The Definitive Guide to Screenwriting

by Syd Field

This is the latest, U.K. edition of world-renown Author/Teacher/Lecturer Syd Field's groundbreaking manual on writing for film and television.
 
Suitable for all levels of screenwriters, it's an indispensable reference guide for anyone who wants to earn a living by creating scripts that come from their heart as well as their mind. Here, Field provides easily understood principles for crafting a successful screenplay, from concept to finished product.
 
Included are step-by-step instructions on working with structural and stylistic elements such as plot, characterization and theme, identifying and fixing common screenwriting problems. This volume also includes the professional secrets that make some films brilliant and that can be applied to your own efforts, tips and techniques on what to do after your screenplay has been completed, and much more.
 
If you're interested in the bedrock information on writing well-crafted scripts for film, television and streaming, this book is one of the most respected and recognized sources of practical wisdom available.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Film, Academic, Crafts

400 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2003

About the author

Sydney Alvin Field was an American screenwriting guru who wrote several books on the subject of screenwriting. He also conducted workshops and seminars on the subject of producing salable screenplays. Hollywood film producers have increasingly used his ideas on structure as a guideline to a proposed screenplay's potential.

Reviews

[Zander]

A few sound nuggets of advice, a little repetitive in the end but a great beginner book!

[Matthew Huggins]

It is repetitive because it's a teaching book! Not sure why that isn't understood by the other reviewers. However; was left wondering why most of this was the entire module contents, including examples, on my course! I could have just read that book and saved thousands. However, anybody serious about screenwriting and actually getting your script read and bought should read this and read it again and read it again (sorry, a little repetitive, but you get my point).

[Alistair]

I first heard of this book at a BFI London Q&A with Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg. An audience member asked, "if I should read one book on screenwriting, what book should I read?". Syd Field's Screenwriting was the answer from Wright and Pegg. Along with Robert McKee's "Story", Screenwriting by Syd Field is one of the books often cited as a screenwriting bible.

Screenwriting was an enjoyable read. I liked Field's three act paradigm and his explanation of how character, plot and structure are used to move the narrative forward and to create conflict.

My main criticism, shared by other reviewers, is that Syd Field is infuriatingly repetitive. As other reviewers have surmised, the book feels like it wasn't edited, which undermines some of the content, e.g. Field's stress on tight writing. Aside from this it was an enjoyable and interesting read. I love films and it's made me analyse them better; many of Field's examples include my favourite films so it was good to rethink them.

[Peyman]

کتاب آموزش فیلم‌نامه نویسی نوشته‌ی سیدفیلد، معروف‌ترین کتاب در زمینه‌ی آموزش فیلم‌نامه‌نویسی هالیوودی است. این کتاب را با هدف آشنایی بیشتر با اصول فیلم‌نامه‌نویسی برای درک بهتر فیلم‌هایی که می‌بینم خواندم. خیلی کتاب مفیدی برای آشنایی با فیلم‌نامه نویسی تجاری است چون خیلی قالب‌بندی شده نوشتن فیلم‌نامه را آموزش می‌دهد و به طور مثال تمام آموزش خود را معطوف به فیلم‌نامه‌های ۱۲۰ صفحه‌ای کرده است. به همین دلیل به‌نظرم فقط برای شروع آموزش فیلم‌نامه نویسی و نوشتن فیلم‌نامه‌های تجاری و آمریکایی مفید است، فیلم‌نامه‌های فیلمسازانی مثل کیارستمی و بلاتار با استناد به این کتاب مزخرف می‌شوند چون هیچ اصولی را رعایت نکردند :) . به هیچ وجه این کتاب برای فیلم‌نامه نویس شدن کافی نیست تنها برای شروع مسیر فیلم‌نامه نویسی این کتاب مفید خواهد بود. و نکته‌ی منفی کتاب قالب بندی بیش ‌از حد آن است که در مورد زمان نوشتن فیلم‌نامه و حتی اپلیکیشن مناسب فیلم‌نامه‌نویسی نیز صحبت کرده است.
پیشنهاد میکنم متن اصلی کتاب را بخوانید چون در ترجمه خیلی از قسمت‌ها به دلیل سانسور حذف خواهند شد.

[Liquidlasagna]

Amazone

Disappointed
2/10

I was told to get this book by my Uni tutors, and I expected a lot from "The Guru of Screenwriting" but, to be honest, I found that the man just rambled chapter after chapter, sharing his own opinion and nothing else.

I disagree with most of what he says, and find he only really follows very typical, simple, formulaic screenplays. He sets up rules, these rules that he backs up very poorly and rules that are very clearly based on his own personal preferences, and does not seem to care that many of the best films, commercially and critically, do not follow his rules.

The whole book stinks of a man who has never wrote a successfull screneplay himself.

Ryan Bodell

---

Brilliant!
10/10

You might not ever watch a film the same way again after reading this masterly text.

Field talks us through structure, dialogue, characterisation and much more by using well-known films as examples.

A very excellent book.

Guitar Laid Bare

[Drew]

There's a lot of really useful information in here. It covers everything from technical screenwriting tips, to finding ideas, to the actual writing process, and what to do once it's finished.

It's clear how experienced Field is, not just in crafting a good screenplay, but also in the expectations of filmmakers and how to cater to them.

My storytelling philosophies are very similar to what's outlined here. I'm a big believer in structure and restraining oneself artistically and I think a lot of writers tend to be opposed to that because of some misguided notions of creative integrity.

What I loved about this book was that Field was able to balance the need for narrative conventions with the joy of creative expression.

[Sarah Jackson]

This has got to be the best book covering the craft of writing (any writing, not just screenplays) that I've ever read. It's honest, easy to follow and provides comprehensive explanations and diagrams covering ever aspect of screen writing. I recommend "The Definitive Guide to Screen Writing" by Syd Field for any current and prospective script writer. Food for thought and a staple reference book. 

[Wilfrid Copley]

After reading this I’ve gained a few tips for future screenplays I write. While a lot of things it explains I had already found out for myself, it explains it in such a way that is clear and makes me stronger in my approach to writing. While it repeats itself a lot, I find it to be effective in getting the information engrained into my head.

It’s an easy read and definitely one I’d recommend for people interested in screenwriting.

[Taher Bellah]

Another brilliant book by Syd Field, who is a must read for anyone interested in screenwriting.

[Nina Milton]

The book if you want to write for the screen by one of the masters of the scripted page

[Mohammad Varzandeh]

An essential book for every beginner directors! Full of categorized experiences!

[Ruby Taylor]

Found this never ending lol
Glad I read it

[Tama]

That took a while.

The classic and rightfully hailed manual for screenwriting. It covers everything from fighting with your friends and family because you’re “wRITiNg MY sCrEENPlAy LEaVE Me AloNe!” to the actual formatting and must know rules and tips. Previously I read ‘Save the Cat!’ And this has a whole lot more to it, and also Field is much less adamant that he has found a perfect formula than Snyder, though they both have this to various degrees.

There was a decent amount of skimming or skipping, mostly over the domestic advice when writing a sceeenplay, but that is to be expected in an all encompassing guide. Recommend. Also McKee’s ‘Story’ is my next task. It has been in my public library reserve queue for about four months now...

[Tanya]

It's Syd Fields. If you're serious about screenwriting this is the book to read. But there are a lot of really good screenwriting books out there. One should read Syd Fields carefully as one can get too tangled up trying to obey his structure without really understanding why. The best ever Syd Field book in my opinion though is problem solver, but this book is Field at his most quintessential.

[Pippa]

This book was terribly repetititive. It could have been cut down to about a quarter of the length. Having said that, what it did say was helpful and was based on a great deal of experience as a script reader and writer. All points were illustrated with sections of successful scripts and I found it very useful.

[Eoghan Odinsson]

This is literally - THE Book on Screen writing. Syd Fields is a legend, and he doesn't disappoint with this much updated book. This is an excellent guide to the process, mechanics and art of telling a compelling story on-screen.

[Barron]

The quintessential field manual for screenwriting. For better or worse, you'll never look at the first 20 minutes of a movie the same way after reading.

Useful not just for screenwriters.

[David]

Excellent exploration of the screenwriting craft and very good examination of story structure in general.

Excellent read for neophyte writers.

4 out of 5 Stars.

[Mel]

Helpful, but a little bit repetitive at times.

[Joshua Lee Fallaw]

Field is considered one of the best screenwriting instructors. His method is certainly sound, and useful for writing a screenplay that one will not only finish (more difficult than it seems!) but that has a good chance of being sold.