COMPANION WEBSITE
PREFACE TO THE SIXTH EDITION
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INTRODUCTION: THE POWER AND IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN CONNECTION
PART I: Preparing to Write the Short Screenplay
Chapter 1: Connecting to Purpose
Chapter 2: Connecting to Self
Chapter 3: Connecting to Genre
Chapter 4: Connecting to Process
Chapter 5: Connecting to Collaboration
PART II: Aspects of the Craft
Chapter 6: Story and Screenplay
Chapter 7: Character
Chapter 8: Structure
Chapter 9: Dialogue
Part III: Five (Not So) Easy Screenplays
Chapter 10: The Discovery
Chapter 11: The Decision
Chapter 12: The Boxing Match
Chapter 13: The Improbable Connection
Chapter 14: The Long Short Screenplay
PART IV: Eleven Screenplays That Make It Look Easy
Chapter 15: Chillin’ Out
Chapter 16: The Great Wall of Vicky Lynn
Chapter 17: Killer Kart
Chapter 18: Intercambios
Chapter 19: Underground
Chapter 20: Tough Crowd
Chapter 21: Kosher
Chapter 22: My Josephine
Chapter 23: Lena’s Spaghetti
Chapter 24: Cool Breeze and Buzz
Chapter 25: Slow Dancin’ Down the Aisles of the Quickcheck
Conclusion
APPENDIX A: Available Screenwriting Software
APPENDIX B: Films and Television Series Referenced
APPENDIX C: Further Reading
NOTES
INDEX
Biography
Claudia Hunter Johnson is the writer/director of the civil rights documentary feature, The Other Side of Silence: The Untold Story of Ruby McCollum, winner of the Gold Jury Prize at Seattle’s Social Justice Film Festival and Best Florida Documentary at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. Her memoir Stifled Laughter, now in its 2nd edition, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and won the inaugural P.E.N./Newman’s Own First Amendment Award and the 2023 Best Books Award for Current Events. She’s also the author of the memoir Hurtling Toward Happiness: A Mother and Teenage Son’s Road Trip From Blues to Bonding in a Really Small Car. She has taught screenwriting at the FSU Film School and USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.
Praise for the 5th edition:
"Crafting Short Screenplays That Connect, Fifth Edition, is an incredible, insightful guide to writing an effective, engaging short screenplay. Claudia Hunter Johnson takes the reader through the journey of crafting screenplays using connection as the path."- Dr. Valliere Richard Auzenne, Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts
