Retired Prof. Mick Hurbis-Cherrier’s new book Mastering Screenplay Form & Style has recently been published by Routledge Press (Taylor & Francis).
Mastering Screenplay Form and Style shows you how professional screenwriters actually write scripts. This reference manual explores all aspects of the form, from essential format requirements to the expressive, literary qualities of screenplay language. Organized in three parts, this book systematically reveals the full essence of the screenwriter’s craft.
- The Ground Rules: A deep dive into the fundamental rhetorical concepts for dramatizing a story for the screen; the craft and style concepts that underpin everything working screenwriters use.
- The Industry Standards: A scrupulous overview of the professional norms for script formatting and language, including the function and correct use of the six screenplay elements for common, advanced, and challenging narrative situations. This section also includes methods for creating indelible character introductions and managing story and screen time on the page.
- Expressive Screenwriting: Shows how precise visual writing can infuse your scripts with cinematic energy, dramatic tone, POV, and narrative flow. This section also explores when, why, and how screenwriters bend and even break screenwriting conventions for dramatic purpose.
Mastering Screenplay Form and Style includes extensive examples from many professionally produced screenplays written in a diverse range of genres and styles.
The aim of this book is to guide screenwriting students and aspiring professional screenwriters to move beyond technically “correct” scripts, to truly captivate readers through compelling screenplays with a distinctive voice.
