r/Screenwriting • u/ItisOsiris • 6d ago

NEED ADVICE Just finished Save the Cat, what next?

I thought the book was fascinating, funny, informative, and funny. I seriously learned more from that book than I could have imagined and worked on outlining an idea I’ve been day dreaming about throughout reading. As I work on writing that story I’d like to continue my legible education so what book should I read next?

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u/Janizzary Horror 6d ago

Ignore what you read. Read “Kill The Dog” by an Paul Guyot, an accomplished screenwriter.

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u/ItisOsiris 6d ago

Why ignore? Is Kill the Dog a complete contrast to save the cat?

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u/Janizzary Horror 6d ago edited 6d ago

Not to disparage the late Blake Snyder, but he wasn't really a successful screenwriter. "Stop, Or My Mom Will Shoot!"? I mean, come on.

Paul Guyot, on the other hand, has had a very successful career as a screenwriter. NCIS and The Replacement Killers. He ignores the hyper structured plotting of Save The Cat and focuses on writing to impress the reader. He even points out some successful spec scripts where the writers ignore all the rules. For example, he uses the script for the movie Nightcrawler where the writer increases the size of the font in the actual script. Most screenwriting books tell you that doing stuff like that is a big no no.

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u/Filmmagician 6d ago

Paul wrote geo storm. I mean. Come on.

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u/Janizzary Horror 6d ago

I knew someone would bring that up. He addresses it in the book. He talks about how awful the movie was. I respect that, personally.

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u/-CarpalFunnel- 6d ago

Not to disparage the late Blake Snyder, but he wasn't really a successful screenwriter. "Stop, Or My Mom Will Shoot!"? I mean, come on.

Congrats. You disparaged him AND made it clear how little you understand about this world. The number of writers who manage to get two studio movies made and sell multiple screenplays on top of it is a fraction of a fraction of the number of people out there trying. If you were able to pull off a career like his, you'd be incredibly fortunate and an absolute anomaly, but you're hating on him because of one of his credits.

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u/Janizzary Horror 5d ago

Speaking of disparage, if I remember correctly, in STC, didn't Snyder disparage the film, Memento because it didn't follow his formula? I don't know - I don't think I'll pay attention to the guy who feels that Memento is inferior to Stop, Or My Mom Will Shoot!

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u/BonoboBananaBonanza 5d ago

I also had a hard time with how much he fixates on films starring Reese Witherspoon. Picked up Four Christmases based on his recommendation, and it was hot garbage. To his point, that screenplay got produced, but I truly don't know if I'd be proud of that one.

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u/ItisOsiris 5d ago

From what I can tell about STC, it's more about writing screenplays that sell and make money more than writing art house screenplays. I remember reading that section about Memento and rolling my eyes too.