Note: ISBN 9780995498129 has color interior, ISBN 9780995498174 has B&W interior.
In Screenwriting Unchained, Emmanuel Oberg sets out a dogma-busting, method for developing screenplays
This practical, no-nonsense guide leaves behind one-size-fits-all story theories and offers a refreshingly modern approach to story structure, making it a precious resource for anyone involved creatively in the Film and TV industry (or aspiring to be): writers, directors, producers, development execs, showrunners and storytellers eager to reach a wide audience at home and abroad without compromising their creative integrity.
Oberg identifies three main story-types-plot-led, character-led, theme-led-then reveals in a clear, conversational style how each of these impacts on the structure of any story and how we can use a single set of tools to develop any screenplay, from an independent crossover to a studio blockbuster. Crucially, he also looks at hybrids and exceptions, those unique gems that don't fit any of the story-types but still work beautifully.
This leads to the Story-Type Method, a powerful yet flexible way to handle the script development process. Oberg's inspiring framework doesn't tell filmmakers what to write and when, but focuses instead on why some storytelling tools and principles have stood the test of time, and how to use them in the 21st century.
Including case studies from films as diverse as Gravity, Silver Linings Playbook, Crash, , Birdman, Edge of Tomorrow, The Secret in Their Eyes, L.A. Confidential and The Lives of Others, Screenwriting Unchained will transform the way you write, read, pitch, design, assess and develop screenplays. Guaranteed!
Emmanuel Oberg is a screenwriter, author and creative consultant with twenty-five years of experience in the Film and TV industry. After selling a first screenplay to Warner Bros, he has by StudioCanal, Working Title / Universal, Gold Circle and Film4. He has also designed an internationally acclaimed Advanced Development Workshop and modules on thriller, comedy and TV Series, all based on the Story-Type Method®. He delivers them with passion to filmmakers all over the world. Emmanuel lives in the UK with his wife and their two daughters.
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Industry Reviews
"Without question the most useful book in the marketplace on the writing and development process. Eschewing a dogmatic approach to structure, Oberg allows for a methodology which embraces the diversity of stories that writers wish to tell and comes up with clear and practical approaches to developing narratives. This is a highly refreshing approach to the subject and one highly recommended to everyone from the aspiring screenwriter to the overburdened development exec."
--Dan MacRae, Head of UK Development, StudioCanal
"Screenwriting Unchained is an incredibly comprehensive book and an impressive achievement indeed. In particular, the way Oberg devises a properly 'unified theory' that is creatively rather than orthodoxy led makes it a fabulous one-stop, practical tool box for writers and developers. I for one will be recommending it heartily (and using it in my writing no doubt!)"
--E. J. Clarke, Head of Film and TV at Shoebox Films and author of the Rowan Oakwing Series
"Whenever I worked with Emmanuel, I was always blown away by his razorsharp insight on how to construct and structure screenplays. Now he's collated all his insights into a book that should be required reading for any writer/director, writer or anyone dealing with the script development process. Screenwriting Unchained is the lightsabre of screenwriting books: the Story-Type Method cuts through to the essence and guides you when you are lost."
--Matthias Hoene, Writer/director (Cockneys vs Zombies, Warrior's Gate)
"Screenwriters tend to rely too heavily on formula, as if there is a plug-and-play recipe for creating art. What Oberg does with this Screenwriting Unchained book is offer a background on what he calls "logistical structure" and why it has worked for so long, but then focuses the writer on "dramatic structure" which instead allows the writer to breathe, present emotion on the page in a more fluid manner, and concentrate on the most important element of storytelling; presenting an emotional experience to an audience. A refreshing new book all writers should consider studying."
--Max Timm, Int'l Screenwriters Assoc (ISA) and author of YA fantasy novel, The WishKeeper
"This is a really clear and intelligently laid out book. Each section flows logically and easily into the next. It is very accessible and the principles are quick to grasp. It has some truly inspired chapters, use of Maslow, break down of types of story and above/below line requirements. There are proper workable tools to use when approaching rewriting too which is so often overlooked in other books. Just when I thought there couldn't possibly be anything more to add on the subject of screenwriting, this book finds it."
--Simon Bovey FHEA, Screenwriting Lecturer at Worcester University
