The beauty and power of any story lies in its ability to connect to the reader, listener, or observer. Crafting Short Screenplays That Connect is the first screenwriting guide to introduce connection as an essential, although essentially overlooked, aspect of creating stories for the screen and of the screenwriting process itself. Written with clarity and humor, this book teaches the craft of writing short screenplays by guiding the student through carefully focused writing exercises of increasing length and complexity. Eight award-winning student screenplays are included for illustration and inspiration. The text is divided into three parts. Part one focuses on preparing to write by means of exercises designed to help students think more deeply about the screenwriter's purposes; their own unique vision, material and process; and finally about what screenplays are at their simplest and most profound level--a pattern of human change, created from specific moments of change--discoveries and decisions. Part two teaches students how to craft an effective pattern of human change. It guides them through the writing and re-writing of "Five (Not So Easy) Pieces"--five short screenplays of increasing length and complexity--focusing on a specific principle of dramatic technique: The Discovery, The Decision, The Boxing Match, The Improbable Connection, and The Long Short Screenplay. Part Three presents the five screenplays used throughout the book to illustrate the dramatic principles that have been discussed, and includes interviews with the screenwriters, a look at where they are now and what they are doing, and brief discussion of how each film evolved. * Groundbreaking bookthat stresses human connection as the basis of a good screenplay -- not conflict* The only screenwriting book that includes a DVD that contains performances of the short films and screenplays that are featured in the book

Table of Contents

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Preface to the Second Edition		xi
Acknowledgments		xv
Introduction: The Power and Importance of Human Connection		1	(6)
PART I Preparing to Write the Short Screenplay		7	(54)
Connecting to Purpose		9	(6)
Only Connect		9	(3)
The Screenplay Paradox		12	(3)
Connecting to Self		15	(8)
Le Menu		15	(5)
Depart the Donnee		20	(3)
Connecting to Process		23	(7)
The Space-Time Conundrum		23	(2)
Madness in Your Method		25	(2)
Creating Rituals		27	(1)
Taking Care of Yourself		28	(1)
Just Do It		29	(1)
Connecting to Screenplays		30	(20)
Surface and Deep Action		32	(1)
Making Change		33	(1)
The Mood Exercise		34	(2)
The Pearl in the Oyster		36	(1)
Emotional Flow		37	(1)
Everything You Need to Know You Can Learn From City Lights		38	(4)
Demystifying Format		42	(8)
Connecting to Collaboration		50	(11)
Top Ten Reasons to Write With a Partner		51	(1)
Finding the Right Writing Partner		52	(2)
The Space-Time Conundrum, The Sequel		54	(1)
Co-Drafting the Script		55	(2)
Dealing With Disagreements		57	(4)
PART II Five (Not So) Easy Screenplays		61	(66)
The Discovery		63	(15)
The First Screenplay---The Discovery		65	(3)
Choosing an Idea		68	(1)
Developing Character		69	(3)
Developing Story and Structure		72	(1)
Drafting the Screenplay		73	(1)
Rewriting the Screenplay		74	(4)
The Decision		78	(9)
The Second Screenplay---The Decision		78	(1)
Choosing an Idea		79	(1)
Developing Character		80	(3)
Developing Story and Structure		83	(1)
Drafting the Screenplay		84	(1)
Rewriting the Screenplay		85	(2)
The Boxing Match		87	(15)
The Third Screenplay---The Boxing Match		89	(1)
Choosing an Idea		90	(2)
Developing Character		92	(4)
Developing Story and Structure		96	(2)
Drafting the Screenplay		98	(3)
Rewriting the Screenplay		101	(1)
The Improbable Connection		102	(10)
The Fourth Screenplay---The Improbable Connection		105	(2)
Choosing an Idea		107	(1)
Developing Character		108	(1)
Developing Story and Structure		109	(1)
Drafting the Screenplay		110	(1)
Rewriting the Screenplay		111	(1)
The Long Short Screenplay		112	(15)
The Fifth Screenplay---The Long Short Screenplay		112	(1)
Choosing an Idea		113	(3)
Developing Character		116	(2)
Developing Story and Structure		118	(3)
Drafting the Screenplay		121	(3)
Rewriting the Screenplay		124	(3)
PART III Seven Screenplays That Make It Look Easy		127	(148)
Kosher		129	(8)
Aimee Barth
My Josephine		137	(12)
Barry Jenkins
A Work in Progress		149	(10)
Wes Ball
Lena's Spaghetti		159	(29)
Rachel A. Witenstein
Cool Breeze and Buzz		188	(21)
Lani Sciandra
The Making of ``Killer Kite''		209	(30)
Matt Stevens
Robert S. Gray
Slow Dancin' Down the Aisles of the Quickcheck		239	(34)
Thomas Wade Jackson
Conclusion		273	(2)
Appendix A Available Screenwriting Software		275	(2)
Appendix B Films Referenced		277	(2)
Appendix C Further Reading		279	(4)
Index		283

Supplemental Materials

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