Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting

338 Pages·2005·1.68 MB·english

by  Syd Field

PRAISE FOR SYD F I E L D
"[Syd Field is] the most sought-after screenwriting teacher in the
world."—Hollywood Reporter
"Syd Field is the preeminent analyzer in the study of American screenplays."
—JAMES L. BROOKS, Academy Award-winning writer, director, producer
"I based Like Water for Chocolate on what I learned in Syd's books. Before,
I always felt structure imprisoned me, but what I learned was structure
really freed me to focus on the story."
—LAURA ESQUIVEL, writer, Like Water for Chocolate
"If I were writing screenplays ... I would carry Syd Field around in my
back pocket wherever I went."
—STEVEN BOCHCO, writer/producer/director, NYPD Blue
"Syd Field's book[s] have been the Bible and Talmud for a generation of
budding screenwriters." —Salon.com
SCREENPLAY:
The Foundations of Screenwriting
" Screenplay is one of the bibles of the film trade and has launched many a
would-be screenwriter on the road to Hollywood."—Library Journal
"[Syd Field is the] guru of would-be screenwriters __ Screenplay is their
bestselling bible."—Los Angeles Herald Examiner
"Full of common sense, an uncommon commodity."—Esquire
"Quite simply the only manual to be taken seriously by aspiring screen-
writers."—TONY BILL, Academy Award-winning producer, director
"Impressive because of its rare combinations: a technical book, appar-
ently mechanically sound, that's quite personable and lively and also
seems to care about us, about our doing things right and making good.
His easy-to-follow, step-by-step approaches are comforting and his em-
phasis on right attitude and motivation is uplifting."
—Los Angeles Times Book Review
"A much-needed book."
—FRANK PIERSON, Academy Award-winning screenwriter;
president, Writers Guild of America, West
"The basics of the craft in terms simple enough to enable any beginner to
develop an idea into a submittable script."—American Cinematographer
"A much-needed book... straightforward and informed ... accurate and
clear, and should be enormously helpful to novices."—Fade-In
"The complete primer, a step-by-step guide from the first glimmer of an
idea to marketing the finished script."—New West
"Experienced advice on story development, creation and definition of
characters, structure of action, and direction of participants. Easy-to-
follow guidelines and a commonsense approach mark this highly useful
manual."—Video
"Great advice for screenwriters. I always tell young writers to pick up
Screenplay and read it right away—then either embrace it or rebel against
it, but it'll certainly get your mind turning in the right ways."
—DAVID KOEPP, award-winning writer, director,
Spider-Man, Secret Window, War of the Worlds
THE SCREENWRITER'S WORKBOOK:
Exercises and Step-by-Step Instruction for Creating
a Successful Screenplay
"One of the standards in the industry."—Amazon.com
SELLING A SCREENPLAY:
The Screenwriter's Guide to Hollywood
"A wonderful book that should be in every filmmaker's library."
—HOWARD KAZANJIAN, producer, Raiders of the Lost Ark,
Return ofthejedi, Demolition Man
"An informative, engaging look at the inside of the dream factory. This is
a terrific aid for screenwriters who are trying to gain insight into the
Hollywood system."
—DAVID KIRKPATRICK, producer, former head of Paramount Pictures
FOUR SCREENPLAYS:
Studies in American Screenplay
"A book that writers will stand in line for and studio executives will
Xerox." —JAMES L. BROOKS, Academy Award-winning writer, director,
producer
"What does it take to write a great script? You'll find the answer here....
This is Field's masterpiece and a required purchase for all film collec-
tions."—Library Journal
"A first-rate analysis of why good screenplays work: a virtual must for as-
piring screenwriters."
—LINDA OBST, producer, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days,
Sleepless in Seattle
"A fascinating view into the most overlooked process of filmmaking."
—MICHAEL BESMAN, producer, About Schmidt
"Theory comes alive with this hands-on approach to what makes four
great screenplays tick."
—DEBORAH JELIN NEWMYER, producer, executive vice president,
Amblin Entertainment
"Four Screenplays is not only Syd Field's most instructive book ... it's the
most fun to read."
—ANNA HAMILTON PHELAN, screenwriter, Girl, Interrupted
"One of the very best books I have read on movies or screenplays. Syd
writes both with passion and an astute understanding."
—HANS ZIMMER, film composer, Gladiator,
The Last Samurai, Thelma & Louise
THE SCREENWRITER'S PROBLEM SOLVER:
How to Recognize, Identify, and Define Screenwriting Problems
"Whatever your problem, screenwriting guru Syd Field can help."
—Amazon.com
GOING TO THE MOVIES:
A Personal Journey Through Four Decades of Modern Film
"The master teacher of screenplay writing... reveals himself to be a true
Hollywood character. No one sees films quite the way Field does___An
original thinker worth appreciating."—Kirkus Reviews
"Although cloaked in modesty, his illuminating, consistently entertaining
memoir displays enough wit, intelligence and empathy to inspire a host
of great films."—Publishers Weekly
"Syd Field knows movies inside and out, and this, his most personal book
yet, is charming, warmhearted, and very wise. Grab some popcorn, sit
back and share some big-screen magic with the master."
—TED TALLY, Academy Award-winning screenwriter,
The Silence of the Lambs
"What really makes this book is how well he conducts us on his journey...
[and] his true love for the movies."—Booklist
"Those of us who've wondered why Syd would devote himself to raising
the bar for screenwriting now learn why—a lifelong and passionate love
for movies and filmmaking."
—MARC NORMAN, Academy Award-winning screenwriter,
Shakespeare in Love
"A fascinating journey through thirty years of moviegoing—asking the
question we all ask: 'What makes a movie work?' and finding the answers."
—FAY KANIN, former president, Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
"Field forges new pathways into understanding the transforming powers
of the screenplay. In this insightful testament to film craft, Field's influ-
ence on generations of film devotees represents a climate of opinion, re-
spected and imitated. Nothing is more rare."
—JAMES RAGAN, director, Professional Writing Program,
University of Southern California
"Field's passion for cinema shines throughout."—Library Journal
"Syd Field has spent a lifetime seeking answers to what makes a great
movie. Now he shares his own remarkable story about the movies and the
legendary filmmakers who inspired his extraordinary career."—Variety
A l s o by S y d F i e l d
GOING TO THE MOVIES
SELLING A SCREENPLAY
FOUR SCREENPLAYS
THE SCREENWRITER'S WORKBOOK
THE SCREENWRITER'S PROBLEM SOLVER
SYD F I E L D

SCREENPLAY

THE FOUNDATIONS OF SCREENWRITING

R E V I S E D E D I T I O N
Delta
Trad« Paperbacks
SCREENPLAY
A Delta Book
PUBLISHING HISTORY
Dell Trade Paperback edition published July 1984
Delta trade paperback revised edition / December 2005
Published by Bantam Dell
A Division of Random House, Inc.
New York, New York
Grateful acknowledgment is made for permission to use the following: James
Cameron for his insight on Terminator 2: Judgment Day. David Koepp for his
insight on Jurassic Park. Stuart Beattie for an excerpt from the screenplay of
Collateral. Robert Towne for an excerpt from the screenplay of Chinatown.
McDonald's Corporation for "Press On," the motto of McDonald's Corporation.
"Sitting" by Cat Stevens: © 1972 Freshwater Music Ltd.—London, England.
All rights for U.S.A. and Canada controlled by Ackee Music, Inc. (ASCAP).
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
All rights reserved
Copyright © 1979,1982,1994,2005 by Syd Field
Cover design by Belina Huey
Book design by Sabrina Bowers
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Field, Syd. Screenplay : the
foundations of screenwriting / by Syd Field.
p. cm. ISBN-13: 978-0-
385-33903-2
ISBN-10: 0-385-33903-8 1. Motion
picture authorship. I. Title.
PN1996 .F43 2005
808.2'3 22 2005048491
Delta is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc., and
the colophon is a trademark of Random House, Inc.
Printed in the United States of America
Published simultaneously in Canada
www.bantamdell.com BVG 10
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To all those who went before
and to all those who follow...
and
To the great Siddha Saints and Masters
who lit the flame and keep the fire burning...