"Screenplay" by Syd Field

Hi Brant and Ben,

If you haven't noticed already, most of the posts on this blog so far have been me freaking out about my senior thesis project, which I JUST turned in. So that's finally done with and I can think about something else for a second.

Now...I suppose I should use this blog in some way that relates to the class. Here it goes...

READING SUMMARY #1:

"Screenplay" by Syd Field

Chapter 1: "What is a Screenplay?"
Field's "Screenplay" is really all about structure, so it's only fitting that he starts us off in the first chapter with a breakdown of the three-act structure. Put simply: Act 1 is the set-up, Act 2 is the confrontation, Act 3 is the resolution.

Chapter 2: "The Subject"
Field breaks down the SUBJECT of a screenplay into "action" and "character." For a film's protagonist, the screenwriter must define a NEED (and thus create conflict). The character is then revealed by his/her ACTIONS throughout the story ("character through action" as Syd says). He also goes down to break down "action" into "physical" and "emotional." Depending on what kind of movie you're making (Romantic comedy vs. action-adventure), the action in the film will be more of one than the other.

Chapter 3: "The Creation of Character"
Syd Breaks down characters into their INTERIOR and EXTERIOR. Their interior, emotional life, from birth till present, is what forms a character. Their exterior, physical life, what we during the film, reveals the character.

Chapter 4: "Building a Character"
Once you've created a character, you then have to fill them up with details--details about their past, their work, their hobbies, their culture. These details require work and research and preparation and thinking time, but the end result will be characters who are authentic and believable, which it what it's all about.

Chapter 5: "Story and Character"
Syd explains there are two ways to approach writing your screenplay. One way is to create an idea, then create characters and insert them into the action. The second way is to create a character and then let the story, emerge out of character.