Review of SHORT FILMS by Patrick Nash

Rating: 5 out of 5

SHORT FILMS: WRITING THE SCREENPLAY by Patrick Nash is a helpful book for anyone interested in screenwriting because it covers all the concepts that are necessary for a writer to write a great screenplay. But it's especially helpful for those interested in short films. Nash refers to short films as a great training ground for aspiring film makers and writers. It makes sense because if you want to write a great screenplay, a great way to know if you would be any good at it is to complete a short screenplay first. 

Nash's book walks you through the process of doing that. After a short history lesson on filmmaking and the reasons for embracing short films, Nash gets into the core of the book which is telling a great story through the short film medium. From coming up with a story idea to developing your story into beginning, middle, and end, to structuring your story into a short screenplay, the chapters in SHORT FILMS are relatively short and to the point. One of the most important chapters in the book, I think, is the chapter on screenplay formatting. This takes the guesswork out of formatting in a way that professionals do. 

SHORT FILMS is an almost pocket size guide and easy to read in a short time. I've read  a lot of books on screenwriting, and while a lot of this stuff I've come across before, this book is a helpful addition.

Review copy provided by OldCastle Books

Photo Credit: OldCastle Books