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Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting
 
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Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting (Paperback)

by Syd Field (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group; Expanded Ed edition (Aug 1998)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0440576474
  • ISBN-13: 978-0440576471
  • Product Dimensions: 20.1 x 13.2 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 227,778 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

19 Reviews
5 star:
 (9)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:
 (3)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.8 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars I'll admit it's a good idea to read this book, but..., 17 Mar 1999
By A Customer
Screenplay is a fine book, in a sense, simply because it has achieved such popularity that it has affected what studios expect from spec screenplays. A lot of it still holds true: most screenplays seem to have a "three act structure", whether or not the writer was thinking in these terms; most screenplays are very formulaic and created with buzzwords and phrases like "less black per page" and "show don't tell" in mind... Basically, most people want an easy paint-by-numbers approach to screenwriting. And all too often the paint-by-numbers crowd gets something produced (thankfully, most of them fail).

The problem with this book is that the "Syd Field paradigm" isn't such a hot thing anymore. Movies such as Pulp Fiction, LA Confidential, and Unforgiven, to name a few, have shown us and Hollwood that story is much more important than structure. The other major problem is that many suggestions within the book will get your work rejected at a glance. For instance, Syd Field basically suggests that we "direct on the page" when he advises occasional references to camera angles, reverses, POV, and close-ups in the slug line. Bad idea.

I found this book interesting but creatively stifling and a bit misleading. The author has his heart in the right place but seems a bit too sure of his theories.

Story and creativity are much more important than structure. The best way to tell if you're "on track" with your story is to ask yourself, "Do I like this?" Don't ask yourself, "How can I get Act One to end on page 27?"

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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read, great to learn!, 14 Oct 2002
I am almost finished with this book & it's an absolute find! I am studying screenwriting at the moment & found this book to be extremely helpful, both in & out of the class.
Syd Field's style is so very easy to follow & his use of repetition is excellent in making everything stick firmly in your mind!
I would suggest to anyone contemplating writing their own script to invest the time & money in this book. It will certainly help you achieve your goal...and maybe even your dream!

Best of luck:-)

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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars All beginners must read!, 31 Mar 2006
This review is from: Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting (Paperback)
Anyone interested in the art of screenwriting should read this book, preferrably before they start a script. I started mine beforehand and now I wish I'd had this first.

Every aspect of your writing and your attitude towards what you will get out of writing will be improved with reading this book. Everything from structure (the famous paradigm) and your expectations of how to seel your script are covered.

This book is so effortlessly written (at least it seems so) that reading it is very easy and you may well finish it in a few sittings.

This guy is a master in his field and you can get a lot of expertise from him for a very small sum of money. BUY IT!!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Great for beginners.
As a professional script editor I can say, as with McKee's 'Story' that the basic story structure principles do help to deliver more satisfying scripts. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Script Angel

1.0 out of 5 stars The worst book I've ever read
I would have thought that someone with years of experience in writing and reviewing screenplays and teaching about the subject would be a decent communicator, but it feels like... Read more
Published 10 months ago by E

4.0 out of 5 stars Very readable and inspiring
I work as a speechwriter and I bought this book to see if I could branch out. I subscribe to the DVD rental scheme with Amazon, so I could get out those films I hadn't seen which... Read more
Published 15 months ago by William Cohen

2.0 out of 5 stars I wish it was a pamphlet!
Lets get this out of the way first; the book is helpful and I highly recommend it to novices (as I am). Actually, I just recommend it. Read more
Published 16 months ago by L. Hodson

4.0 out of 5 stars Repetitive... but perhaps that's why it works.
The main thing to say about this book is that it's repetitive. Really, really repetitive. Phenomenally repetitive. You think the start of this review is repetitive? Read more
Published 16 months ago by Brimsley The Flabby Egg Instep

4.0 out of 5 stars Know the rules to break the rules
I agree with many of the reviewers here who argue that Field advocates quite a formulaic and almost stifling approach to writing scripts. Read more
Published 20 months ago by R. della Griva

3.0 out of 5 stars Beware the Basics
This is a good book for beginners. As with McKee's "Story", it belongs on your shelf if you want to start screenwriting. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Eric Ian Steele

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!
It seems that some people think that this book is suitable only for Americans who want to break into Hollywood- that simply isn't true. Read more
Published on 4 Nov 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for beginners
I got this book after reading a review at ScreenStyle.com for screenwriters. It's an excellent resource and I'm going to buy all the rest of Mr. Field's books.
Published on 8 Aug 1999

3.0 out of 5 stars overall a good book
This book helps you get started and gives you an idea of what needs to be done. It should be followed step by step. Most good screenplays do not follow some rigid plan. Read more
Published on 29 Jul 1999

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