Classical Storytelling and Contemporary Screenwriting ─ Aristotle and the Modern Scriptwriter

Since we first arrived on the planet, we’ve been telling each other stories, whether of that morning’s great saber-tooth tiger hunt or the latest installment of the Star Wars saga. And throughout our history, despite differences of geography or culture, we’ve been telling those stories in essentially the same way. Why?

Because there is a RIGHT way to tell a story, one built into our very DNA.

In his seminal work Poetics, Aristotle identified the patterns and recurring elements that existed in the successful dramas of his time as he explored precisely why we tell stories, what makes a good one, and how to best tell them.

In Classical Storytelling and Contemporary Screenwriting, Brian Price examines Aristotle’s conclusions in an entertaining and accessible way and then applies those guiding principles to the most modern of storytelling mediums, going from idea to story to structure to outline to final pages and beyond, covering every relevant screenwriting topic along the way.

The result is a fresh new approach to the craft of screenwriting—one that’s only been around a scant 2,500 years or so—ideal for students and aspiring screenwriters that want a comprehensive step-by-step guide to writing a successful screenplay the way the pros do it.

Brian Price received his BA in Theatre from Yale University and his MFA in Screenwriting from UCLA. As a writer, he’s worked with major studios, television networks, and independent producers, and his work has won numerous awards and competitions. As an instructor, he’s been on the UCLA Screenwriting faculty for the past 10 years, teaching in the MFA, undergraduate, and professional programs. He has also taught screenwriting at Yale University, UCSB, and the Brooks Institute, among other places.