i just finished reading this one book an has helped me a lot. it's called "the 101 habits of highly succesful screenwriters".

there's another book that talks about the whole craft of filmmaking, but the section on writing is really good! it's called "on filmmaking".

To be honest they all blend and say similar stuff. I think the best tool is to read screenplays and write a lot.

RJSchwarz
San Diego, CA

i couldn't agree more with RJSchwarz. although it's helpful to get tips from professional writers and all that, the best way to learn is to read, watch movies, and to write.

i agree with rjscwarz, but i like to read screenwriting books too because it just puts me in the right mind-set...

the ones i like most are syd field's 'screenwriter's workbook', and james sillman's 'zen and the art of screenwriting'. robert mckee's book is really popular and a lot of people i know really like it, but i don't refer to it often. another really good book that deals with filmmaking in general, but not specifically just screenwriting is david mamet's "on directing."

www.maketradefair.com
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I agree that anything by Syd Field rocks. Another book that just came out and has helped me is The Power Of Film by Howard Suber (thepoweroffilm.com). Book has received praise from several big wigs and has Francis Coppola on the cover talking it up: good book.

Yeah I recommend Syd Field's books as well as a book called "how to make a good script great" by some author I can't remember.
Also I've heard good things about Robert McKees book but I haven't read it yet myself.

Yeah, I was taking a really good online writing class and my tutor told me about McKee's book when I mentioned I was interested in screenwriting and film. It's well written and big, I've heard. I bought a used book called the Everything Screenwriting book. Not the best, but it was pretty good. But I agree that the best research is to read screenplays and analyze them.

_____
?PippinTheJedi
http://xanga.com/pippinthejedi

They'll never catch us. We're on a mission from God."?Elwood Blues

I swear by McKee. "Story" is the only screenwriting book you need. After that, it's just reading other scripts, writing your own, getting feedback from peers, and ultimately getting professional feedback.