Ken Dancyger Books

The Technique of Film and Video Editing provides a detailed, precise look at the artistic and aesthetic principles and practices of editing for both picture and sound. Because editing is about more than learning a specific software program, this book focuses on the fundamentals of editing as art. Analysis of photographs from dozens of classic and contemporary films and videos provide a sound basis for the professional filmmaker and student editor. This book puts into context the storytelling choices an editor will have to make against a background of theory, history, and practice. This edition includes brand new chapters covering the goals of editing, including editing for narrative clarity, subtext, aesthetics, and dramatic emphasis, all showing how to evoke specific audience responses

Going beyond the conventional three-act structure and exploring more inventive approaches, this text aims to challenge readers to take creative risks with genre, tone, character and structure.

The short film is a unique narrative art form that, while lending itself to experimentation, requires tremendous discipline in following traditional filmic considerations. This book takes the student and novice screenwriter through the storytelling process- from conception, to visualization, to dramatization, to characterization and dialogue- and teaches them how to create a dramatic narrative that is at once short (approximately half an hour in length) and complete. Exercises, new examples of short screenplays, and an examination of various genres round out the discussion.NEW TO THE THIRD new screenplays, a chapter on rewriting your script, and a chapter on the future of short films

Focusing on the essential tools for crafting compelling stories, this guide explores the nuances of writing for radio and television. It delves into the unique challenges faced in both documentary and dramatic formats, offering practical examples across various writing genres. The book serves as a comprehensive resource for aspiring writers looking to enhance their skills in broadcast media.

In a field where novelty often equals commercial success, scriptwriters often strive to create screenplays that are innovative and exceptional. Going beyond the conventional three-act structure and exploring more inventive approaches, Alternative Scriptwriting, second edition, challenges readers to take creative risks with genre, tone, character and structure. Examples and case studies demonstrate what works, what doesn't and why, and exercises encourage writers to explore new ways of viewing their work and test the limits of their skills. Ken Dancyger has taught screenwriting for twenty years and is head of undergraduate studies for the Department of Film and Television at New York University. He has written numerous dramas and documentaries for radio and television. Jeff Rush is a professor in the Department of Radio, TV and Film at Temple University. He has written numerous screenplays.

Provides the theory, history and thought processes behind film and video editing through in-depth analyzes of many films, both old and new. The book advises on how careful editing for pacing, clarity, continuity and sound affect the viewer's perceptions and the ultimate success of the sequence.