The highly-anticipated addition to Robert Mckee's volume of works that continue to serve as a writer's guide to becoming an expert in the art of storytelling.
Following the massive success of his recent works Dialogue and Character, the most sought-after screenwriting lecturer shares his insights on one of the most demanding yet crucial genres of storytelling: action.
ACTION explores the ways that a modern-day writer can successfully invent an action sequence that stands apart on its own in a world that has become saturated with clich s. McKee and el-Wakil guide the writer to successful originality by deconstructing the genre, illuminating the challenges, and, more importantly, demonstrating how to overcome them. Throughout the book, they illustrate the principles of action with precision and clarity by referencing some of the most popular movies we have come to known including: Die Hard, The Star Wars Saga, Dark Knight, The Matrix and Avengers: Endgame. The shared wisdom of Mckee and el-Wakil allows writers to learn how to invent an action sequence that tomorrow's fans have not seen or read but also how to be sure they can great a great one.
About the Author
Robert McKee, a Fulbright scholar and member of Final Draft's Hollywood Hall of Fame, is the world's most sought-after author and lecturer known for his seminars/webinars that provides writers with crucial insight on the story universe. His writing seminars have earned him an international reputation. The cornerstones of his teaching are Character, Storynomics, and Dialogue. Translated into 23 languages, these singular works have defined how we talk about the art of storytelling. Over the last 35 years, he has mentored screenwriters, novelists, playwrights, poets, documentary makers, producers, and directors. The list of McKee alumni includes the winners of over 60 Academy Awards, 200 Emmy Awards, and 100 Writers Guild of America Awards, as well as recipients of the Pulitzer, Booker, Olivier, and other major prose and playwriting prizes.
Bassim El-Wakil has worked closely with Robert McKee for over a decade, as author and lecturer. Acknowledged as an expert on all forms of story structure and genre, he has a personal love for Action, Crime, Fantasy, and the long-form serials of television and comic books. His podcasts, THE STORY TOOLKIT and THE WRITER'S JIHAD are available on all major podcast platforms.
Industry Reviews
"His great insight into storytelling is unparalleled."--Los Angeles Times
"McKee is the world's best-known and most respected lecturer of Storytelling Arts."--The Wall Street Journal
"The ultimate master."--BBC
"Universally acclaimed."--The New York Times
"A not-so-secret force in the movie industry and Hollywood's most sought-after screenwriting instructor." --Vanity Fair
"ACTION inspires action. McKee and El-Wakil have created the guide I've been looking for all my years as a professional screenwriter. ACTION helps you understand how and why the thing works--how its heart beats, how it thinks, and most importantly, what makes it move. For a professional action writer, it almost feels like cheating."--Zak Penn, American screenwriter and director
"Robert McKee's books offer lucid analysis, perceptive insights and fruitful challenges to those of us who practice the magical arts of storytelling. I highly recommend his latest: ACTION--THE ART OF EXCITEMENT Buy it, read it, put it to work!"--Michael Hirst, creator, screenwriter, series producer of Vikings, and Billy the Kid
ACCLAIM FOR ROBERT MCKEE"Legendary."--The Washington Post