Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2108 in Books
• Published on: 1999-07-16
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

Synopsis
"Story" deciphers the guiding structural principles that animate every classical and award-winning film, ranging from "Citizen Kane" through to modern acclaimed works like "The English Patient".

Customer Reviews

Worth every penny
Whether you are an aspiring scriptwriter or not, this is quite simply one of the most perceptive introductions to the dynamics of narrative and storytelling. Am a novice in all this - but it is full of perceptive and helpful guidance, illustrations and worked examples. I couldn't put it down, which is not necessarily what one would expect from a book that is essentially a primer textbook. My guess is that it would be of use to anyone involved in creative writing - not least because McKee carefully articulates the differences between filmscripts and other forms like novels and even plays - thus providing insights to them all.

Hmmm... a case of the blind leading the blind?
Don't forget this guy has never had a big film made. One TV movie and that was it. Otherwise I dare anyone to find a decent film he wrote. If his advice is sooo great why doesn't he take it and write a world-beater screenplay. Because he can't.

Knowing everything in this book did not help him.

Reading this book and knowing everything in it will not help you.

A book every screenwriter should have
Okay, so McKee isn't the be all and end all of screenwritng. Some people find him too wordy, too smart or too arty. But this is a book which all aspiring screenwriters should read as it contains so many valuable insights on the art and craft of writing itself. Within the first chapter you will find a great many nuggets that will give you a deeper appreciation of what it is to write a script. I'm not saying that you don't need to read other books. You do. However this is one of the few that contain worthwile information every screenwriter should know. It is told in a pretty easy-to-read style. Some of it is padding, but it's interesting padding. If you're going to start writing, do a little internet research of your own first, then read this. This book should be on every budding screenwriter's shelf.