Classical Storytelling and Contemporary Screenwriting

Brian Price is an award-winning screenwriter who has worked with major studios, television networks, and independent film producers from around the world. As an instructor, he has taught screenwriting at Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, and the Brooks Institute, among others, and is a proud member of the prestigious UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television screenwriting faculty.

• Acknowledgments Preface: Some Obligatory Backstory SECTION I: A PROLOGUEChapter 1 – Introduction: What You Hold in Your Hands Chapter 2 – Aristotle’s Poetics: It’s All Greek to Me Chapter 3 – Motivating Factors: Why We Tell Stories Chapter 4 – Starting the Journey: Defining the Road Ahead SECTION II: A BEGINNINGChapter 5 – Story: And I’m Sticking To It Chapter 6 – Ideas: Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire Chapter 7 – Conflict: People Who Write Should Throw Stones Chapter 8 – Wholeness: We Need Some Closure Chapter 9 – Magnitude: It All Boils Down to One Thing Chapter 10 – Loglines: Putting It All Together (Part 1) SECTION III: A MIDDLEChapter 11 – Plot: Let’s Stay Connected Chapter 12 – Reversals and Revelations: Pieces of the Action Chapter 13 – Change of Fortune: Covenant of the Arc Chapter 14 – Fatal Flaw: And the Plot Thickens Chapter 15 – Structure: The Shape of Things to Come Chapter 16 – The Three Acts: Let’s Break It Down Chapter 17 – Anchor Points: A Pattern of Design Chapter 18 – Character: The Agents of the Action Chapter 19 – Defining Traits: What’s Good and Appropriate Chapter 20 – The 5 Ps: They Help Build Character Chapter 21 – Motivating Behavior: Goooooal!! Chapter 22 – Structure Revisited: Filling in the Gaps Chapter 23 – Set-Up: Stepping Stones of Act One Chapter 24 – Complications: Stepping Stones of Act Two Chapter 25 – Resolution: Stepping Stones of Act Three Chapter 26 – Stepping Stones: Building the Great Pyramids Chapter 27 – Beat Sheets: Putting It All Together (Part 2) SECTION IV: AN ENDChapter 28 – Scenes: The Building Blocks Chapter 29 – Description: What You See Is What You Get Chapter 30 – Dialogue: What You Say is What You Get Chapter 31 – Dialogue Continued: Still More Left to Say Chapter 32 – Formatting: Ah, the Lovely White Space Chapter 33 – Pages: Putting It All Together (Part 3) Chapter 34 – First Draft: And You’re Finally Done SECTION V: A RESOLUTIONChapter 35 – Rewriting: Ha! You Thought You Were done Chapter 36 – Theme: What’s It All About, Ari? Chapter 37 – Conclusion: Bringing It All Back Home APPENDICESAristotle’s Guiding PreceptsAssignmentsRecommended ReadingRecommended MoviesAttributionsAbout the AuthorIndex

"The insights in this volume could be provided only by an author like Brian Price, himself an experienced creator of narratives and a respected writing educator. In accessible language he explains why, millennia after his death, for contemporary dramatic writers Aristotle is more relevant than ever. Here is no pie-in-the-sky philosophical preaching but a hands-on guide to buttress storytelling craft for writers both new and experienced."—Professor Richard Walter, Associate Dean; Screenwriting Area Head, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television