The Nutshell Technique

Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting

By: Jill Chamberlain

Narrated by: Sonja Field

Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

"The Nutshell Technique cracks the code behind why we love the movies that we love. It guides you to organically write the story you want to tell." (Callum Greene, producer, Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker)

Veteran script consultant Jill Chamberlain discovered in her work that an astounding 99 percent of first-time screenwriters don't know how to tell a story. What the 99 percent do instead is present a situation. In order to explain the difference, Chamberlain created the nutshell technique, a method whereby writers identify eight dynamic, interconnected elements that are required to successfully tell a story.

Now, for the first time, Chamberlain presents her unique method in audiobook form with The Nutshell Technique: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting. Using easy-to-follow descriptions ("nutshells"), she thoroughly explains how the nutshell technique can make or break a film script. Chamberlain takes listeners step-by-step through 30 classic and contemporary movies, showing how such dissimilar screenplays as Casablanca, Chinatown, Pulp Fiction, The Usual Suspects, Little Miss Sunshine, Juno, Silver Linings Playbook, and Argo all have the same system working behind the scenes, and she teaches listeners exactly how to apply these principles to their own screenwriting. Learn the nutshell technique, and you'll discover how to turn a mere situation into a truly compelling screenplay story.

Since its publication in 2016, The Nutshell Technique: Crack the Secret of Successful Screenwriting was an instant classic. It is the go-to manual many professionals swear by, and it's on the syllabus at film schools across the world, including the world-renowned screenwriting program at Columbia University. It has also been published in Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and Italian. This audio edition is wonderfully narrated by Sonja Field.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2016 Jill Chamberlain (P)2020 Echo Point Books & Media, LLC

great formula for story telling

I listened to this book several times. Though it is intended for screenwriting for films, I am writing a historical fiction novel and honestly can not see why the screenwriting formula of the nutshell can not easily apply to a novel as well. I have listened to the "save the cat" book for novels and it is very good and helpful, however this book seems to simplify the formula in a way that is allot more clear to me. The author also uses allot of older films which is great for me because I grew up on older films. I am the last babyboomer born, so I grew up and adopted the culture of the movies from the 1930's through the 1950's. I honestly no longer even go to the movies. Hollywood puts out nothing but WOKE garbage now and I refuse to pick a seat off a computer screen at the theater. I want to go in and survey who I'm sitting next to when I go to a movie. So I am very happy that the Nutshell is talking about films that I am very familiar with. Also I have gone on You Tube and watched some of the interviews with the author, which is what brought the book to my attention to begin with, and she is very attractive and personable in a way that explains her formula in a clear cut manner. That makes her view point and advice, for me at least, allot more engaging and relatable to my own experiances. I strongly recommend this book if you are writing a screenplay, novel or simply want to understand the structure of a good story. in case you are like me and look for opinions of like mind, I am a Texan who is very right minded and conservative. This is an outstanding book and the narration, though I prefer men as readers, was done very good by the young lady who read it.

Easy to Understand

Structure can be pretty intimidating to wrap your head and this book breaks it down into simple, easy to understand terms. Worth a listen for anyone currently struggling with linking character arcs, themes, and story beats.

Applied Poetics

Chamberlain has a great theory. it's limited scope leaves quite a bit to be desired, but it's quite powerful. I think Northrop Frye and Solon Simmons have a more thorough take--both divide story structure into four forms rather than two--but they are also writing academic books, and for a distinct audience. as a craft book that is limited in scope, The Nutshell Technique is great.

Must have in a Screenwriter's Writer's Library.

A very well done synopsis of how stories are told based on Aristotle's wonderful work

Very insightful

I enjoyed the clarity, simplicity, and examples. I do wish there was more diversity of examples. And sometimes the nutshells felt forced or not fully explained (e.g., why is this specific situation the perfect test of someone’s flaw)?

That said, it is well worth the read, and I am already implementing lessons from this book in my writing and liking the results.