Rating: 5 out of 5
Genre: Nonfiction / 5 Stars
People who should read this: People that are starting a career in screenwriting or want to learn more about the craft of writing screenplays.
If only my fairy godmother had told me to pick up this book instead of dropping $250 on a course that literally taught me nothing. Most of the time, I wanted to pull my hair out in class. But that’s besides the point. Honestly, if it wasn’t for the class, I probably wouldn’t have picked up the book in the first place.
Oh, I knew of it. I saw it as that overly advertised, get rich quick, I’m the all knowing god that can show you the way kind of book. A book to build the author’s ego but with very little substance. I was wrong. Don’t be me friends, just read the darn book.
Here’s the thing, screenwriting is not like writing a book. Writing a book has freedom. If one person doesn’t like it, the next one might. There’s room for breaking the rules and well… being different. Commercial comes in many different forms. And it’s all because publishing a book really isn’t too bad on the bank account. Not when you compare it to making a movie. Movies cost millions upon millions to make, so people aren’t going to just take a chance on you. The way you need to sell your script is by playing the game. And you learn how to play the game by reading Save the Cat.
Once you get your name out there, then you can break the rules.
It’s small, it’s snazzy, and there’s a reason that it’s called Save the Cat. I too had all the thoughts about the title choice that you do. It’s weird but Snyder has a reason for it - because all good movies need a save the cat moment. Are you filled with questions now… just another reason to read the book.
Again, movies are commercial. Guess what that means… here’s the magic word I know a lot of people have wanted to hear when it comes to storytelling… are you ready… are you really ready.. There’s a formula for writing scripts.
*shock!*
Yup, you heard me finally say what we’ve all been dreaming of. Now watch every struggling novelist switch to movies. Please don’t. I don’t need more competition.
Snyder shows how it’s important to start with your selling points before you even begin to write your script. If you can’t deliver that two second pitch with a clear view of the story, then how is any movie viewer going to know what your movie is about? Tickets are expensive and it’s getting harder to snag people’s attention. Snag a studio’s execs attention and you can snag a lot of people.
A movie’s logline tells you so much. It gives the idea of the cost, the start through the ending, and the viewer’s demographic. This is what executives need to know before they shell out those millions. But did you know all of this? Coming from someone who didn’t know this before writing her first script, it’s really hard to work in the other direction. I had to scrap that idea so that I could start again with something more commercial.
It’s about getting your name out there first.
Snyder’s writing style is fast and concise, making Save the Cat a book you will blow through. He breaks apart the sections of a movie in ways that we can remember, comparing them to modern movies of the time. He even gives you the step to jump in the right direction from the start. Don’t let the hype and the craziness steer you away. There’s a reason that the entire world loves this book. I’m not kidding. Aside from the Brandon Sanderson lectures on Youtube, this book has taught me the most.
Happy Reading
Love Kait
Reading Challenge: 41/175