Alternative Scriptwriting, Third Edition: Successfully Breaking the Rules

by Ken Dancyger, Jeff Rush

Going beyond the conventional three act structure and exploring more inventive approaches, Alternative Scriptwriting challenges readers to take creative risks with genre, tone, character, and structure. It explores mainstream, personal, and experimental narrative forms, surveying both American and international films. In a field where novelty often equals commercial success, scriptwriters frequently strive to create screenplays that are innovative and exceptional.

Alternative Scriptwriting links scriptwriting to other forms of storytelling, and discusses issues including the three act structure, working with and against genre, character identification, and the implications of screenplay form. Key issues, examples, and case studies demonstrate what works, what doesn't, and why. Exercises encourage writers to explore new ways of viewing their work and to test the limits of their skills.


Additions to the third edition
* a comparative study of how two very different filmmakers handle different types of film.
* a look at ways in which narrative tension, story structure, and perspective can be used when writing for the digital film
* a study of adapting contemporary literature for film


*Examines a wider variety of genres than ever before, including extreme forms such as the melodrama and the thriller

*Includes a discussion of alternative film in the context of DVD technology

*Features a new study of adaptation from contemporary literature

Genres: Writing, Film, Nonfiction, Research, Reference

382 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 1991

About the author

Ken Dancyger is the author or co-author of seven books on screenwriting, directing, film editing and production. They are The Technique of Film and Video Editing (5th edition), Focal Press, 2010; The Director's Idea, Focal Press, 2006; Alternative Scriptwriting (4th edition), Focal Press, 2006 (with Jeff Rush); Writing the Short Film (3rd edition), Focal Press, 2005 (with Pat Cooper); Global Scriptwriting, Focal Press, 2001; The World of Film and Video Production, Harcourt Brace, 1999; Broadcast Writing, Focal Press, 1991. Each is a theory/practice book rather than a how-to book. There have been fourteen translations of his books, including Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, Korean and Arabic. Two of his books, Alternative Scriptwriting and The Technique of Film and Video Editing are considered definitive in their respective areas and are core texts at top film programs worldwide.

Ken conducts screenwriting and post-production workshops internationally for the past eighteen years, including South Africa, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Columbia, Singapore, Australia and Canada. He is active as a script consultant in the United States and throughout Europe and Asia.

Ken is past Chair of Undergraduate Film and Television, TISCH School of the Arts, New York University, where he is a Full Professor.

Current writing projects include a book about Genre Scriptwriting, a book entitled The Greatest: Hollywood in 1939, a personal memoir, The War That Never Ended and Murder Not Permitted, his first novel.
______________________________________________________
EDUCATION:
B. Comm., M.A., Toronto; M.S., Boston
_____________________________________________________

Reviews

[M.A. Garcias · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading, in quick succession, the classic texts on screenwriting by Syd Field, Robert McKee and John Truby, I didn't expect to find another text on the subject that would surprise me. I was wrong. Alternative Screenwriting, which I read in this 5th edition, heavily revised and expanded from its original 1990 version, picks up where the other books end, and builds a strong case for itself: that despite what you may have heard about Hollywood-centric scriptwriting (and any form of popular storytelling for that matter) there is a wide range of styles, structures and voices to be aware of if you want to have a complete storytelling toolset.

It starts from the classic 3-act structure and builds up from there to all alternatives in terms of plot, character, perspective and narrative involvement.

The book may be hard to follow if you are not familiar with many of the (sometimes obscure) movies referenced, but it provides enough case studies for each of its discussions on structure, genre and voice as to defend its views with confidence. And even if you dont't fully agree with the authors' arguments (at times ideologically biased) they are thought-provoking nonetheless, and achieve the book's main goal: to challenge the assumptions and limitations of other screenwriting texts (which are explicitly referenced and acknowledged as required learning) and to develop an urge to go beyond well known patterns and find your own voice.

A much appreciated addition to my storytelling library that I wholeheartedly recommend - but probably read McKee, Field and Truby first, or you won't fully get the "alternative" part - alternative to what?

[Brendaliddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am studying this at a Film Journalism Course which I am currently studying at Blick's Studio in Belfast. It was recommended by the tutor
Carol Murphy. It is an excellent book. We are looking at the part on the role of conflict.

[April Lundy · Rating 4 out of 5]

...very deep

[Kirkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book!

[Ian Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the traditional three-act story structure dominates mainstream entertainment, this book proves there’s more than one way to tell a story. In Alternative Scriptwriting, authors Ken Dancyger and Jeff Rush showcase how each genre has the ability to be skewed from its normal structure to create more dynamic and intriguing stories.

The authors state that “this book proceeds to encourage the writer to consider alternative approaches to both conventional and offbeat film stories” (Dancyger & Rush ix). As the book unfolds, they discuss the conventions of story and genre and how these elements can be altered to produce a unique approach to storytelling.

Dancyger and Jeff Rush provide a wide range of Case Studies of films that have bucked traditional trends and are worth studying for their unique perspectives. They explore everything from passive main characters to two-act structure and working against genre tropes with in-depth analysis, examples, and insights.

Alternative Scriptwriting is an engaging read that showcases how sometimes breaking away from traditional narratives can be a liberating and creatively freeing adventure.

[Your Crush · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great overview of Alternative Scriptwriting. I really like how the book encourages writers to go beyond the traditional three-act formula and explore new creative approaches. The case studies make it much easier to understand what actually works in practice. For anyone experimenting with visuals alongside storytelling, tools like No watermark Lightroom Mod APK can also be helpful in refining the creative process. Thanks for sharing this!

[CM]

You may expect a book with this cover art to be filled with more recent examples with an international scope but it is not the case. Some modern day examples are here but more often than not the films being discussed are much older and less well known to a Non-US film buff. Oftentimes the examples are so elaborated that the points can be easily missed.

[David Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to have in your library. A dense analysis of when screenwriters buck convention and why. I have a feeling it'll be a text that I refer back to whenever starting a new project. Once you've passed through the obligatory phases of Hero's Journey and McKee's "story", this book might well spur you on to more individualistic, less formulaic writing.

[Elfbiter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparent own categorization of movies and no particular understanding of science fiction.

[Max Brodsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

1 person in the entire world has this on his "want to read" list.