How to Write a Movie in 21 Days: The Inner Movie Method by Viki King
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Book Reviews of How to Write a Movie in 21 Days: The Inner Movie Method
Book Review: Follow this book, don't just read it.
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book from Amazon in July. I have made 2 feature length films before, but these were mostly improvised (Horror! - Gold Edition and Capitalism - The Movie, both available on DVD at Amazon). I fancied actually writing a movie before filming started!
As the book recommends, please actually write as you read.
Step by step, this book leads you, suprises you. By the end of 21 days you will be exhausted. And you will have a full length screenplay.
This is really the start, not the end. You will send your scripts to friends, who will suggest improvements. But the hard work has been done.
Very recommended. The writing style is fun and inspiring.
(My own 21 day screenplay is "Future Moocher", currently in rewrites)
Book Review: Get started in ONE day
Summary: 5 Stars
This book managed to motivate me when no other book or situation could. Viki King's Inner Movie Method gives small enough building blocks that writing a screenplay becomes possible, even though doing it in 21 days seems like such a difficult goal. King helps the writer define the movie's essence and then begin writing.King stresses that the writer's first draft should be from the heart, and then subsequent rewrites and editing sessions should be conducted from the head. This frees the writer up to just write and think about the movie after something is on the page.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who gets intimidated just thinking about writing, to anyone who hasn't managed to write a screenplay yet but has a burning desire to do so, and anyone who needs some motivation or has writer's block.
Book Review: Practical and motivating
Summary: 5 Stars
The book does a good job of going over the common blocks to finishing a screenplay and how to overcome them. I love the writing prompts.
I was not able to write a screenplay in 21 days, and the reason is that I did not follow her prompts time line or her suggestion to keep to a random draft (instead of putting all the details and craftmanship later on). However, I did get through the first act and should be done with my random draft soon.
This is a motivating book with lots of useful information. Just be sure to do everything else to help yourself finish what you start: join a screenwriter's group, read screenplays in the genre you are attempting to write, watch movies, go to theater, listen to music, go to the art gallery, exercise, etc.)
Break a leg:)
Book Review: An excellent way to jump-start the screenwriting process
Summary: 5 Stars
I had already written a couple of screenplays before I read this book. While I can't say I agree with everything in this book's approach, I can say that it helped me put "pen to paper" when I was "stuck" otherwise.There are a couple of weak points to the book. One is that King should have advised that the writers know something about supporting characters before starting to write the actual screenplay. Another is that she advocates a set pattern of writing when in reality such a formulaic method will not apply to all people.
But, I still highly recommend this book as it was extremely helpful to me. I would just add a cautionary note to modify her method of writing to fit your own. Once you do that, you will become more prolific in your writing.
Book Review: I'd give it more stars, if I could.
Summary: 5 Stars
If you have at least a glimmer of an idea for a screen play, this is the book for you to get it into manuscript form. It's writing by the numbers, i.e., the first crisis by a certain page, but it's an exceptionally easy formula to follow. In addition, the author gives specific instructions to set up the page format in acceptable script form. I know college writing classes where this little book is required reading before you can even enroll. I write stage plays, 12 that have been produced, several off-Broadway, and I have found this book helpful for that medium as well. Again, if you've got the idea for a plot, follow the instructions herein, and you will have a completed script in 21 days using this painless method. But, there's the rub -- you do need an idea.