Warren Bell is a 20-year veteran of television who served as writer and executive producer of sitcoms including Ellen, The PJs, and According to Jim. He is currently developing projects for both television and film.
Adventures in the Screen Trade
by William Goldman
Goldman wrote Butch Cassidy, The Princess Bride, Marathon Man, a ton of others. He has several books on writing, this is the one I read when I started out.
Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
By Blake Snyder
I would probably not recommend this for someone who has never written. It's geared a bit more towards someone who is already pretty competent at the general dramatic concepts (conflict, character, dialogue) and is looking for a systematic way to understand the structure of a movie.
True and False: Heresy and Common Sense for the Actor
by David Mamet
Though written mainly for actors, David Mamet's "True and False" is the best attack on much of the bullshit that surrounds acting, writing, and filmed entertainment in general. Hollywood executives love backstory, Mamet tells them it's pointless. Actors like to research roles and "stay in character" on set, Mamet says, "great -- in this scene you run up that hill." I found this book enormously helpful in developing my ability to talk to actors on set.
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