|  | Author: Blake Snyder
Publisher: Michael Wiese Productions
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $11.90
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Rating:  262 reviews
Sales Rank: 1353
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Edition: illustrated edition
Pages: 195
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 0.5
ISBN: 1932907009
Dewey Decimal Number: 808.23
EAN: 9781932907001
ASIN: 1932907009
Publication Date: May 25, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New. Delivery is usually 5 - 8 working days from order, International is by Royal Mail Airmail
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 26-30 of 262
 Simplistic but helpful April 9, 2009
Jacob F. Keller
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"Save the Cat" is simplistic almost to a fault. The examples the author offers to aspiring writers include "Aladdin" "Four Christmas'" "Legally Blond" and "Blank Check." While from a structure and character standpoint, these stories are good to learn by, it is NOT something I would ask EVERYONE to try to mimic. At the same time, the author takes a jab at the AFI Award Winner for Screenwriting "Memento." For me, it is impossible to compare "Blank Check" and "Memento" and while everyone can't and won't write "Memento," I don't think the mindless drivel of the other examples are something we want to flood Hollywood with.
However, for the beginner, this book is GREAT! It precisely lays out structure, story, hook, premise, and irony with easy to remember terms and shows you how to write a great logline to entice producers and agents. This should be your starting point but not your ending point. Make sure to follow up by reading as many screenplays as possible (and maybe NOT the four examples above if they don't interest you). Write what you like, not what is successful in Hollywood.
 Save the Cat April 1, 2009
Richard Toews (Abbotsford, BC CANADA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
The last book on screenwriting you will ever need. That's the subtitle of the little book, "Save the Cat." I say little, because it is a rather short book when compared with, say Robert Mckee's "The Story." But length, here, should not be confused with something that lacks quality.
There is a sharp difference between writing a screenplay and writing a novel. I have tried both, and I find writing the novel is a much easier task, quite simply because the novelist is allowed more latitude, the novel uses words to tell the story, a screen writer must resort to that more subtle style of letting pictures inform our imagination. But make no mistake, the name of the game is about freeing up our imagination. Blake Snyder understands this. Sure, Snyder gives us a well structured model, but do not mistake this for concretized rigidity. There seems to be some confusion that artists do not have to adhere to a formal structure. An interesting concept, that. If anything, Bach understood structure, as did Mozart. No slouches, these two. Those who criticize Snyder's approach remind me of the petulant child that eschews discipline for whatever free form may be in vogue at the moment. Such people often display an audacity that their "art" would even best a Michelangelo, but in point of fact, such people confuse aesthetics with flatulence to be enjoyed in the company of one. We need to remind such dilettantes that even van Gogh understood, implicitly, the "rules" of art.
So why read "Save the Cat?" Why this book over, let's say McKee's "Story" for instance? What does Snyder do with his book others don't? First off, Snyder makes no pretense that he is providing a "how to book" on aesthetics. What Snyder gives us is a book on how to begin a process in what hopefully, for each person "bullheaded" enough to soldier on, to write a screenplay. Snyder's approach is about mastering a craft. And a craft it is. And yet, at no point does Snyder suggest that this craft cannot be in harmony with doing art. To take the craft of writing a screenplay and turning that same product into a piece of art of Bergmanesque quality is not Snyder's job, and he makes no pretense that it is.
More importantly, however, is Snyder's passion, what can only be described as a love affair with writing. But again, herein lies some confusion. Some have argued against this book because it offers the possibility that you too, might sell a script if you follow his advice. My god, selling a script ... for money ... how gauche. The mere idea of making money from what one loves is tantamount to pandering to the masses, and we all know were that gets us. Ask the French about uncontrolled masses.
But in all seriousness, Snyder does what few, if any, writer does. Snyder gets up close and personal. Snyder cares enough about those who set aside their hard earned dollars and buy his book. Snyder is willing to talk to his readers, to engage those who take the time to dialogue with him (my god, he provides an email address, and he answers his correspondents). That, for me, is the mark of a truly generous teacher. In the end, that should be the question. Is he willing to teach what he knows? The answer is yes. And the mark of a good teacher, as in Snyder's case, is that he has the ability to present to us in uncomplicated terms a logic to the structure of screenwriting that is easily accessible.
A good, to-the-point reference March 27, 2009
C. Smith (Greenwood, IN USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I liked this book. I think it's very helpful and a lot of the information is to the point. I've read and/or looked at other screen writing books and a lot of them are just so.... well... "wordy". I enjoy reading words (!!) but if I want to reference anything later, I want it to be quick. This book does just that, and I've found it really useful in writing my own screenplay.
Sure, Mr. Snyder seems a bit arrogant about his big sell, "Blank Check", and some might think he is under-qualified but he has to be making some money or else he couldn't be writing this book.
I've read some reviews that state he is only interested in films that made money and not about the arthouse films... Well.. I don't think he states that Arthouse films don't have artistic merit - but they don't make as much money. I think he's pretty clear that he's teaching the format for selling a screenplay, not art.
If that's what you're interested in, or curious about, this is a great book.
A Must for Movie Lovers March 20, 2009
R. Ippolito (San Diego, CA United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder is written for screenwriters, but movie lovers will get a lot out of it, too. Snyder humorously and cleverly writes about the rules that should be followed by the successful screenwriter, and he gives many examples of what to look for in films that follow the formula. By the end of the book readers are excited to realize that they will never see a film the same way again. Their eyes are open now -- they've gone from "regular" to HD! After finishing the book the movie lover will relish viewing films and TV shows and spotting the "Pope in the pool" moment, or an example of "Monster in the House." This book makes you feel like you're in-the-know and promotes enhanced viewing of films.
SAVE THE CAT March 17, 2009
Dean G. Austin (Los Angeles, CA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This morning on ESPN radio, 710am in Los Angles, Colin Cowherd talked about SAVE THE CAT. Colin's point was this: A sports team needs a direction. He talked about the New York Jets, that they have no direction, where as The Giants, The Steelers, other winning teams do. Late into the season, when the games get harder and more important, direction is invaluable.
Colin said what he learned in Save The Cat he can use to analyze a sports team.
In screenwriting, the writer will get lost without direction. By page eleven you might forget what your story is about. How do you keep on your path? In Save the Cat direction is accomplished by giving the screenplay a title before you begin the first scene.
Even if this is only a working title it doesn't matter, just keep it related to the story you originally had in mind. When you get lost read the title.
This is a good point as screenplays and movies often start out really interesting, act two starts to lose it, and by act three it's a complete failure because the author lost direction. Now what Colin got out of the book might seem too simple, and I guess it is. But that's just one aspect of this highly readable screenplay writing guide. The book is full of these tips.
Blake Snyder has written many movies, and sold more. He was at Barns and Noble a few months ago for a signing. This guy is a giving, caring person, the type who's a born teacher, no huge ego who's written a writing book to show off. He truly cares about your writing, and invites you to email him about any questions you might have. The most important thing is his book reflects his desire for you to succeed and therefor he does't hold back or try to get you into some on line workshop to fill his wallet. His email is in the book.
Showing reviews 26-30 of 262
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