Storytelling in the New Hollywood by Kristin Thompson
Drawing on a wide range of films from the 1920s to the 1990sfrom Keatons Our Hospitality to Casablanca to Terminator 2, Kristin Thompson offers the first in-depth analysis of Hollywoods storytelling techniques and how they are used to make complex, easily comprehensible, entertaining films.
Thompson..trespasses on the turf of the screenwriting gurus here, gun in hand, to blast away at the three-act structure universally accepted in the business since Syd Field codified it in his 1979 book Screenplay. In its place she proposes four acts, sections of roughly equal length which she labels 'setup,' 'complicating action,''development' and 'climax and epilogue.' -- Alistair Owen * The Independent *
It was wonderful to read a book where I felt the writer knew what was going on in my mind while I was directing the film. Kristin Thompson was able to illuminate all the structural twists and turns of the plot, the character development, as well as the small details and symbolic references that directors put into their work, but often go unnoticed by the average moviegoer. -- Susan Seidelman, Director Desperately Seeking Susan
Thompson's insightful analysis of Ground Day and of the screenwriting process in general should be fascinating toboth writers and audience alike. More thoughtful writing and more discerning audiences can't help but lead to better movies, and this informative and provocative book is a step in that direction. -- Harold Ramis, Director, Ground Day
How refreshing to encounter a film scholar who understands that, first and foremost, movies must be written. Thompson's book offers an invaluable resource not only to professionals, but to any dedicated moviegoer who wants to better understand the intricate cratf of telling stories on film. -- Ted Tally, Screenwriter, The Silence of the Lambs
It was wonderful to read a book where I felt the writer knew what was going on in my mind while I was directing the film. Kristin Thompson was able to illuminate all the structural twists and turns of the plot, the character development, as well as the small details and symbolic references that directors put into their work, but often go unnoticed by the average moviegoer. -- Susan Seidelman, Director Desperately Seeking Susan
Thompson's insightful analysis of Ground Day and of the screenwriting process in general should be fascinating toboth writers and audience alike. More thoughtful writing and more discerning audiences can't help but lead to better movies, and this informative and provocative book is a step in that direction. -- Harold Ramis, Director, Ground Day
How refreshing to encounter a film scholar who understands that, first and foremost, movies must be written. Thompson's book offers an invaluable resource not only to professionals, but to any dedicated moviegoer who wants to better understand the intricate cratf of telling stories on film. -- Ted Tally, Screenwriter, The Silence of the Lambs
Kristin Thompson is an honorary fellow in the Communication Arts Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780674839755 |
| ISBN 10 | 0674839757 |
| Title | Storytelling in the New Hollywood |
| Author | Kristin Thompson |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Harvard University Press |
| Year published | 1999-11-05 |
| Number of pages | 416 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |