Academic Work
Jule Selbo is a full-time professor at California State University Fullerton and has written books and articles on film history (Women Screenwriters International Guide, Palgrave Macmillan 2016), story structure in film narrative (Building Story Through Character, Routledge 2015) and on how to use film genre components as a tool in the craft of screenwriting (Film Genre for the Screenwriter, Routledge 2015). She teaches online in the Writers Program, UCLA Extension as well as working as a creative consultant with American & international screenwriters.
Film Genre for the Screenwriter
Film Genre for the Screenwriter is a practical study of how classic film genre components can be used in the construction of a screenplay. Based on Jule Selbo’s popular course, this accessible guide includes an examination of the historical origins of specific film genres, how and why these genres are received and appreciated by film-going audiences, and how the student and professional screenwriter alike can use the knowledge of film genre components in the ideation and execution of a screenplay.
Explaining the defining elements, characteristics and tropes of genres from romantic comedy to slasher horror, and using examples from classic films like Casablanca alongside recent blockbuster franchises like Harry Potter, Selbo offers a compelling and readable analysis of film genre in its written form. The book also offers case studies, talking points and exercises to make its content approachable and applicable to readers and writers across the creative field.
"Film Genre for the Screenwriter" - A Review by Monika Maslowska
“Selbo has designed an amazing story structure model which I’ve been using in my classes and loving. It’s simple, and focuses on the protagonist’s goal as the primary structural engine to drive the plot.”
Women Screenwriters International Guide
Women Screenwriters is a study of more than 300 female writers from 60 nations, from the first film scenarios produced in 1986 to the present day. Divided into six sections by continent, the entries give an overview of the history of women screenwriters in each country, as well as individual biographies of its most influential.
“At last there is a comprehensive book dedicated to the female voice in film - internationally heralded women screenwriters and also those whose work may have been forgotten or unacknowledged beyond the borders of their own countries.”
SCREENPLAY: BUILDING STORY THROUGH CHARACTER
Screenplay: Building Story Through Character is designed to help screenwriters turn simple or intricate ideas into exciting, multidimensional film narratives with fully-realized characters. Based on Jule Selbo’s unique 11-step structure for building story through characters, the book teaches budding screenwriters the skills to focus and shape their ideas, turning them into stories filled with character development, strong plot elements based on obstacles and conflicts, and multifaceted emotional arcs.
Using examples and analysis from classic and contemporary films across a range of genres, from The Godfather to Guardians of the Galaxy, Selbo’s Screenplay takes students inside the scriptwriting process, providing a broad overview for both beginners and seasoned writers alike. The book is rounded out with discussion questions, writing exercises, a guide to the business of screenwriting, in-depth film breakdowns, and a glossary of screenwriting terms.
““This is a bible for all screenplay writers.””
SCREENPLAY: FROM REWRITE TO MARKET
The quintessential guide for screenwriters--whether it is the first screenplay or the one hundredth--helps create the perfect script by offering step-by-step guidance on how to focus and polish writing, to ensure that it is ready for production. After a first draft is completed and a screenplay is ready to enter the competitive marketplace, this manual offers an 11-step story breakdown, a template that takes the haphazardness out of the process of writing, as well as specific, concrete advice on the rewriting process. This must-have companion is for screenwriters serious about getting their film produced.
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Journal of Screenwriting
The Journal of Screenwriting was started in 2009 by Jill Nelmes (University of East London), with Jule Selbo and Ian W. Macdonald as Co-Editors, and has become one of Intellect Books’ most successful journals.
