Riding the Alligator: Strategies for a Career in Screenplay Writing and Not getting Eaten

by Pen Densham

Overview

This is the first book that explores both specific screenplay writing techniques, while simultaneously imparting industry-tested strategies for carving out a successful, long term career. Pen Densham reveals his emotional philosophies and professional secrets, plus insights from his company, Trilogy Entertainment Group. Pen imparts an inspiring philosophy on choosing an artistic career and overcoming the many challenges, such as managing stress, to selling yourself and your work, to finding an agent and being true to one’s nature, all while creating a lasting and satisfying career.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781615930692
Publisher:	Wiese, Michael Productions
Publication date:	04/06/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	278
File size:	825 KB

About the Author

Pen Densham is an Oscar nominated writer-director-producer active in Hollywood today. He’s produced 16 features and over 300 hours of TV series. He created the story for the revisionist Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and co-wrote and produced the screenplay with his Trilogy Entertainment Group partner, John Watson. He wrote and directed Moll Flanders for MGM, as well as writing and directing Houdini for TNT. Trilogy’s latest is Phantom (2013).
 
He personally revived both the Twilight Zone and the Outer Limits series to TV.  And is honored to work with talent like Ed Harris, David Duchovny, Jay Baruchel, Jeff Bridges, Bill Murray, Morgan Freeman, Ron Howard, Kevin Costner, Sylvester Stallone, Jodie Foster, Emile Hirsch, Mark Ruffalo, and Robin Wright.
 
Pen also shares his philosophies and techniques at several major academic film institutions like USC and the Canadian Film Center.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Foreword by Jay Roach

Introduction

    1.            The Golden Rule

    2.            In the Beginning

    3.            We All Have Doubts

    4.            Are My Ideas Any Good?

    5.            How to Structure a Story

    6.            Roles a Star Will Want to Play

    7.            We Can’t have Heroes Without ’em

    8.            Now You Have a First Draft

    9.            Entering the Jungle

  10.            You and Your Story Go For a Ride

  11.            How Do I Survive Until I Get Paid to Write?

  12.            I Made a Sale. I’m in Development?

  13.            Beating the Blues

  14.            Thoughts from Other Screenwriters

  15.            Instant Screenwriting Library

  16.            Inspiration and Explorations

  17.            How do You Measure Passion?

  18.            Famous Last Words

Index

Gator Glossary

Editorial Reviews

Pen’s book is unique in that it addresses the entire landscape of movie writing as a career, and most especially encourages artists who write from the heart and strive for originality.” - Ron Howard, Filmmaker
 
“If you’re thinking about writing a screenplay, do yourself a favor and hop on Pen Densham’s Alligator. The ride’s enlightening.” - Jeff Bridges, Oscar winner.
 
“His deep understanding of the screenwriting process is at once inspiring and empowering. ” - Robert Mandel, Dean of AFI 
 
“His words on the creative process are inspiring and useful, and his insight into the business is essential.” - Paul Haggis, Oscar Winning  Filmmaker.
 
“This book would have saved me years! — it's like having a close friend in the business to help guide you through the screenwriting process from idea, to script, to sale, to career.” — Jack Epps, Jr., Chair, Writing for Screen and TV, USC
 
“Pen’s book is wise, encouraging, helpful and kind – everything the business of moviemaking is sometimes not.” - Tom Rothman (recent) Co-Chairman, Fox 
 
“It is one of the few books on the market that comes from a screenwriter who has actually been in the trenches.” - Philip Taylor, writer/professor - Journal of Film and Video - UFVA 2013
 
 

From the Publisher