You Can Write a Movie

This is a skinny but great book, one of the best I've read on screenwriting. ... In this book, Pamela Wallace covers the basics, but also gives the reader solid professional advice, such as how to make strong, clear choices for a character that may or may not appear in your screenplay, but nevertheless help enrich the story. One of the most helpful points in the book is the section that deals with finding a character's defining moment - the point in the character's life that helped shape him and drives him throughout the story. There's also an interesting section on how to write compelling dialogue that actors can actually SAY, not just read. A big thumbs up for this one. Ms. Wallace knows what she's talking about.

YOU CAN WRITE A MOVIE is the first screenwriting-related book I've read by someone who is a successful scriptwriter in the film/TV industry. Oscar-winning Wallace (WITNESS)has had fame & glory, but also has managed to stay "in the game". Her advice, her experience, & her knowledge come from a very real place which may not always reflect the usual information written in other screenwriting books. But reading her book & knowing that what's written is from a working professional gives this concise, easy-to-read book a much-validated recommendation.

This book is a very concise guide to writing a screenplay by an oscar winning writer. I think this book is a welcome alternative to books by writers without real credits.(Syd Field etc). It is very helpful in helping a writer focus their story before writing the script. Writing a good logline and defining the theme are focused on. The chapters on charachterization and writing dialog are the best I have seen for the beginning writer.