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book: Storytelling in the New Hollywood
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Storytelling in the New Hollywood

Understanding Classical Narrative Technique
  • Kristin Thompson
Language: English
Published/Copyright: 1999
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About this book

Drawing on a wide range of films from the 1920s to the 1990s—from Keaton’s Our Hospitality to Casablanca to Terminator 2, Kristin Thompson offers the first in-depth analysis of Hollywood’s storytelling techniques and how they are used to make complex, easily comprehensible, entertaining films.

Reviews

Thompson...trespasses on the turf of the screenwriting gurus here, gun in hand, to blast away at the three-act structure universally accepted in the business since Syd Field codified it in his 1979 book Screenplay. In its place she proposes four acts, sections of roughly equal length which she labels 'setup,' 'complicating action,''development' and 'climax and epilogue.'
-- Alistair Owen The Independent

It was wonderful to read a book where I felt the writer knew what was going on in my mind while I was directing the film. Kristin Thompson was able to illuminate all the structural twists and turns of the plot, the character development, as well as the small details and symbolic references that directors put into their work, but often go unnoticed by the average moviegoer.
-- Susan Seidelman, Director Desperately Seeking Susan

Thompson's insightful analysis of Ground Day and of the screenwriting process in general should be fascinating toboth writers and audience alike. More thoughtful writing and more discerning audiences can't help but lead to better movies, and this informative and provocative book is a step in that direction.
-- Harold Ramis, Director, Ground Day

How refreshing to encounter a film scholar who understands that, first and foremost, movies must be written. Thompson's book offers an invaluable resource not only to professionals, but to any dedicated moviegoer who wants to better understand the intricate cratf of telling stories on film.
-- Ted Tally, Screenwriter, The Silence of the Lambs


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Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
November 5, 1999
eBook ISBN:
9780674267787
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
Main content:
416
Downloaded on 23.9.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.4159/9780674267787/html?lang=en
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