Global Scriptwriting offers a look at an exciting new phase in screen storytelling, as writers and directors from all over the world infuse traditional forms with their own cultural values to create stories that have an international appeal and suggest a universality among readers, viewers, and listeners. A unique blend of screenwriting technique and film studies, Global Scriptwriting discusses screen stories as they have evolved through the years, focusing first on the basics of scriptwriting, then going on to afford a more sophisticated look at script via different models of the Hollywood model, the independent model, the national model, and various alternative models. It examines the internationalization of storytelling, and illustrates how particular innovations have helped national screen stories to international success.
This book is the first to incorporate the basics of the classical form with the innovative edge of the last decade, as well the culture specific changes that have taken place outside of North America. It offers readers a view of the enriched repertoire available to writers resulting from the introduction of cultural perspectives into traditional story forms. Specific topics examined include, the ascent of voice, the search for new forms, the struggle between style and content, and the centrality of megagenre.
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 _____________________________________________________