Screenwriting Resources
A great way to learn about how screenwriting works is to find and read the screenplays of movies you love. Comparing the finished onscreen product with what’s on the page can be revelatory and will help you understand the nuts and bolts of this particular type of storytelling. We have provided some resources for downloading and reading screenplays; many more are available online.
Here are a few books to get you started:
The Hero's Journey
by Joseph Campbell
The Story Grid
by Shawn Coyne
The Art of Dramatic Writing
by Lajos Egri
The Foundations of Screenwriting
by Syd Field
Adventures in the Screen
by William Goldman
Which Lie Did I Tell?
by William Goldman
On Filmmaking
by Alexander Mackendrick
Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
by Blake Snyder
The Writer's Journey
by Christopher Volgor
Into the Woods
by John Yorke
*These resources have been curated from suggestions by film study professors and professionals in the field. It is by no means exhaustive and we encourage you to research additional resources as you seek to develop your craft.*
Additional Resources and Guidelines:
Final Draft - Screenwriting Program (Military Discount)
Go Into the Story
The Internet Movie Script Database
John August's Resources
Movie Scripts and Screenplays
No Film School
Save the Cat: The Language of Storytelling
Simply Scripts
Syd Field's Books & Other Resources
Wordplay: Screenwriting Secrets from Working Screenwriters
Writer Duet - Screenwriting Program