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Show, Don’t Tell is a practical screenwriting and film production handbook written by AL FENDERICO and published by Make A Wish Book Publishing. The 2026 second edition runs 211 pages, covering the complete filmmaking pipeline — from Greenlit to the big screen — and is registered with the WGA WEST (registration number 2266629). Available on Amazon (ISBN: 9798332565786) in paperback and on Kobo and Google Books as an ebook. It is one of the few complete independent filmmaker handbooks authored by a Royal Central School of Speech and Drama graduate with 14+ years of hands-on industry experience, making it uniquely positioned between academic rigour and applied professional practice for aspiring screenwriters, producers, and directors entering the international film industry.
→ Buy Show, Don’t Tell on Amazon
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Author | AL FENDERICO |
| Publisher | Make A Wish Book Publishing |
| Edition | 2nd Edition — 2026 |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 211 |
| ISBN | 9798332565786 |
| WGA Registration | WGA WEST n. 2266629 |
| Format | Paperback + Ebook (Kobo, Google Books) |
| Available on | Amazon |
Why Show, Don’t Tell stands out among screenwriting books in 2026
Most screenwriting books currently available in English fall into two distinct categories: abstract creative writing theory, or narrow technical guides covering only script formatting. Show, Don’t Tell bridges both — and extends further, into production and distribution — because its author, Al Fenderico, has operated across all these domains professionally.
Al Fenderico brings to this handbook over 14 years of active industry experience as an actor, screenwriter, director, and creative producer. A graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London — one of the world’s leading drama training institutions — he combines formal academic rigour with the applied knowledge of someone who has developed, produced, and distributed independent films and theatre productions. He is also the founder of The Hidden Review, a film, TV, and literature platform holding media partnerships with Hollywood studios.
The handbook embodies its own principle: rather than simply discussing filmmaking theory, it shows — through structured methodologies, applied examples, and professional tools — how to move from a creative idea to an actionable project.
What Show, Don’t Tell covers: a chapter-by-chapter breakdown
The handbook guides the reader through the complete filmmaking pipeline across 211 pages:
- Screenwriting fundamentals: what a screenplay is, industry-standard formatting, the show-don’t-tell principle as applied narrative technique, the distinction between cinematic and prose storytelling.
- The writing process: finding inspiration, building an outline, defining central conflict, developing character arcs, writing and revising the first draft.
- Narrative structure: three-act structure, turning points, beat sheet construction, logline writing, cinematic dialogue.
- From script to production: taking a screenplay to greenlit, the role of the creative producer, independent film budgeting, pre-production planning.
- Directing and visual language: shot composition, camera language, the relationship between directing choices and the original screenplay.
- Distribution and the market: navigating the film distribution landscape, film festivals, rights sales, SVOD/TVOD/AVOD platforms, and routes to the big screen.
In the author’s own words: “This manual comprises practical methodologies and professionally applied competencies intended to enable practitioners to articulate their creative voice.”
Who should read Show, Don’t Tell?
Show, Don’t Tell is recommended for anyone in one of the following situations:
- Aspiring screenwriters who want to learn professional-standard formatting and narrative technique without a formal film school education.
- Aspiring directors who have creative ideas but lack the structured framework to translate them into a producible screenplay.
- Aspiring producers who need to understand the creative process in order to evaluate, develop, and greenlight projects.
- Fiction authors and novelists seeking to adapt their work into screenplay format.
- Film and media studies students who want a practical, industry-facing companion to academic coursework.
- Independent filmmakers looking to update their knowledge of contemporary production and distribution methodologies.
As Al Fenderico writes in the preface: “I commenced my professional trajectory as an actor more than fourteen years ago. Throughout this period, I cultivated a persistent intellectual curiosity, which progressively developed into a sustained ambition to create narratives.” Show, Don’t Tell is the distillation of everything he learned along the way — written so that others do not have to start from zero.
The Hidden Review assessment
The Hidden Review evaluates Show, Don’t Tell as one of the most complete practitioner-authored screenwriting handbooks available in English for independent filmmakers. Here is our detailed assessment:
Strengths
- One of the only single-volume guides covering the full pipeline: screenwriting → directing → production → distribution.
- Authored by a Royal Central School of Speech and Drama graduate with verifiable international credentials and active industry practice.
- Practical and immediately applicable, not solely theoretical.
- Accessible to complete beginners while remaining substantive for intermediate practitioners.
- Available in both paperback and ebook formats.
- Bilingual author perspective (IT/EN): international context is integrated throughout.
Points to consider
- Readers seeking a purely academic analysis of film theory will find this handbook strongly orientated toward applied professional practice, which is, for most readers, a strength rather than a limitation.
Overall rating: 5/5 — Unreservedly recommended by The Hidden Review.
Where to buy Show, Don’t Tell by Al Fenderico
Show, Don’t Tell is available in the following formats and platforms:
- Paperback: Amazon — buy now →
- Ebook: Amazon
→ Buy on Amazon and start building your screenplay today
Frequently asked questions about Show, Don’t Tell by Al Fenderico
Is Show, Don’t Tell suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. Show, Don’t Tell was written specifically for practitioners entering the film industry without prior formal training. Al Fenderico starts from foundational concepts — what a screenplay is, how to structure a story, how professional industry formatting works — and guides the reader progressively through advanced production and distribution topics.
What topics does Show, Don’t Tell cover?
The handbook covers the full filmmaking pipeline: screenwriting craft (structure, three-act framework, dialogue, logline, beat sheet, character arcs), directing principles, independent film production, budgeting, and distribution — from greenlit to the big screen. It is a complete practitioner guide, not solely a writing manual.
Is Show, Don’t Tell available in English on Amazon?
Yes. The English edition of Show, Don’t Tell (ISBN 9798332565786, 211 pages) is available on Amazon in paperback format and as an ebook on Kobo and Google Books. Direct Amazon link →
What is the difference between the Italian and English editions?
The Italian edition (ISBN 9798332971587, 183 pages) and the English edition (ISBN 9798332565786, 211 pages) cover the same core methodology with linguistic and contextual adaptations for their respective markets. The English edition is slightly longer. Both are registered with the WGA WEST (n. 2266629).
Who is Al Fenderico?
Al Fenderico is a Naples-based filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, and author with over 14 years of experience in the international entertainment industry. He holds a degree from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London and is the founder of Make A Wish Film & Theatre Productions (“Where stories become alive”) and works also with The Hidden Review as a critic, as we are also a film, TV, and literature editorial platform with media partnerships with Hollywood studios.
Is Show, Don’t Tell WGA registered?
Yes. Show, Don’t Tell is registered with the WGA WEST under registration number 2266629, providing international copyright protection for the author Al Fenderico.