Classical Storytelling and Contemporary Screenwriting

Since we first arrived on the planet, we’ve been telling each other stories, whether of that morning’s great saber-tooth tiger hunt or the latest installment of the Star Wars saga. And throughout our history, despite differences of geography or culture, we’ve been telling those stories in essentially the same way. Why?_x005F_x000D_ _x005F_x000D_ Because there is a RIGHT way to tell a story, one built into our very DNA._x005F_x000D_ _x005F_x000D_ In his seminal work Poetics, Aristotle identified the patterns and recurring elements that existed in the successful dramas of his time as he explored precisely why we tell stories, what makes a good one, and how to best tell them. _x005F_x000D_ _x005F_x000D_ In Classical Storytelling and Contemporary Screenwriting, Brian Price examines Aristotle’s conclusions in an entertaining and accessible way and then applies those guiding principles to the most modern of storytelling mediums, going from idea to story to structure to outline to final pages and beyond, covering every relevant screenwriting topic along the way. _x005F_x000D_ _x005F_x000D_ The result is a fresh new approach to the craft of screenwriting—one that’s only been around a scant 2,500 years or so—ideal for students and aspiring screenwriters that want a comprehensive step-by-step guide to writing a successful screenplay the way the pros do it.