Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
First Strike Productions (2000), Paperback, 240 pages
User reviews
LibraryThing member willoughby
A must-own for writers of all kinds! This book has been recommended to me so many times, I think I bought it in part to see what all the fuss was about! As it happens, I know now why so many writers swear by it (one even said he has two copies, one for at home and one for reading while at work).
If
If
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you write essays or poetry, this is not the book for you. But if you are working with a medium that requires the competant use of plot, it is an excellent helpmate. If you are a screenwriter, but not focusing on action, get it anyway as the title is something of a misnomer. Just because the author has sold about 17 action scripts does not mean he should limit his expertise. What he knows about is good story-telling and every story-teller can benefit from this practical and entertaining book. Show Less
LibraryThing member TCWriter
The Secrets of Action Screenwriting isn't a "how-to" book in the style of all the "do this and you'll be famous" books on screenwriting. It's more a stream of consciousness review of the elements of action screenplays, and while it could certainly use a thorough edit, it's also complete and even
Martell uses plenty of real-world examples to illustrate his points, and this might be the book's greatest strength; if you had written a screenplay (or were about to start), the examples would make it easy to apply Martell's ideas to your script.
This is a good blue-collar screenwriting book -- one lacking in pretension or a suffocating "system." Martell is not exactly the hottest screenwriter in Hollywood, but he's made a living at it for a long time, and knows his stuff.
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inspirational -- and it can't help but shorten the learning curve for those looking to start writing (or improve) their screenplays. Martell uses plenty of real-world examples to illustrate his points, and this might be the book's greatest strength; if you had written a screenplay (or were about to start), the examples would make it easy to apply Martell's ideas to your script.
This is a good blue-collar screenwriting book -- one lacking in pretension or a suffocating "system." Martell is not exactly the hottest screenwriter in Hollywood, but he's made a living at it for a long time, and knows his stuff.
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Language
Physical description
240 p.; 8.3 inches
ISBN
0970067704 / 9780970067708
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