THE SCREENPLAY TREE: Movie Structure Made Easy

by Marc Rosenberg, Shellie Conway (Illustrator)

The ‘Screenplay Tree’ is a new way to structure a movie script. It is easy to understand, suits any writer’s style, is efficient and effective. Having taught screenwriting all over the world, I was encouraged to write this book by my students. ‘The Screenplay Tree’ uses ‘reverse engineering’ to create a structure that gives the screenwriter’s ideas purpose and direction without inhibiting their creativity. It is a reasonable way of planning a screenplay or diagnosing one that’s written. Included in the book is my annotated feature film script, “Kyd’s Game”. The reader will understand more clearly how a professional screenwriter thinks and the reasons for the decisions they make. The notes within the screenplay will help an entry-level screenwriter see how the Screenplay Tree can be applied to any script. In addition to the instructions on how the ‘Screenplay Tree’ works, I have included direction on story generation, the movie ‘premise’, ‘logline’ and ‘synopsis’ with examples. I have also shared my knowledge and experience with payment, working with directors, actors, and agents. After 30 years in the screenwriting business, I’m delighted to share what I know, in hopes you’ll create the next great movie!

398 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2018

Reviews

[Jeff Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked up The Screenplay Tree by Marc Rosenberg really early last Saturday morning to read with my coffee, I hadn’t intended to read it straight through. But, that’s exactly what I did. I got totally engrossed and bagged all my other projects and didn’t quit until I had read the lecture and the screenplay portion of the analysis. On Sunday morning, I read the screenplay portion and the associated analysis. Man, what a revelation. This wasn’t just a book on how to write a screenplay, it was complete class on how to tell a story. I have always kind of written the conclusions first and worked backward thru the story, writing whatever scene struck my interest next. The writing style professed by Rosenberg in The Screenplay Tree brought the whole technique into clarity for me. Now, I know a little better what I’m doing. I would recommend this screenwriting tutorial to any writer, screenplay, short story, or novel, as a different point of view on story development. I have always felt that writing a screenplay in conjunction with writing a novel to be a form of writer’s cross training. Thanks Marc, for clarifying so much of the remaining mystery. JAB, author of the novel and screenplay Not On My Watch.

[LitPick Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kyd's Game is an action-packed book showing the injustices and corruption in the government. Kyd, a former CIA agent now turned farmer, was given an assignment by his ex-girlfriend, Irina, to help retrieve a video disk that carries evidence against the Russian government. This assignment was beneficial to both the U.S government and Irina's brother who was campaigning for the post of the president of Russia. It was also beneficial to Kyd, whose daughter was bedridden due to a terminal illness. When a former colleague, Paul Wexler, approached Kyd with this mission in exchange for Molly's entrance into a program that will potentially cure her from the disease, it was hard to refuse. He took the job only for him to realize he has become a pawn in a dangerous political game. Not all stories have happy endings, but will that be the case for Kyd?

Opinion:
Kyd's Game is a well-written book that makes you want to keep flipping every page. Every character has their uniqueness that is peculiar to the success of this book. The bond between Kyd and his daughter Molly was a very strong one. The fact that throughout Kyd's tribulations in Russia all he could think of was getting back on time for Molly's treatment, made me emotional. I find Paul Wexler's character particularly intriguing and complex. Wexler's speech about how there are no clear good and bad sides, and that it's all about who pays best, is a show of the corrupt nature of politics. I really love the author's writing style. He can sometimes be humorous and sometimes be straightforward and direct. Every page made me more invested in the book and every word written made me want to meet with the author.