Psychology for Screenwriters

I'm surprised by some of the reviews here about this book. I'm a screenwriter and I just couldn't put it down, I was underlining everything and putting stickers all over! This book is so clear and easy to understand, filled with clear examples, tools and exercises of how to apply psychology to whatever you're writing.I was a psychology student once (dropped out, such is life), and the concepts weren't as clear and as applied (for me) as it is here. Freud makes much more sense to me now with Dr. Indick's explanation and step-by-step descriptions. After all, I am a writer, and what I needed was THIS kind of explanation, this way of going through Freud's concept of the unconscious and its structures.This book is not "psychology for dummies" either. It's a friendlier approach to some psychological theories that help with character development when you're writing a script. There's Freud, Erickson, Jung, Adler, May, Campbell... And there are tips of how to write a story based on the psychological aspects. There's no formula to write a screenplay... No, I'm lying, there are a few, but what's the point? Creativity and imagination are the things that makes us all unique writers with different voices and stories to tell. There's a space for everyone, and this work by Dr. Indick is a great step in that direction.

There's two kinds of books, you need to get. A "screenwriting book-formatting" which like the name is says; learn the proper format to write an screenplay. And the second is "screenwriting book-storytelling" which is this book. I picked a sample of this book at my local library, and it covers a profound depth of psychology on how to assemble your characters, and storyline. When I say "assemble", I mean to create the brain and personality of your characters in your story, to make them more appealing, related to our own common world and situation, and something very important; to understand their purpose to do whatever action do in the story. When I say about storyline, it reveals a formula, more than a formula-a pattern, on how the biggest blockbuster films become that: the biggest hit on the screen.All these film: gladiator, Pearl Harbor, titanic, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the rings, karate kid. All they share this common formula which is revealed in this book.And I immediately i bought this book and use it not only in my low budget films I produce. You can apply this book Even for novels, and short stories. You will never going to regret this book.

This book outlines different psychological theories put together by some of the big names in psychology (Freud, Jung, Adler) and some lesser-known ones as well to help screenwriters add psychological depth to their characters (and plot as well).As I read this book, I found I was able to apply most of the theories to one script I'm working on. It seems to me that all these different theories enable screenwriters to approach their characters from several different ways. So now the question becomes "Which theory can I use?" as opposed to "Which one must I use?". Very helpful indeed.

it's a good book. I am 1/2 way through. no book I know of on film is great - but this is good. loads of films mentioned to support each point made.i am using it for a class on Film and Psychology.

Using for homeschool film studies course. Interesting text, well-suited for our purposes.

This is the kind of material that can be used to overcome writer's block. It is not so much about how to write as it is about content and character motivation. It is easy reading with relevant examples. I will be using this until the pages yellow and the binding cracks.

This book is not only inspirational for screenwriters, helping them understand how various psychological theories actually work and could be applied to creating characters, but it is a very good, succinct overview of psychological theories in general. Reading this helps screenwriters to ground their work in how people actually function.

Quite good. I liked it more than others on the subject . I would just only add some more examples , especially regarding films from outside Holywood , or not just mainstream.

I was looking for a book that can help me better understand the human psyche as an aid to writing more conflicted, complicated, multi dimensional characters. This is not it.This is also a poor choice for anyone looking for a book on screenwriting.

This book was a chance buy and what a find it was. This is a well-written gem that every story writer should read. What drives characters, their flaws, back-story and motivation. I fully recommend this book for writers, be they of screenplays, novels...any story form.

10/10 would recommend

One of the best screenwriting books I've ever read. Extremely informative and makes you think over character development and backstories in the scripts you're writing, it makes you think about how and why your person would react to a situation based on their surroundings and upbringing.

never have i read a book so fast. never has a book summerized all the best ideas of the world best "thinkers" on psychology in the aspects of screenwriting and storytelling. I wouldn't recommend this for someone just starting out as a screenwriter, but it is a goldmine of understanding story and the characters you create.