Save the Cat eBook can be Found Here

The premise of Blake Snyder's Save the Cat book is to provide the reader with a basic understanding of what kinds of scripts sell and more importantly, what sells in Hollywood. As the tag line of the book suggests, all you need to do is save the cat and everyone is happy in the end. Yes, Hollywood loves happy endings because they feel it is necessary to send people home after a movie feeling good.
This book's relevance, by today's standards, has faded somewhat over the last few years as we have seen a rise in successful movies that have no happy ending. That said, the largest mainstream audience is still the G-rated crowd and they love their happy endings.
As far as being a book that can teach you how to write a good screenplay, it is not. I originally read this book three times because I kept feeling like I had missed something. Every time I sat down to attack one of my scripts and apply some Blake Snyder to it, I realized I couldn't; it is too light on screenwriting specifics.

Save the Cat eBook -- So what is it good for?
This title should be called "The Last Book on Screenwriting you should read". It won't help with the actual writing but every screenwriter should have this book floating around in his or her consciousness when working on a script. If you are interested in playing the game (writing for success instead of artistic fulfillment), know the rules.

It is a great read that every screenwriting junkie should flip through. I really did laugh my pants off. I will still read this book a dozen times more because it is outrageously inspirational and when I feel like I am losing my marbles, Blake helps me find them again.

Blake passed away suddenly on August 4, 2009 and is no longer with us except in spirit. He was highly respected in the industry and well known for his ability to determine within minutes what was wrong with a script and how to make it right. His generosity of spirit knew no boundaries, his passion was endless. He is already sorely missed.

In his 20-year career as a screenwriter and producer, Blake Snyder sold dozens of scripts, including co-writing Blank Check, which became a hit for Disney, and Nuclear Family for Steven Spielberg - both million-dollar sales. Named "one of Hollywood's most successful spec screenwriters," Blake sold his most recently screenplay in 2009.

Blake taught at Chapman, UCLA, Vanderbilt, and the Beijing Film Academy. His book is the basis of screenwriting classes at many major universities in the U.S. and Canada.

Blake Snyder hasn't written much in terms of individually produced material but this book just keep on selling; thousands of copies have been sold to date. Popular is an understatement. So for a book about screenwriting that doesn't actually give you much on screenwriting, why is it so popular? Considering the author himself has never written many complete (and produced) screenplays, again, why does it keep selling?

1. Entertainment value: It is a wildly entertaining book to read that really makes you feel like you can see the big picture. Most books on screenwriting are a rather dry read and this one is anything but.

2. Cheap is good: At around only $15, it is the most inexpensive book dealing with screenwriting you can find.

3. Inspiration is everything: Very few books are able to inspire a reader into action and this is one of them. Look at the big picture and everything seems small and surmountable. He delivers a simple way of looking at story telling.

Here are his credits according to the International Movie Database. Yes, it's like looking at an almost blank page. Despite his lack of working credits, Save the Cat has a special place in my heart because of all the things it made me smile at.

Please note that even though he does not have many full credits he was mainly known as one of the best spec writers bar none (IE. fixing other peoples junk into something good).

As I have stated previously, this title is not really going to help you learn how to actually write a movie script. For those interested in learning the craft of screenwriting I would highly recommend Screenwriting Goldmine by Philip Gladwin and The Screenwriter's Bible by David Trottier.

Screenwriting Goldmine
Perhaps the best book to start with for any aspiring screenwriter. His book is now a full program with an active support forum online. It is an easy to follow, point by point method for creating production worthy material. You can only buy this title on the Internet as it is no longer available in stores (you need a credit card or PayPal account). I can't say enough about this one.

The Screenwriter's Bible
An absolute must have book for selling your script; it is the gold standard in L.A. This title comes with everything you need to get your material sold (contact, query forms and marketing plans). It does offer specifics in terms of crafting a screenplay but lacks the ease of use offered by Screenwriting Goldmine. If you only buy one book, this is it.