Screenwriting From The Heart

Rating:
Summary: A must-read for anyone interested in filmmaking!
Review: At last a book about the real process of screenwriting. Not just about "format" and "formula," Screenwriting from the Heart provides a step-by-step method by which any writer-- novice or veteran-- can write a rich and engaging screenplay. Mr. Ryan gives a craft to practice, a path to follow, and the tools needed. Beginning with the fundamentals of storytelling, the book uses personal experience and contemporary film examples to illustrate how a writer conceives a story and develops the detail that makes complex and compelling characters that lead to first-rate films. Character development serves as the means through which a screenplay is written-- rather than plot, like most screenwriting books suggest. Nurturing pointers, useful exercises, and cinematic lessons are sprinkled throughout. Buy it, digest it, mark it up, digest it again, mark it again. This book will become an old friend you'll turn to over and over for guidance and inspiration.

Rating:
Summary: A must-read for anyone interested in filmmaking!
Review: At last a book about the real process of screenwriting. Not just about "format" and "formula," Screenwriting from the Heart provides a step-by-step method by which any writer-- novice or veteran-- can write a rich and engaging screenplay. Mr. Ryan gives a craft to practice, a path to follow, and the tools needed. Beginning with the fundamentals of storytelling, the book uses personal experience and contemporary film examples to illustrate how a writer conceives a story and develops the detail that makes complex and compelling characters that lead to first-rate films. Character development serves as the means through which a screenplay is written-- rather than plot, like most screenwriting books suggest. Nurturing pointers, useful exercises, and cinematic lessons are sprinkled throughout. Buy it, digest it, mark it up, digest it again, mark it again. This book will become an old friend you'll turn to over and over for guidance and inspiration.

Rating:
Summary: A must for Screenwriters
Review: At last, a book that makes sense and really gives you incredibly insights into the craft of screenwriting! Written by someone who is a professional screenwriter that teaches rather than a professional teacher. He's a professional playwright, screenwriter, and film director. Ryan's "field" knowledge of how to write a film bleeds through every page in this book. I read many of the books on screenwriting, Syd Fields, Linda Seger, "Alternative Scriptwriting"(couldn't understand a page of it), McKee's book (totally incomprehensible), only Lew Hunter's book has the clarity of Ryan's book, but Lew seems to be old Hollywood, and Ryan is new Indiewood. He shows you how to make films like American Beauty, Magnolia, Topsy Turvy, Fargo, Shine, Rushmore, etc., -- ones that win Academy Awards. Films that break the "rules" of the Hollywood formula -- the three act structure -- taught by everyone, it seems. He shows you that a film can be one, two, three, or ten acts, if you like. It all depends on your purpose and what you are trying to express.

Ryan recommends you start with your characters first. Create them, and then let them lead you to a story and a structure. When you write a script this way, you come up with more original, specific, and complex material -- scripts that will last the test of time (god, no book ever talks about that). He shows you how to free up your unconscious imagination in order to create great characters and stories -- ones that have a fresh perspective, that, as he says, "gets past the obvious choice." He gives really clever ways to create magnetic characters and to create a really good scene. And his advice on how to get your script noticed, how to use process, was completely honest and, again, so, so, clear.

I plan on visiting New York soon just to take his private workshop. I give this book a ten out of ten!

Rating:
Summary: Well worth buying
Review: I own a variety of books on screenwriting and have to say this is one of the better ones. He writes well and, unlike some other writers on the subject, he doesn't propose a formulaic approach.

Ryan's concentration on character acts as a welcome counterbalance to the current proliferation of plot-based action movies. If this book results in more engrossing films, then James Ryan will deserve to be given an Oscar.

Rating:
Summary: Smart and Artful
Review: I really liked this book because it helped me in so many unexpected ways. I liked how he showed me that a screenplay can be one or five acts, not just three, as the formula tells us it should be. His Free-Write exercises were just great. They actually broke me of this block I was having with my work and lead me to some very interesting places. They helped to make my work more original, which, right there, is worth the price of the book.

This is not a dumbed down book. It is really smart, tough, and very original. Even if you don't agree with what he says, you have to admit he makes you really think about screenwriting in a very fresh and original way. And I do agree with him that without great characters a screenplay will never be great.

I thought is was very well written and I recommend you give it a try. It will broaden your skills.

Rating:
Summary: Smart and Artful
Review: I really liked this book because it helped me in so many unexpected ways. I liked how he showed me that a screenplay can be one or five acts, not just three, as the formula tells us it should be. His Free-Write exercises were just great. They actually broke me of this block I was having with my work and lead me to some very interesting places. They helped to make my work more original, which, right there, is worth the price of the book.

This is not a dumbed down book. It is really smart, tough, and very original. Even if you don't agree with what he says, you have to admit he makes you really think about screenwriting in a very fresh and original way. And I do agree with him that without great characters a screenplay will never be great.

I thought is was very well written and I recommend you give it a try. It will broaden your skills.

Rating:
Summary: feed the roots
Review: James Ryan's idea of writing from the heart reinforces confidence in the hearts of novice writers. As opposed to most of the other approaches which scare the novice showing that the writing process is an alien mechanism which has to be learnt from the seasoned Gurus or some institutions, rather than by intuition. Ryan demystifies the myth behind the writing process as, "there is nothing very abstract or academic about writing; it is an art form, yes, but first and foremost it is a craft." (pp. 5) While reading the first half of the book, this starting assurance has helped me to proceed further with enthusiasm. But, somewhere along the line, I found a question which was bothering me. That is, "How do you judge your own work whether you have achieved a genuine product of your heart or synthetic product of overflowing intellect, based on this approach?" I didn't find the answer to this question yet, but, this question is not meant as a complaint. James Ryan explains how the intangible creative flow from the heart can be triggered consciously by choosing an object. This exercise sounded very interesting and promising. Over all, this is a very useful book for both beginning writers and experienced writers.

One small comment I cant resist sharing with the co-readers and the author: On the one hand, Ryan advocates the ORIGINALITY that a writer can discover from his/her work, and on the other hand he tells us how there are already existing/fixed styles and types of films. This comes as a slight contradiction in the book: if every writer starts respecting his/her own originality, he/she can't stop it at the content only..it could eventually extend to inventing a new style or type!

I wrap up again summing up that this is a great book which gives a deep insight into the complex writing process without scaring the novice writer.. and to an experienced writer, it serves as a tool to re-examine if he/she is on the right track. This book shows us how we can control the final product, the screenplay by working on the central controlling element, the heart, just like how we can affect the external beauty of a plant by just feeding its roots. 'the heart.'

Rating:
Summary: Poorly written!
Review: Jim Ryan's new book, Screenwriting From The Heart has just demystified what always seems like (or taught) as a difficult craft. The author writes clearly about the choices and theories behind character and scene development. You sense a love of creating and teaching in this book. This is a writer who is willing to share his gift. I have been writing screenplays for almost ten years now. I have taken literally dozens of screenwriting classes and read as many books. Several of those classes and books were taught and written by teachers who receive a lot of publicity. I have never received information or instruction as insightful as what Jim Ryan gave me through his book. Screenwriting From the Heart helped me finally create the unforgettable characters I have been trying to mold for years. Best of all, with the author's practical information, I was writing scenes that felt totally honest and GOOD. No other screenwriting book or class made me feel as confident about my work. Screenwriting From the Heart is truly the best title for this book. It's rare to find a book by a teacher who can transfer his talent as well as his love for his craft so well. This author is a master.

Rating:
Summary: A Master Says It All
Review: Jim Ryan's new book, Screenwriting From The Heart has just demystified what always seems like (or taught) as a difficult craft. The author writes clearly about the choices and theories behind character and scene development. You sense a love of creating and teaching in this book. This is a writer who is willing to share his gift. I have been writing screenplays for almost ten years now. I have taken literally dozens of screenwriting classes and read as many books. Several of those classes and books were taught and written by teachers who receive a lot of publicity. I have never received information or instruction as insightful as what Jim Ryan gave me through his book. Screenwriting From the Heart helped me finally create the unforgettable characters I have been trying to mold for years. Best of all, with the author's practical information, I was writing scenes that felt totally honest and GOOD. No other screenwriting book or class made me feel as confident about my work. Screenwriting From the Heart is truly the best title for this book. It's rare to find a book by a teacher who can transfer his talent as well as his love for his craft so well. This author is a master.

Rating:
Summary: Poorly written!
Review: Let me first state that this is the first book I have read on the subject. This book definitely has some really helpful exercises and ideas to help a budding screenwriter, like myself. I am however disappointed in the writing; a major flaw in an instructional book about... writing.

The author seems somewhat self-important. He likes to use large or obscure words where smaller, more common ones would not only suffice, but would not only suffice, but would probably work better; I believe I have a good vocabulary, but had to dust off the dictionary to read this one. The book is also poorly researched. Two examples: in the introduction, mentioned "Hollywood films such as 'Operation Condor,'" a film from Hong Kong (obvious to anyone who has actually seen the film, since the dialog is dubbed); in a synopsis of the film "Pulp Fiction," the author totally butchers the timeline, and states that BUTCH (Bruce Willis) only briefly meets JULES and VINCENT (Jackson and Travlota respectively), neglecting to mention that BUTCH kills VINCENT while VINCENT is camped out waiting to kill BUTCH (the mention of this would defeat the argument he uses the story to demonstrate).

I must repeat that the book was helpful in several ways. I would imagine there are much better books on the subject, and recommend you seek those first.