If there is one skill that separates the professional screenwriter from the amateur, it is the ability to rewrite successfully. From Jack Epps, Jr., the screenwriter of Top Gun, Dick Tracy, and The Secret of My Success, comes a comprehensive guide that explores the many layers of rewriting. In Screenwriting is Rewriting, Epps provides a practical and tested approach to organizing notes, creating a game plan, and executing a series of focused passes that address the story, character, theme, structure, and plot issues. Included are sample notes, game plans, and beat sheets from Epps' work on films such as Sister Act and Turner and Hooch. Also featured are exclusive interviews with Academy Award® winning screenwriters Robert Towne (Chinatown) and Frank Pierson (Dog Day Afternoon), along with Academy Award® nominee Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich).

Table of Contents:
Introduction How To Use This Book Let's Talk About Rewriting The Pass Method – Layer By Layer Movies You Need To See Part One: Foundations and Fundamentals Chapter 1 Notes – Receiving and Organizing Notes Chapter 2 Interpreting Notes – Reading Tea Leaves Chapter 3 Annotated Draft – Your Reference Guide Chapter 4 Game Plan – Creating a Road Map for the Rewrite Chapter 5 Character – Writing from the Inside Out Chapter 6 Foundation Pass – Strengthening the Core Chapter 7 Character Pass – The Emotional Core Chapter 8 The Set-Up – Establish – Complicate – Resolve Chapter 9 Story & Theme Pass – The Emotional Underpinning Chapter 10 Structure – What Stays In, What Goes Out, and In What Order Chapter 11 Structure Pass – Architecture and Design Chapter 12 Plot – How Will This Turn Out? Chapter 13 Plot Pass – Cause and Effect Chapter 14 Feedback on Your Interim Draft – Checking-In Part Two: Details and Layering Chapter 15 Opposition Characters – Sources of Conflict and Tension Chapter 16 Obstacles, Complications, Reveals, and Reversals – Complicate, Complicate, Complicate Chapter 17 Obstacles, Complications, Reveals, and Reversals Pass – Making Life Much More Difficult Chapter 18 Relationships – The Ties that Bind Chapter 19 Relationship Pass – Interconnecting Chapter 20 Dialogue – Rhythm and Flow Chapter 21 Scene Pass – Link and Connect Chapter 22 Consistency Pass – Motivated Actions Chapter 23 Polish Pass – Dialogue, Text, and Tightening Chapter 24 Sending Out Your Screenplay – Letting Go Chapter 25 Working with Directors, Producers, and Executives – Patience, Patience, Patience Part Three: Screenwriters on Rewriting Interview with Robert Towne Chinatown, The Firm, Mission Impossible II Interview with Frank Pierson Cool Hand Luke, Dog Day Afternoon, King Of The Gypsies Interview with Susannah Grant Pocahontas, Erin Brockovich, The Soloist Part Four: Examples Studio Script Notes Turner & Hooch Notes Sister Act Studio Notes and Game Plan Student Annotated Pages Suicide Girl by Ivy Pruss Student Script Notes & Game Plans Take Your Grandma To Work Day by David Ngo F@#% The Knot by Romi Barta Essential Three Act Questions Acknowledgements Quote Sources Index