• The Craft of Scene Writing

  • Beat by Beat to a Better Script
  • By: Jim Mercurio
  • Narrated by: Stephen Bowlby
  • Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (31 ratings)

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The Craft of Scene Writing

By: Jim Mercurio
Narrated by: Stephen Bowlby
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Publisher's summary

A professional screenwriter's master class in writing the most critical and challenging script element - the individual scene.

No one comes out of a movie talking about structure. What audiences love and remember about a movie are great scenes. Marlon Brando in the back seat in On the Waterfront giving his "I could'a been a contender" speech. Meg Ryan's fake orgasm in Katz's Deli in When Harry Met Sally with the climactic punch line: "I'll have what she's having." In Superbad, Jonah Hill professing "I love you" to his friend Michael Cera by touching his nose with a "boop".  

Great scenes will elevate your script from ho-hum to extraordinary-and from the slush pile to sellable. In The Craft of Scene Writing, accomplished screenwriter and master writing teacher Jim Mercurio analyzes and systematizes the beats, conflicts, character moments, action, dialogue, and structure that create powerful scenes. Citing examples from scripts old and new, The Craft of Scene Writing breaks down how great scenes reveal character, advance the story, and emotionally connect with audiences, plus demonstrates how to use these techniques in your own scripts. This incredibly detailed exploration of screenwriting technique will help beginning writers to write great scripts and experienced writers to gain a more complete mastery of their craft.

©2019 Jim Mercurio (P)2020 Tantor

What listeners say about The Craft of Scene Writing

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fabulous

very interesting take on screenwritting. I enjoyed every minute. will listen surely again. thank you

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Very great analysis and insight

Jim does a great job of analyzing scenes from some of our favorite films and shows why they work and what writing elements helped make them memorable. He also shows you how to apply those methods in your own writing. Really helpful. Thanks!

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Author needs to change the title

Excellent discussion by the author on SCREEN writing, not scene writing.

I was impressed with the tips and hacks on how to edit a script. Extremely helpful on how to cut the number of pages without ruining the script. That alone is worth the price of admission!

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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How a watch works

I'm sorry, this is the kind of guy that when you ask if he has the time he begins to explain how a watch works.

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6 people found this helpful

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Great

valuable information with personality. some much for learning how to write short like the book instructed. I had it said it three words... but I am required a minimum of 15... the book is awesome.

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in the middle of the road…

At first the lessons had my undevided attention great points and educational but when the Author refers to non white as people of color, and assumes all color filmmakers have a hidden agenda couldn’t simply ignore it, that echoed throughout the remaining lessons, another closeted racist or still lives in the 50’s? The author doesn’t mention one great colored( his saying) directors that have successfully altered the streamline of moviemaking. Look at the best picture and director winners in the last 10 years.

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Abridged and censored- not the full book!

This is an abridged and censored version of the full book, even though that is not mentioned in the description.

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13 people found this helpful