Mastering Screenwriting: From Shorts to Features is a complete guide to writing the modern film screenplay. Author Donald H. Hewitt draws from his many years as a working screenwriter and as a screenwriting professor at UCLA, USC, and other top film schools. "When I started teaching, I learned that I really enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with others. Writing a book was the natural extension of this love."

Mastering Screenwriting: From Shorts to Features provides a practical and actionable method for getting from the idea stage to a finished script. "I have always been frustrated with existing screenwriting books since they don't really reflect my experience as a working writer," states the author. "As a professional, you need a process that you can rely on to deliver high-quality results quickly and efficiently." This professional methodology forms the basis for the lessons and exercises in this book. Don also offers advice on screenplay writing samples for film school applications and a detailed teachers guide for those who wish to use the book as a textbook, including self-learners. Throughout the book, you'll find information on the business of filmmaking and what it means to be a working screenwriter in the film industry, plus interesting anecdotes from his successful Hollywood screenwriting career.

How to write a screenplay the professional way from start to finish. 25 exercises throughout the book that walk you through the screenwriting process. Special concerns for those writing short scripts. Up-to-date info about screenwriting format and other practical concerns. Film industry tips and advice about "the business." Guide to film school application writing samples. Teacher's guide for three different courses.

Mastering Screenwriting: From Shorts to Features is part of the single-topic, companion book series, The Digital Filmmaking Handbook Presents. This series picks up where the best-selling Digital Filmmaking Handbook leaves off, tackling each topic exclusively, in-depth, and as always, from the perspective of working filmmakers.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

1 Why Shorts? Why Features?

2 Story and You

3 Loglines

4 Basic Story Structure

5 Character

6 Getting the Audience to Care

7 Character-Based Structure

8 Outline

9 Screenplay Format

10 Scenes

11 Start Fast

12 The Role of Dialogue

13 Dialogue Techniques

14 Scene Description

15 Suspense

16 Set Pieces

17 The Non-Traditional Film

18 Film School Applications and Breaking In

Appendix: Course Outlines for Teachers or Self-Paced Learners

Glossary