Mick Hurbis-Cherrier teaches screenwriting, story analysis, and film production at Hunter College in New York City. Professionally, he has worked as a screenwriter, script consultant, director, cinematographer, and editor. His films have garnered prizes at many festivals. He is the co-author of Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics (2020), now in its sixth edition, and Voice & Vision: A Creative Approach to Narrative Filmmaking (2025), now in its fourth edition.

INTRODUCTION; PART I: THE GROUND RULES; Chapter 1: Writing the Dramatic Story; Chapter 2: Screenplay Language, Ground Rules; PART II: THE INDUSTRY STANDARDS; Chapter 3: Screenplay Format Basics; Chapter 4: Scene Headings and Secondary Headings; Chapter 5: Scene Transitions; Chapter 6: Scene Directions; Chapter 7: Character Cues (and Extensions); Chapter 8: Dialogue; Chapter 9: Personal Directions (Parentheticals); Chapter 10: Beginning and Ending Your Script; Chapter 11: Multiple Action Areas; Chapter 12: Character Names and Introductions; Chapter 13: Managing Time on the Page; Chapter 14: Written and Screen Content; Chapter 15: Script Delivery Details; Chapter 16: Why These Rules?; Chapter 17: Sample Spec Script; PART III: EXPRESSIVE SCREENWRITING Chapter 18: Establishing POV on the page; Chapter 19: Writing With Style I: Within the Conventions; Chapter 20: Writing With Style II: Bending and Breaking the Conventions; Chapter 21: Common Pitfalls, Gaffes, and Rookie Blunders