Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 262
 An amazing read. November 22, 2009
Alexandru Sava
As I'm sure it is with most people, once you pick up a good book and you start reading, you can't stop until you finish it. It's how it happened with "Save the Cat." It is without a doubt one of the most interesting books about film-making I have read.
As a budding film-maker myself, as I was planning to write a feature-length script I've decided to buy this book first after reading a few reviews. Thought to myself it can't hurt. Boy was it a great decision. Blake Snyder's methods of planning and arranging your ideas beforehand are brilliant. I used to just open Final Draft and start typing, but now I'm actually something I never thought I'd be... Organized.
But that's just one thing he teaches you. The most important part of this book, in my opinion, is the innovative way the late Mr. Snyder labels film genres and the methods he teaches on how to find out where your story fits and what skeleton it should have. I can't really explain it, just read it. If you're planning on writing a script this book will be your best friend, trust me.
I could go into it more but it's pointless. I wanted this to be as short and as concise as possible, just get the book if you're serious about writing a movie. And if you have doubts about your story or flaws you can't seem to fix, this book offers a few great solutions to those as well.
After this book, its sequel is a must. It's a continuation of his work, with real examples of big movies that fall into those categories. Buy yourself some time and buy both. I did and after I finished the first one I jumped straight to the second one. They go hand in hand.
Save the Cat on how to save your Screenplay October 20, 2009
Thomas J. Herring (Portland, OR)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Save the Cat just might very well save your scripts from being round-filed before they read page 10. I heard about the late Blake Snyder at the Willamette Writers Conference from a professional script reader. I bought this book and his sequel called, Save the Cat goes to the Movies. This book really gives you the a-ha moment when you read how to build your screenplay from the ground up. It's like building a model. You need to get all of the pieces together and fitted before you put it together. For a book with only 195 ages, it carries a lot of easy to read and powerful information. I know there are a lot of how-to books on screenwriting out there, but you really need to have this in your library.
The company that I ordered both books from delivered it fast and I would use them again.
A young writer's inspiration! October 16, 2009
Ryan D. Smith (Atlanta, GA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Excuse me while I name drop, but I was referred to read this book by one of Jamie Foxx's good friends, Johnny MF Mac, and I have to say that I have not regretted spending my limited down time to stop and read a few chapters a week. Even though I'm still only at the beginning of the book, when I get time to work on my script ideas, I am able to automatically implement what I've learned from the book to my scripts, and it has helped my easily format and explain my ideas in my head to written form. Its a great book so far. I can't wait to finish it!
Blake will be missed but his work lives on! October 11, 2009
rebel (HOLLYWOOD, CA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"Save the Cat" offers a whole new way of looking at story structure rather than the same old fuddy duddy standard we've used over the years. It's a fun read and behind every word is an excitement and enthusiasm that comes straight from the author himself. Unfortunately, Blake passed away suddenly this year. It was a sad day because he was a very giving and open individual who enjoyed not only his success but the success his readers achieved because of "Save the Cat." The good news is, "Save the Cat" lives on - and will continue to do so. It's a hip new way of looking at storytelling - an art form that is as old as the hills. Blake makes it interesting and stimulating as well as electrifying as the man himself. This book took the screenwriting world by storm and even though Blake is physically not here, his words live on as does the encouragement he always gave people.
Rona Edwards
Producer/Author "I Liked It, Didn't Love It: Screenplay Development From The Inside Out"
Blake will be missed October 7, 2009
Keith MacDonald (Vero Beach, FL)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
At last! A screenwriting book that gives you exactly what you need with none of that fleshing-out of an additional 150 pages - just to fatten the book.
Blake Snyder didn't just write the facts, he made it a lot of fun to read. I enjoyed the labels he gave many of the common issues one faces as a screenwriter. In fact, the "Pope in the Pool," reference helped me solve a problem I just happened to be dealing with that week in my own screenplay.
There are several tomes one needs to have at-the-ready when learning the craft. The old standbys by McKee, Syd Field, Lew Hunter and Skip Press are essential, but "Save the Cat" needs to be added to that list of "must reads."
Highly recommended.
RIP, Blake Snyder.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 262
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