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Product Description
From Library Journal
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
“Syd Field is the preeminent analyzer in the study of American screenplays.” —James L. Brooks, AcademyAward–winning writer, director, producer
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
...,
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This review is from: Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting; A step-by-step guide from concept to finished script (Paperback)
Quite simply, the book that ruined Hollywood movies. If you want to know how NOT to do it, then read this guide and file it under useless. Read Aristotle's Poetics instead. He got it right. Field, who doesn't have a single film credit to his name, does not.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
WORST Screenwriting book by Industry's biggest HACK!,
By "taikoman" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting; A step-by-step guide from concept to finished script (Paperback)
If I could give ZERO STARS, I would have. In fact, If negative ratings were possible, even better. Syd Field's books are awful, do not teach anything at all about screenwriting or writing in general, are not at all creative, and aren't even well-written!I first read this awful book 10 years ago, during my undergrad film days, and it almost singlehandedly turned me off to the film industry. If filmmaking & screenwriting are really as robotic and soul-less as you're made to feel it is after reading this book, then there's no point in being in the business except to earn a simple paycheck. But that's not even the worst of it. I find it appaling that, as a supposed coach of (any form of) writing, his own writing should be so rambling and unfocused. This book reads like an unedited transcript of class discussions in a Screenwriting 101 seminar at a local junior college. The focus, ideas, the examples explored in this "class" are stretched this way, that way, twisted and contorted until they bear the faintest resemblance to an actual story. Sure, he gets something at the end, but it's all random trial & error that anyone can accomplish: "let's try this, no let's make the character a woman, let's make her a cripple, no an amputee, no no wait . . ." This guy is groping in the dark without any understanding of the principles of drama. What you get instead of principles are a bunch of rules. There's a huge difference. Principles are guidelines that exist for a reason - to explain, justify, illuminate. Rules are arbitrary conventions that are supposed to be followed, not because of the insight they provide (into the structural underpinnings of drama), but because everyone's bludgeoned into thinking that's simply how it is done. No explanation, no exploration, on understanding. "Get that action going by the middle of page two!" "Show-Don't-Tell" is a classic example of a principle gone awry. The principle behind this is that in order for a reader or viewer of a work to be moved by something, s/he needs to have sufficient information about a character or scene to understand what's going on. When we see an actor showing anger, frustration, sadness, loneliness, regret, or anything else, we feel the impact because we've been made aware of the events leading up to a particular moment - the hopes & dreams of a character. When this principle mutates into the tyrannical "show, don't tell" RULE, we end up with films that simply SHOW actors showing tears, declaring unending love, accompanied by awful music. This guy is useless. His book is appalling. Do a search for screenwriting or screenplay and purchase just about ANY OTHER book instead.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not bad, but definatelynot the best,
By
This review is from: Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting (Paperback)
The information contained in this book is pretty good, but it mostly references to old movies. If you're looking for a beginner's guide or a more "how-to" guide on screenwriting, I recommend "The Screenwriter's Bible". The latest version provide up to days information and references to recent movies as well as formating techniques, examples and list of resources. It tells you everything from how to develop the story idea all the way to the sale of the script.So basically, what I'm saying is don't buy this book. But The Screenwriter's Bible instead.
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