Off the Page : Screenwriting in the Era of Media Convergence

Off the Page examines the business and craft of screenwriting in the era of media convergence. Bernardi and Hoxter use the recent history of screenwriting labor coupled with close analysis of the screenwriting para-industry—from “how to write a winning script” books to screenwriting software—to explore the state of screenwriting throughout the US media industries. They address the conglomerate studios making tentpole movies, expanded television, Indiewood, independent animation, microbudget scripting, the video games industry, and online content creation. This book is designed to be used by students and writers who want to understand what studios want and why they want it, but also how scripting is developing in the convergent media, beneath and beyond the Hollywood tent-pole. By addressing specific genres old and new, across a wide range of media, this essential volume sets the standard for anyone in the expanded screenwriting industry and the scholars that study it.

Daniel Bernardi is Professor of Cinema in the School of Cinema and Director of the Veteran Documentary Corps at San Francisco State University. He was worked in the entertainment industry, edits the War Culture book series at Rutgers University press, and has published several books and articles on film, television and popular culture.
 
Julian Hoxter is Associate Professor of Cinema in the School of Cinema at San Francisco State University. He is a produced screenwriter and has published three books on the history and practice of screenwriting.