Celtx evangelist Matthieu Gras was recently asked to review the new 'Celtx: Open Source Screenwriting Beginner's Guide' from PACKT publishing. Here's Matt's take, from the original post available at http://matthieugras.com/storyblog/index.php?
I've been approached couple of weeks ago to review: "Celtx: Open Source Screenwriting Beginner's Guide book"' Published by PACKT publishing...
So here it is!
Global impression:
As a screenwriter, and avid Celtx user, I was thrilled to be asked to review Celtx: Open Source Screenwriting Beginner’s Guide, published by PACKT edition. I was expecting a lot of this book, hoping it would turn out to be more than your basic “how to-” manual. Though dubious at first, I was very pleasantly surprised. In fact, I might even venture to say the book has surpassed my expectations.
Celtx: Open Source Screenwriting Beginner’s Guide does not only cover all the specs of the freeware but also explains how to work with it, how to optimise the writing process, as well as opening up a mine of very valuable information, giving advice and sharing tips about the marketing of your material and how to sell it to producers.
Let me emphasise, however, that this is NOT a book about screenwriting – you won’t learn the ins and outs of how to write a screenplay, how to develop gripping drama or conjure up sympathetic characters… even if those topics periodically crop up within the 360-odd pages. The main focus of this book is on the use of Celtx in the writing process.
The first thing that struck me about this book was its cover. Now, we all know that age-old adage about not judging… but when something seems more akin to a gardening manual than the software or screenwriting semantic it should represent, then maybe, just maybe, someone hasn’t got it ‘quite right’… and maybe it should be cast into that melting pot of ideas once more in order to come up with something that will catch the attention of its true potential readers…
The second thing that struck me was the background of the author on the opening page: a war veteran and screenwriter with an impressive 100 books to his name … wow! And why not! However, a short investigation on IMDb shows that the writer has never written a feature or even a short screenplay in his life that has been screened or, at least, accredited, it would seem. This simple fact seriously injured his street cred. from page one, as far as I was concerned. This is where I started to get dubious about what could actually be the fodder for his book… Would it turn out to be just another screenwriter’s battle with anonymity, a philosophical monologue aimed at exorcising a life of frustration…? But it would be unfair to tar the author with this brush without first reading his ‘oeuvre’, so…
Thankfully, the redeeming factor comes quite early on, with the Contents table. It is, indeed, promising, and brings with it renewed hope for the ensuing pages. The first six chapters are dedicated to the mastering of the software, while the last six
focus on the different specs and formats that Celtx covers, on how to market your material and, as mentioned above, a whole heap of industry miscellanea; advice, tips and tricks, concluding on a list of useful books and websites to peruse. At this stage, I am now excited and can’t wait to get started…
With the first six chapters, then, covering all the elements that make Celtx a fantastic freeware - the tools and their functions – with a part dedicated to the theory as well as an easy-to-follow practical tutorial ‘Time for action’’, if ever one’s initial enthusiasm had ebbed, it can now but be rekindled. Each tutorial is supported by colour screenshots that help the screenwriter visualise the process more easily. Spread throughout these pages is also helpful advice on writing aimed at illustrating the use, and how to get the best of, each function, with a quiz at the end of each chapter just to make sure you have understood every piece of information and all the subtleties between the lines.
Once the first six chapters have been diligently savoured and digested, you should be able to do pretty much everything you want with Celtx. As for the following chapters with their enticing headings, they are fantastic added values for debutante writers. Having explored all the specs and formats that Celtx provides (Audiovisual and Radio production, Comic Book, Documentary…), covering the terms used in the industry and their precise definitions (pitch, outline, treatment, synopsis…), we come to the all-important and long-awaited part of how to market your cherished script. This includes where and how to register it, an introduction to copyright and a list of vital books to read and websites to visit. These particular chunks of information will prove an invaluable and welcome help in the move up from the status of novice to that of semi- professional, while constituting a good, firm step towards your new career and global understanding of the industry.
As stated in the introduction, keep in mind that Celtx: Open Source Screenwriting Beginner’s Guide is NOT a screenwriting book; it will NOT teach you the theory and practice of screenwriting, it will NOT make you a screenwriter (or a writer of any kind for that matter, as this process takes years of study, practice and, let’s face it, talent). But it doesn’t mean that you can’t become one… and reading this book is undoubtedly a good step in that direction.
About the reading:
Whereas some may not choose this as the perfect bedside companion, the author’s anecdotes and general easy-going manner masterfully counterbalance the technical descriptions, making the manual a surprisingly enjoyable read.
Personally, I think the breakdown of chapters and sub-parts could benefit from a colour coding system for speedier identification, in spite of the ‘To remember’ or ‘Technical advice’ paragraphs set out to illustrate certain points. But apart from that…
Note that I read the PDF version and think it a good choice, not only for the environment but also because I can refer to it while I am writing. The download is very straight forward.
Final word:
This book should be in the hands of every budding screenwriter wishing to get started on their first screenplay with Celtx.
Celtx: Open Source Screenwriting Beginner’s Guide should be in the hands of every writer –beginner or not- who wishes to tackle the challenge of writing their first screenplay with Celtx… It will be your best friend in the process and should save you precious time… time that can be reinvested in the creative process. The added values of the book about selling your script, how to market it, make this book a must-have for everyone who is seriously considering moving into the industry.
Read a chapter sample here.
You can purchase the book on the publisher's website: www.PacktPub.com or on amazon...
Enjoying reading... Enjoy writing!
Here is my review of Celtx: Open Source Screenwriting Beginner's Guide:
It's too damn expensive.
Posted by: MyFirstNameIsPaul | August 10, 2011 at 12:29 AM