Story CD: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting Audio CD – Abridged, January 3, 2006

Sorry I don’t have time to write a succinctly profound review but if you’re even barely considering buying this book, JUST DO IT. I honestly can’t believe the price is 25$.If you have an ounce of raw story telling talent, or if u consider yourself professional, this book is for you. Or if you appreciate the art of storytelling; or if u work in the industry and get scripts across your desk, this book is for you.I do not write scripts and have no plans to; I was introduced to this book years ago when reviewing a script someone was interested in getting funded and felt appropriate to educate myself on what makes a script great... Bc we all know when a script isn’t, but not necessarily Why. Robert blew my mind w this one; the depth, the clarity, the profundity and the genius simplification of one of the most complex art forms - telling stories about the human experience.The essence of the art form is principled out in the book. I’ve been raving about this book since I first read it in 2017, lent my hand-me-down copy, and bought my own last week to do a little book club w my gf. We enjoy watching episodics and movies and have a great time articulating why we think stories are great. I’m super excited diving back into this book again especially w a partner.In my over simplified, outsider opinion, this book is THE formula, the “bible” so to say, of the who what where when and most importantly WHY of scripting for screen.Just buy it. Buy two copies and gift one to your writing buddy or a director u work with. Heck, buy 3 copies and keep on in the car or at the office. Again, ~25$ - wow.If u want to get your script funded - this is the next place for you to go. Scripts are picked up bc they will sell, and in order to sell they have resonate universally. This book explains the essence, the principles of the art form of script writing. If you really think you have what it takes to be an all star writer then digesting this book should 100% fun for you.Just my 3 cents... again I have no plans of writing and I’m not a writer. But I enjoy the art form and I respect the mastery of technical and creative that blend as genius and excellence. For me, having this knowledge has made stories on screen that much more enjoyable as I watch the principles outlined in this book play themselves out like clockwork.I hope I’ve made it clear how magnificent and remarkable this book is in both knowledge and presentation. The hugest shoutout to Robert McKee and his wife who apparently edited this. And shoutout to all the other people behind the scenes on making this book happen. It’s brought me tons of joy, entertainment, knowledge and invigoration. And quite honestly had widened my perspective of the human condition and life itself.Just buy it, and read it. Take notes. Study it. Use it. Capitalize on it if script writing and story telling is in your cards.And if u love this book as much as I do let’s start a club lol.

There are several reviews which explain this CD better. I am only add my own because I do believe this would be a very important read for any actor.In my younger days, I had the acting bug and I read several books on "scene analysis" and such. These always left me disappointed as there seemed to be something missing. This book has shown me what that is, an understanding of how the "scene" fits into the "play" (read, "story").This book/CD presents a cogent theory of story and, more importantly, clearly shows how an actor's beats should be analyzed and, thereafter, how a scene, sequence, act and play show be analyzed to understand the author's intention and, thereby, understand what the actor should focus on in such beat, scene etc. in order to successfully "act" the play.It also clarifies a distinction many young actors fail to note: there is a difference between a character and characterization. So, if you have been confused by the "old chestnut" that "plot is character and character is plot", then after reading this book you will know that your confusion is because you wrongly saw a character as his mannerisms (something actors are very prone to do) and failed to see that character is revealed by what a person chooses to do nor do not, and is not revealed by what they wear, how they talk, nor even by what they actually say (unless, what they say is different from what they do).Simply put, "actions speak louder than words". Too often, actors get caught up in the words and fail to realize they are actually hired more to show the "action" than to "meaningfully" recite the "words".Finally, if you have heard as often is said about a story, that something changes in the protagonist's life which leads him to venture forth, where "obstacles" get in his way before he is confronted with the thing or choice which will "scratch" the "itch" which led him to venture forth and, having climactically confronted such thing/choice, a resolution to the protagonist's "itch" allows him, although he is now changed inside, to return to a somewhat normal life; this book does a very good job of explaining what that all actually means and how to go about making it happen. If you are an actor, understanding the writer's craft can only help you in understanding the strengthens and weakness of a play and it, more importantly, your character's purpose in the story.I wish I had read this book "back in the day", I would have been a much better actor and maybe sustained my passion for the craft.(In truth, I did have the book back then but found it too wordy and, so, never got beyond the first 100 pages. So, if you also do not like reading "craft" books, then I would recommend getting the CD version. It is abridged, however, it seems fairly complete and I understood the theory better when I heard it than when I read it. However, to each their own.)

Wow. I’m BLOWN AWAY by this book. In a lucky non co incidence I met an actor and we got to talking and he recommended this book. I only trusted him because his favourite movie is MY favorite movie. This was proper BRAIN CANDY for me the whole of December and January I didn’t work at all I went out and enjoyed my holiday and I gobbled up this book like no other . I LOVE it, I ADORE it , it came to me at the perfect time I was ready to elevate my writing. This book should 100% inspire your creativity and ideas . I’ve seen people saying they don’t like rules but I don’t see it this way I actually felt my creativity being stimulated to the max. WOW WOW and WOWZANow guess what I made a wall full of notes on this book and I re read it over and over I know some of the stuff by heart already.AND I plan to read it again and re do my notes if necessary someone on here said it’s the story telling bible and i couldn’t agree more , I will read it till I’m dead and beyond I’m SO HAPPY THANK YOU OMG THANK YOOOOOUUUUUUUUThis guy is clever please listen to him. I’ll update this comment when my movie is out. Thank you *takes a bow*

Very good book. Taught me a lot about writing and about making stories that arc instead of just a linear approach. This really raised my thinking level on the writing that I've done and will definitely help me be a better writer. I struggled with a few days chapters because I disagreed with the basic premise of the chapter. The key is clearly the voice of authority, but I disagree with the premise. However for the most part it was extremely well done and I look forward to reading more of Robert McKee's books.