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.

ABOUT THE SERIESMastering 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.

ABOUT THE AUTHORDonald H. Hewitt is a working screenwriter with over twenty-four years of experience.

He is a member of the Writers Guild of America and teaches screenwriting at USC School of Cinematic Arts and UCLA Extension. His feature film credits include the English-language screenplay for the Oscar-winning film Spirited Away, as well as the Oscar-nominated Howl’s Moving Castle.

TABLE OF CONTENTSIntroduction1 Why Shorts? Why Features?2 Story and You3 Loglines4 Basic Story Structure5 Character6 Getting the Audience to Care7 Character-Based Structure8 Outline9 Screenplay Format10 Scenes11 Start Fast12 The Role of Dialogue13 Dialogue Techniques14 Scene Description15 Suspense16 Set Pieces17 The Non-Traditional Film18 Film School Applications and Breaking InAppendix: Course Outlines for Teachers or Self-Paced LearnersGlossary. .