories, or Why the Three-Act Structure Is Optional
Key Point 5: The Three-Act Structure Is Only One Side of Structure
1.2 So What Do We Need to Get It Right?
A New Approach to Story Structure
If We Know the Problem, We Know the Story-Type
1.3 Is Maslow Running the Show?
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Audience
Genre
Story-Type
Identification and Talent: The Key to Getting It Made
M-Factor and a Few Examples
1.4 Hands-On: What's Your Type?
2. Developing a Plot-Led Story
First Up
Are You (or Are You Working with) an Ascending or a Descending Writer?
2.1 Behind the Scenes
Managing Conflict
Protagonist-Goal-Obstacle-Conflict-Emotion
Five Essential Questions Regarding Managing Conflict
Managing Information
Dramatic Irony
Local Set-Up, Exploitation and Resolution: Heat
Set-Up Scene: Bolt
Exploitation Scene: Cyrano de Bergerac
Classical Misunderstanding: There's Something about Mary
Resolution Scene: City Lights
Mystery, Surprise and Suspense
Five Essential Questions Regarding Managing Information
Visual Storytelling
The First Three Minutes of...
Planting and Pay-Off
Avoiding a Deus Ex Machina: Gravity
Visual Storytelling and Moving Pay-Off: The Apartment
Increasing the Emotional Involvement of the Audience: Crash
2.2 Sequence the Action
Clarify the Main Action (Overall Three-Act Structure)
Choosing the Best Protagonist
Choosing the Best Goal
Choosing the Best Obstacles
Clarifying and Raising the Stakes
Break Down the Main Goal into Subgoals
Subgoals in Alien
Structure and Develop Each Sequence
The Hairpin Sequence in Misery
Don't Forget the Subplots
Sheriff Buster Subplot in Misery
Hands-On: Designing a Sequence
2.3 Craft the Draft
Genre
A Good Set-Up
Story World
Characterisation
Theme
Protagonist vs Antagonist
Protagonist vs Main Character
Hero vs Protagonist
Villain vs Antagonist
Inciting Incident vs Inciting Action
Encore Twist
Midpoint vs Mid-Act Climax
Cold Start
Flashbacks: To FB or Not to FB?
Time-Locks
Climax vs Ending
Happy Ending vs Satisfying Ending
2.4 Hands-On: What's at Stake?
2.5 Case Studies
Gravity
Billy Elliot
Misery
3. Developing a Character-Led Story
First Up
3.1 Map the Change
3.2 Sequence the Evolution
3.3 Grow the Draft
3.4 Hands-On: Growth, Change or Steadfast?
3.5 Case Studies
Silver Linings Playbook
The Intouchables
4. Developing a Theme-Led Story
First Up
4.1 Nail the Theme
4.2 Sequence the Strands
4.3 Weave the Draft
4.4 Case Studies
Crash
Cloud Atlas
4.5 Hands-On: Getting Stranded
5. Developing Something Else: Hybrids and Exceptions
5.1 Story-Types Are Structural Templates, Not Rigid Formulas
5.2 Case Studies
Edge of Tomorrow
The Lives of Others
Birdman
The Secret in Their Eyes
L.A. Confidential
6. Bringing It All Together
From the Original Idea to the Shooting Script
What We Want to Avoid: Script Doctors!
Story Editing Skills Should Prevent Last Minute Fixes
Development Stages: Selling Documents and Story Design Tools
6.1 Selling Documents
Pitch
Synopsis
Treatment
Screenplay
Package
6.2 Story Design Tools
Pitch
Story Structure Framework
Character Outline
Character Pages
Evolution Map / Character Breakdown
Relationships Map
Strands Map
Step Outline / Index Cards / Beat Sheet
Scene Breakdown
Screenplay
6.3 The Rewrite Stuff: 12 Ways to a Stronger Screenplay
Conclusion
Tools, Not Rules: Keep an Open Mind
Trust Your Instinct; Follow Your Passion
To an Easier Development Process!
Hands-On Solutions
What's Your Type?
What's at Stake?
Growth, Change or Steadfast?
Recommended Reading
If You Want to Find Out More...