An updated and revised edition, this book is a practical and popular guide to realizing the dream of succeeding as a screenwriter. Insider Skip Press gives novice screenwriters a cook's tour of the industry, then leads them through the process of picking a winning idea, structuring and writing a screenplay, and packaging the final script for sale. This down-in-the-trenches book provides invaluable tips and advice that will help the newcomer navigate the business and avoid mistakes that brand him/her as an amateur. In the third edition of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Screenwriting, readers will also find- CD-ROM packed with sample screenplays, Hollywood contact information, screenwriting software demos, and more. Chapters on writing for television, including a sample TV script segment. How comic book and 2D-animation software creations can lead to script and movie deals. Advice on using concise storytelling and viral short films effectively. A new chapter on sources for screenplays and movies, including how Asian films are acquired and adapted.

This guide is for anyone who has ever thought of screenwriting. Written by someone who has "been there, done that," and lived to tell the tale, it reveals the most popular genres, explains how stories need to be structured for feature films and TV movies, offers the freshest look at workshops and online classes, and disusses how to set up a step–by–step path to success.

A creative writing class in a book -REVISED. Major revisions take this popular Complete Idiot's Guide to a new level, offering readers a better way to unlock their creativity from the first page. Exercises help them explore their talents and experiment with different genres and forms of writing, including short stories, narrative fiction, memoirs, magazine articles, poetry, drama, blogging, and freewriting.

The most comprehensive introduction to film making. -- Some how-to books on filmmaking focus on making specific types of films, such as short dramatic films or documentaries. Others focus on one aspect of filmmaking, such as directing or editing. Still others focus on a particular medium, such as digital filmmaking. The Complete Idiot's Guide "RM" to Film Making covers all of these topics -- and more! -- This book will appeal to film students, wannabe film students, and writers tired of trying to get their own work sold/distributed, and want to go it alone. The Complete Idiot's Guide "RM" to Film Making will do for aspiring filmmakers what The Complete Idiot's Guide "RM" to Screenwriting is doing for aspiring screenwriters. In fact, this book should have the added luxury of also appealing to aspiring screenwriters, especially those who have struggled to get their work purchased, who have considered trying to produce and direct their own screenplays. Regardless of motivation for picking up The Complete Idiot's Guide "RM" to Film Making readers will find it to be the most comprehensive book on the subject -- and on two different levels. First, it will cover every aspect of the filmmaking process, from script to pre-production, to directing, to post-production, to distribution. Secondly, it will cover virtually every form of filmmaking, including independent features, Hollywood films, television movies, documentaries, corporate and educational films, "reality films, " digital/Internet films, and music videos.

Comedy is serious business—and serious money. In this guide, comedian, writer, and teacher James Mendrinos explains the principles of comedy and how to apply them to forms from stand-up to sitcoms- including fiction, film, speeches, articles, essays, and more. He also includes exercises designed to hone the craft, break through writer’s block, and tailor a piece to its intended audience. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get: • Foolproof advice for writing scripts, feature films, plays, cartoons, stand-up jokes—even working humor into your presentation at work. • Terrific techniques for brainstorming, free associating, and drafting lists to make your writing better—and funnier. • Stand-up tips on identifying with and writing for your audience and genre. • Navigation tools for the inroads to marketing and selling your comedy.

You ought to be making pictures. Designed for people who want to tell a story their way, The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Independent Filmmaking explains everything a budding auteur needs to know—from literary development and financial and organizational pre-production to principal photography production, post-production assembly, exhibition and distribution, and more. • The advent of desktop editing and a wide range of consumer cameras enable the average person to create a “film studio” at home. • A great “textbook” for novice filmmakers, whether film students or on-their-own auteurs. • The proliferation of film festivals around the world, many of which encourage submissions from “amateur” filmmakers, shows there are countless filmmakers who aren’t learning the ropes in school. • Author has terrific credentials and has a feature-length script in development in Hollywood.

A ten-step guide to turning any screenplay into an excellent novel that you can sell, whether the script sold or not, by the author of the Complete Idiot's Guide to Screenwritng, who has had more than 50 books and novels published and taught 100,000+ writers to be more profitable.

Join the digital revolution. With the availability and affordability of digital movie-making equipment, it's now easier than ever for aspiring filmmakers to create the great movie they've always wanted to make. From information on creating mini-films on a PDA to making low-budget, full-length digital movies, The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Digital Video provides all the information you need to turn your idea into reality. -A must-read for every film student or novice -Covers all aspects of production, from casting and directing to light and sound to digital editing -Includes 8-page, 4-color insert -Up-to-date recommendations on equipment and software -Clear, easy-to-follow instructions and guidance, as well as all the practical, artistic, and technical "step-by-step" advice that only an experienced writer/director can offer

The trick for most first-time novelists is How do I tell my story? Well, look no further. In a reader-friendly, easy-to-understand style, CIG to Writing a Novel will cover in detail all of the elements necessary to create a great novel. Author Tom Monteleone illustrates how to create three-dimensional characters, write believable and colourful dialogue, pace the story, write effective transitions, and nail down the often tricky process of shifting points of view. He'll also explore such crucial concepts as style, structure, creating a setting, rewriting, and common mistakes first-time novelists make. He'll guide readers through the research process, distinguish between the many different genres of fiction to help them gear their work toward the best audience, and offer suggestions for time management and discipline - necessary tools for the would-be Courtenay in all of us.

Sit back, grab some popcorn, and let the credits roll. The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Classic Movies provides comprehensive information on the best classic films from the silent era up through 1969, cross-referenced several different ways for easy access. Also contains fun, “insider” trivia and facts about the movies, the stars, and factors that influenced the movie or the audience at the time of the movie’s release. • Written by a recognized name in the industry who has written books on movies and film for decades • Features only the best movies (3 and 4 stars) from the silent era up through 1969 • Offers several indexes, which are cross-referenced alphabetically by actor and director, in addition to the main text being indexed by film name and genre • Includes appendices that provide information on the top 100 films of all time, the greatest movie quotes, Academy Award winners, and Internet references for locating hard-to-find films