Screenwriting for Hollywood

By: Michael Hauge

Narrated by: Michael Hauge

Length: 2 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Writers once dreamed of writing novels: now it's screenplays. These selections from the award-winning workshop, Screenwriting for Hollywood, will put you well on your way to writing and selling for television and film.

With the expert guidance of screenplay consultant, story editor, and teacher Michael Hauge, you'll learn how to elicit emotion (your primary goal), create strong characters, structure your stories, and conquer the business side of Hollywood. Plus, you'll get groundbreaking information on "feminine mode" movies, a unique approach to character growth and guidance on your life as a screenwriter.

Michael Hauge's award-winning book, Writing Screenplays That Sell, is used as a definitive reference guide by industry professionals.

©1998 Michael Hauge (P)1998 Writer's AudioShop

Critic reviews

"One of the few authentically good teachers out there. Every time I revisit my notes, I learn something new or reinforce something I needed to remember." (Jeff Arch, screenwriter Sleepless in Seattle)

Excellent teacher

Michael Hauge provides a lot of information and pretty much touches upon everything. I purchased this audio book thinking maybe Michael could give some inside perspective of the industry and possibly suggest some techniques on the process but what I found was a lot more. He is a very good teacher who explains things in very easy to understand terms. The simplest way for me to grasp new concepts is through numerous examples of which Michael gives plenty of.

SCREENWRITING FOR HOLLYWOOD - TIME WELL SPENT

THIS TITLE WAS NOT ON MY LIST AND I HAD NOT HEARD OF MICHAEL HAUGE BEFORE, BUT THE CONTENT SOUNDED GREAT AND I NEEDED A BOOK ON THIS TOPIC TO KEEP ME BUSY ON A LONG DRIVE. THIS BOOK IS REALLY GREAT. IT WAS DIRECT AND INFORMATIVE FOR SCREENWRITERS AND USED MANY OF THE CONCEPTS OF SYD FIELDS BUT EXPALAINED THEM FROM MICHAEL HAUGES WELL DEFINED POINT OF VIEW. THE CONCEPT OF HERO IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND TOTALLY EXPLAINED. HIS EXAMPLES ARE GREAT AND NOT ESOTERIC. YOU SHOULD BROWSE ON THE NET AND FIND WRITTEN SUMMARIES OF THE CONCEPTS HE SPEAKS OF IN THE TAPE TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR LISTEN. TIME WELL SPENT. THANKS AUDIBLE!!

Great Content, Poor Audio

This was my second experience listening to Michael Hauge, the first was from Pilar Alessandra's podcast 'On The Page'. That interview was enough for me to seek him out and I'm glad I did.

This speech is from one of Hauge's screenwriting classes and that is why the audio is not the greatest. Recorded in what sounds like a classroom it has an echo to it. That being said I did get used to it after awhile.

Overall the content outweighs the poor sound quality. Hauge is a great teacher and explains everything that your screenplay needs to accomplish in a clear voice.

I definitely recommend this to any aspiring screenwriters.

WONDERFUL BOOK

I'm not a professional screenwriter. I have writing background and an english degree. Recently I've taken an interest in the possibility of pursuing a career in screenwriting. I've had limited experience with film and the industry but I can tell you that from my experience, this is the most concise, informative, and encouraging book. I've listened to several and his stands out as the best in my opinion. He doesn't use a lot of flowery metaphors or talk about mythology and artistic b.s. but instead, directly- skin and bones with some meat thrown in for chewing on- tells you the basics and offers suggestions for the aspiring writer. I like it that he uses example in well known movies as well as the fact that he stresses the importance of making a script marketable and offers suggestions about how to accomplish that goal while preserving your artistic and creative goals. I'm a very satisfied customer... THANKS!

Very useful

A very to-the-point guide. I didn't expect it to be so comprehensive and practical considering it is only 3 hours long. It gave me a structure that I can actually see myself using.

Highly Recommended!

Another gem from Michael Hauge. It is definitely worth the purchase. Another one for note-taking!

very satisfied

I have listened to this lecture many times now and find it to be very helpful and practical. He is a good speaker and he breaks things down in an understandable, explaining not only what you should do to develop and sell your screenplay, but why.

Screenwriting for Hollywood is a good pick

Very entertaining audio book. Very strong in the ways of writing typical action story screen plays.

Feels like he's sitting across from you

Hauge is a warm, engaging, and organized presenter. It feels as if he's sitting across from you sharing his wisdom.

OK but...

I don't think this will help anyone without talent become a screenwriter. Those with talent probably don't need this.

Brilliant!

I'm someone intending to write my first screenplay and have been doing my study and research for a little while now. More than any screenwriting knowledge I been exposed to so far, what Michael Hauge has to say here really hits the spot. You ever get that feeling.. when somebody advises you in a way that makes complete and utter sense in a way it never did when explained by others before them? It's not just what he says, it's how he says it, it's his pacing, and especially some of the examples. Importantly, his advice strikes me as very honest. What's great is that this covers the 'end-to-end' of the process. No one element of knowledge will turn anybody into an expert, as screenwriting is a creative art and the boundaries are being pushed all of the time. However, if you want to know how to give yourself the best chance of getting your foot in the door, this would have to be it. It helps plenty that he is a very engaging speaker too.

The essentials for Hollywood screenwriting

This book is from a lecture so it's not as refined as "Save the Cat", it's also a bit short but it still feels like it covers everything you need to get going.
The narrator (the author) has a good voice. No vocal fry or any other annoyances.

Some of the tips in this book seems to be outdated, like subscribing to Hollywood magazines in order to find out who produced this and that movie.

The book is only 3 hours long so you can come back to it and that's part of the reason I recommend it.

Short and sweet

This is a quick listen, but its packed with great advice. The speaker is really engaging so it's very easy to listen to the whole thing in one go.

I would have liked to hear more from this or maybe even if there was a pdf of writing exercises or something it could have been worth five stars.

Recommended for people wanting to start out on a first screenplay.