≫ PDF Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need Blake Snyder 0001932907009 Books

Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need Blake Snyder 0001932907009 Books

Download As PDF : Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need Blake Snyder 0001932907009 Books

Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need Blake Snyder 0001932907009 Books

I've read literally hundreds of writing guidebooks and this is the most practical I've ever seen. I've seen books that literally say, "Here's how to write a plot. Put your character in a tree, throw rocks at the character, have the character get back down." That's a nice analogy but how you're supposed to apply it to a romance or a science fiction story or a courtroom drama? Snyder gives real advice that writers can apply right away.

This book is best known for its discussion of what is known as "beats." Snyder created a basic formula of elements that will fit almost every story out there to tell. He even breaks the beats down to what page number they should appear in the screenplay which has lent itself to a spreadsheet called the "beat sheet" that has become essential in modern Hollywood. The beats have also been applied to TV shows, novels and other forms of fiction. There's been a lot of the criticism of the beats as being formulaic, but it's really just a system that fits story arcs going back to ancient mythology. Almost any story is going to have a midpoint where there are highs or lows and "bad guys closing in."

Beyond the beat sheet, there are also tips like writing young characters to reach the widest audience, using distraction to gloss over exposition, and not making the story too complicated. I thought Snyder's advice was very practical and could be applied right away, but is something I've never seen in print, so it's welcome.

Yes, this book isn't for people who want to write metaphorical or metaphysical drama that explores the human condition. If you want to write a movie or novel that will sell to a small and limited audience, this isn't the book for you. If you want a book that will tell you how to write blockbuster stories for the biggest audience, I can't think of a better one.


Tags : Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need [Blake Snyder] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Here’s what started the phenomenon: the best seller, for over 15 years, that’s been used by screenwriters around the world! Blake Snyder tells all in this fast,Blake Snyder,Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need,Michael Wiese Productions,1932907009,General,Motion picture plays - Technique.,CinemaFilm: Book,English,Film & Video - Screenwriting,Films, cinema,Motion picture authorship,Motion picture plays,Performing Arts,Performing Arts Film & Video Screenwriting,Pop Arts Pop Culture,Screenwriting,Technique,Usage & Writing Guides

Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need Blake Snyder 0001932907009 Books Reviews

Blake Snyder is supposedly “Hollywood’s most successful spec screenwriter.” I don’t know how that works exactly, since he has exactly two IMDB credits (for Blank Check and Stop or My Mom Will Shoot), but whatever.

Save the Cat is basically a book full of little gimmicks for improving a screenplay, as well as pitfalls to avoid. The title comes from the idea of having the hero of the story save a cat early on in the movie to establish his/her likability. It sounds silly, but the examples Snyder gives (it’s not always literally a cat) demonstrate how effective it is. You have to take some of his opinions with a cup or so of salt; he is more concerned with making a script salable than writing something original, which is understandable, except then he proceeds to denigrate Memento, calling it a “low-performing art house film,” and praises the writer of the forgettable Skeet Ulrich movie Chill Factor as a “genius.” (For the record, Memento made $25 million on a $9 million budget; Chill Factor made $11 million on a budget of $70 million. Also, Memento is a cult classic that launched the career of Christopher Nolan of Inception and The Dark Knight fame. Chill Factor is currently chilling at 7% on Rotten Tomatoes.)

Still, Save the Cat is worth reading for the very concrete advice it gives in structuring a screenplay. I think his tips apply to screenwriting sort of the way the rules of grammar apply to dialog you need to internalize them and then forget them. If you doggedly apply the rules to dialog, you end up with stilted dialog. If you insist on following the advice in Save the Cat to the letter, you may end up with a movie like Chill Factor.
Everyone kept suggesting I check out this book and praising it. I hadn't really read any film books outside of school. (I graduated in 2014 with a BA in Television Production) And this book just crapped on most of my schooling. It changed so many approaches to writing for me and it's crazy how effect it is in such simple ways. And it'll save you loads of time. And it's written in a very informal way. More like a buddy who doesn't pull punches nor tries to convince you of his intelligence with ridiculously fluffed vernacular. It's simple. It's casual. It's straight to the point. And it's gonna save you loads of time, money, and growth errors. Buy this book.
Having just finished reading this book I've decided to make another pass, focusing mostly on my highlights and notes, with every confidence this book will remain on my reference shelf (or in my where it actually resides) for the rest of my professional life. Well written, interesting, and with many excellent points, it's a good, solid, interesting read.

One can tell many reviewers, readers, wanna be screenwriters, and others are certain this book is off the mark and too formula to have value. These same folks need to spend more time actually watching and analyzing many of the films Hollywood puts out even today (2018). This book is right on the money. Sure, there are exceptions to the rules, but as Snyder - and any expert, trainer, pro, or individual with a track record and street cred will tell you, you must know the rules before you dare break them. Save the Cat is a prime example of this concept.

I've heard of the book many times over the years, but until I decided to commit full time to my screenwriting I'd not taken the time to grab it and read. I'm sorry I wasted the time. Not only as an academic, non-fiction, and fiction writer, but as a media psychologist this book is a great read with some seriously solid insights. On the other hand, as a newer screenwriter it's a great help, and it lays a solid foundation for much of what Hollywood offers, has become, and will remain. Whether or not you agree with anything he writes, as any professional knows, you always read the books and experts who know the pathway.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is considering being a screenwriter - or writer - or loves film.
I've read literally hundreds of writing guidebooks and this is the most practical I've ever seen. I've seen books that literally say, "Here's how to write a plot. Put your character in a tree, throw rocks at the character, have the character get back down." That's a nice analogy but how you're supposed to apply it to a romance or a science fiction story or a courtroom drama? Snyder gives real advice that writers can apply right away.

This book is best known for its discussion of what is known as "beats." Snyder created a basic formula of elements that will fit almost every story out there to tell. He even breaks the beats down to what page number they should appear in the screenplay which has lent itself to a spreadsheet called the "beat sheet" that has become essential in modern Hollywood. The beats have also been applied to TV shows, novels and other forms of fiction. There's been a lot of the criticism of the beats as being formulaic, but it's really just a system that fits story arcs going back to ancient mythology. Almost any story is going to have a midpoint where there are highs or lows and "bad guys closing in."

Beyond the beat sheet, there are also tips like writing young characters to reach the widest audience, using distraction to gloss over exposition, and not making the story too complicated. I thought Snyder's advice was very practical and could be applied right away, but is something I've never seen in print, so it's welcome.

Yes, this book isn't for people who want to write metaphorical or metaphysical drama that explores the human condition. If you want to write a movie or novel that will sell to a small and limited audience, this isn't the book for you. If you want a book that will tell you how to write blockbuster stories for the biggest audience, I can't think of a better one.