Story: Material, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screen Drama

This book is really great! I didn't get into the mood in the first 1/10, so I had to watch it. The more I read, the more interesting it became. I became addicted and finished reading it within a week. I had been rejected many times before when I wrote a script and couldn't fix the problems (such as the protagonist has no goal, the story has no main line, too many straight lines and is too wordy, etc.). After reading this book, I suddenly understood it! It is no exaggeration to say that it refreshed my understanding of writing stories. It's really awesome that a reference book can be written in such an interesting and practical way. Due to the different language habits between Chinese and English, some parts are difficult to understand. It is easier to read this part by comparing it with the original English version! I think this is a good book worth reading again and again. If one day I get good results in Tomato Code, I will be the first to fulfill my wish!

"Stories" deals with timeless, universal forms, not formulas. Any claim that sells business success templates and quick-fix stories is nonsense. "Story" discusses principles, not rules. The rules say: "You have to do it this way." The principle says: "This way works... And has been tested over time." There is an essential difference between the two. Story is written to strengthen your mastery of the craft, to free you from constraints so that you can express an original vision of life, and to enhance your ability to transcend stereotypes and create films of unique texture, structure, and style.

The screenwriter is the soul of a movie. How to write a good story and successfully present it on the screen requires many skills. This book teaches screenwriters the need for a deep understanding of story structure, including plot, turning points, and climaxes. At the same time, the principles of screen drama are also very important. Screenwriters must learn to use various means to show the core of the story within limited time and space. Screenwriters need to have keen observation skills and insight into details such as characters and environments in order to create a more realistic and three-dimensional character image. In short, to become an excellent screenwriter, you need to continuously learn and improve your skills and qualities, and have an in-depth understanding of the dynamics and market demands of the film industry.

What is the "material" of the story? In all other arts the answer is self-evident. The composer uses the instrument and the notes it plays; the dancer's instrument is the form; the sculptor uses the stone; the painter mixes the paint. All artists have their own hands with the raw materials of their art—except writers. Because at the core of the story lies "substance", like the energy spinning in an atomic nucleus, which can neither be seen nor touched nor heard, yet we do know it and can feel it. The material of the story is alive, but also intangible and intangible.

Everyone can tell stories, but not everyone can tell a story well and attractively. - There is a sentence in the book: "A beautifully told story is like a symphony, with its structure, background, characters, genres and ideas integrated into a seamless unity." I have to say that the knowledge content mentioned in this book by Luo Mackie is very good. The screenwriting techniques and rules mentioned in the book can inspire and guide us to create stories, thereby solving the problem of being unable to write.

I have watched a lot of teaching videos on writing and novel design before, but none of them were as useful as this one. I just read it semi-finely and benefited a lot. It coincided with some of what I had thought before, but it was deeper than I thought!

The master is indeed a master, and he has summarized the general principles so rigorously. Newbies to online writing are no different than primary school students learning advanced mathematics. You may be able to read the words, but you are still far from truly understanding them. You have to go even further. I have been writing for 1,000 hours and have summarized a lot, but many things in this book still seem obscure because I am not knowledgeable enough. The master has already made it very clear, but my level is limited [face covering] My personal suggestion for this book is to use it in conjunction with your own insights. Write a lot of words yourself, learn a lot of techniques, and then check for omissions and fill in the gaps. It is impossible to expect to write a profitable online article after reading it. [Pouts]

I didn't read it very carefully and quickly looked through the main content of this book, but I can confirm that it is really a book that makes people think deeply. I will definitely read it carefully when I have time later. It is difficult to define. What a type of read he is. It contains the thoughts and philosophies of many famous people in ancient Western Greece, as well as elements of religion and so on. It is difficult to read this work. If you don't understand the entire Western religion, then don't waste your time.

God among Gods, one book explains what writing is

Good books are very rewarding

I wanted to write a novel when I was in the sixth grade of elementary school. I started practicing it in junior high school, but found that no matter how I wrote it, it couldn't be long, and the narrative dialogue was stiff and unnatural. Only now do I realize that writing is not just about thinking about it. It is an industry major that also requires systematic learning, and it also requires methods, skills and literature accumulation. This book is very good and worth reading. It has 240,000 words and is all about content. Unlike other books, most of which are chicken blood and nonsense literature.

The disadvantage is that it lacks operationalism

It's really rewarding.

This is the second time I read this book. The first time I understood almost nothing. The second time, two years later, I understood most of it, but there were still things I didn't understand. There may be a third time. Read the book a hundred times, and its meaning will become apparent.

Master McGee, extraordinary Like👍🏻April 15, 2024, critical review

It's really hard to read. I'll comment after I finish reading it.

The "Story" series has always been a must-read classic for screenwriters around the world. After distinguishing it from classic films such as "The Godfather", "Forrest Gump" and "Star Wars", the core principles of story creation are explained, and the specific production techniques and their impact on future film development are clarified. Its guiding significance should not only be known by people in the film and television circles, but should be known by people all over the world, allowing it to show its charm in literary creation. Make it recognized by literary creative talents.

Through the analysis of classic films, it clearly illustrates the core principles of story creation. The cases in the book are rich and inspiring. However, I kind of hate the heroine who is always hesitant, and I hope I won't be as hesitant about getting married as she is. In short, this is a very practical book, recommended to you!

I'm going to be a VIP when I'm halfway through reading [Like][Like][Like] As you strive to write a story that is both profound and beautiful, think carefully and write boldly. Then, like the hero of the fable, your dance will dazzle the world.

Master is different

Good book, very beautiful

I read some and I think it's pretty good. I plan to buy the physical book. Now that I have finished reading the physical book, it is indeed a very practical and good book. When I was writing a novel myself, I thought that in order to finish a novel, I must have two things: one is inspiration, and the other is theme. And the views in this book coincide with mine. The first thing the book talks about is called the premise, and the second thing is called the controlling idea. This alone makes me admire him, he has real stuff. However, the focus of this book is still on screen creation, but novel creation is also often mentioned, and the two have many things in common in story creation. What I want to learn is mainly to write novels, and not every sentence in the book is applicable to novel creation. I hope you can retain some critical consciousness when reading this book. There is no need to believe in the book, and you should not treat it like dogma. Don't be limited by the form, just internalize it in your heart.

I like it😘You will gain a lot every time you read it!

It's very beautiful. Come and see it.

Good looking, recommended reading

The bible of screenplays

Very informative and worth reading

Very helpful for writing

Full of useful information, clear and easy to understand.

What a great piece of work, I've benefited a lot from it.