SYD FIELD AT THE WRITERS STORE NEW!

Join Syd Field for a special four-session workshop, entitled "Mastering The Craft of Screenwriting," on April 12-13 and 19-20 from 7:30pm-10:00pm at the Writers Store, 2040 Westwood Blvd, LA, CA 90025:

Day One (4/12/10): Setting Up Character and Story
Day Two (4/13/10): Writing Great Scenes
Day Three (4/19/10): Writing Effective Dialogue
Day Four (4/20/10): Writing the Action Sequence

Each session to be followed by a Q&A period.

Register for Individual Sessions
Register for All Four Sessions

MY NAME IS KHAN NEW!

My Name is Khan, a film on which Syd Field worked as script consultant and is being distributed by Fox Searchlight in the United States, premieres in select theaters on February 12, 2010. Story and screenplay were written by Shibani Bathija. The film was produced by Hiroo Yash Johar & Gauri Khan and directed by Karan Johar.

JUDD APATOW ON SYD FIELD

The July/August 2009 issue of Creative Screenwriting contains an interview with writer/director Judd Apatow, in which he remembers studying at USC with Syd Field:

"Judd Apatow attended USC Film School with a focus on writing and took a class from legendary screenwriting Guru, Syd Field. He was always looking for a way to tell more original stories and, in the beginning fought his education concerning story paradigms and then realized that gaining a basic education of the accepted theories would give him a stronger foundation to build upon once he become confident enough that he could deviate from them.

"What I learned in Syd Field's class," Apatow says, "was here's how Annie Hall works, and here's how Witness works and then I begin to think, ‘OK now how would I do it differently than that?' That concept of ‘Always being in learning mode' has stuck with me to this day. Even now, I think, "Well I'm not fantastic visually, so how could I do it better? I hire somebody to do it for me...."

--Judd Apatow, Writer/Director
The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Funny People
Creative Screenwriting, July/August 2009 

Tina Fey and Anthony Zuiker also recently cited Syd Field in interviews about their process and success:

[When I wrote Mean Girls] "I did a million drafts. And I did the thing everybody in Hollywood does: I read Syd Field and I used my index cards."

--Tina Fey, Emmy Award Winner
30 Rock, Mean Girls
New York Times

"I was working at the Mirage, on the graveyard shift, making $8 an hour; I invent bill boards for the heck of it, I'm writing letters and now you want me to write a screenplay?

"So I went to the bookstore and bought three books by Syd Field on screenwriting...I began to write this movie...The Runner. Six weeks later, I had this movie that's actually pretty damn good...and sold it for $35,000. That was the pivotal moment, the beginning of everything."

--Anthony Zuiker, Creator/Executive Producer
CSI and CSI: Miami
Los Angeles Times, Calendar

SYD FIELD: EVOLUTION/REVOLUTION

In his article Evolution/Revolution, Syd Field  explores the evolution of screenwriting and how it has changed because of the advance of technology.

CNN.COM - SYD FIELD ON 3-D

CNN.com turned to Syd Field for his views on the emergence of 3-D and the challenges facing filmmakers using the technology. The article, "3D projects new vision for the movie industry," is now available on CNN.com...click here.

SYD FIELD: CHECK POINTS

Your screenplay is done. You've written your heart out and you can't wait to have the rest of the world read it. But before you start sending it out to agents and producers, please be sure you read Syd Field's Check Points For Writing A Better Screenplay.

You'll be glad you did!

SYD FIELD: "HEART OF HOLLYWOOD"

On Saturday, October 11, 2008, Syd Field was interviewed on KGIL 1260 AM by Joe Sutton for the program "Heart of Hollywood."

Their entertaining discussion traces Syd's history: From growing up in Hollywood to learning screenwriting and becoming its best known teacher. Syd also shares his excitement about the future of cinema around the world.

Download Podcast Now (courtesy of 1260.am)

Syd Field is interviewed by reporter for Philippine TV.

BULLET POINT REVIEWS

Syd Field is proud to announce the launch of a new feature on his website. The Bullet Point Reviews are a brief and eye-catching entertainment system that rates and evaluates new and classic movies, TV shows, cable series, and more.

The BPR gives you a short, concise heads-up as to what it's about, who the actors are, and whether the script is intelligent, wacky, and believable. The Bullet Point Reviews will answer all these questions and more.

Check out the BPR on Smart People, Juno and other recent releases.  New Bullet Point Reviews will be added regularly.

A LETTER FROM SYD FIELD

Dear Screenwriter,

I believe that filmmaking is in the middle of an evolution/revolution; and the change has taken place in the theatre of technology as the state of digital filmmaking has become more pronounced. This development has facilitated traditional as well as non-linear storytelling, making available countless new storytelling tools to screenwriters around the world. It is an inspiring and innovative time to be a screenwriter.

My books on screenwriting were inspired by the great French Film Director Jean Renoir's statement that a movie should be like an act of revolution. I feel the screenwriter should take responsibility for stimulating the audience into action; to think -- to feel -- to passionately inspire others.

And I truly believe that the mission of the young filmmaker is to pave the way for the future. All of us embody that future. We have the imagination, the tools, the skills, and we know the craft -- but do we have the courage and the strength to bring our own personal vision into the world?

Screenwriting is a craft that occasionally rises to the level of an art. It is my goal to help inspire screenwriters around the world to realize their vision. It is my mission, my passion.

Thank you for joining me on this exciting journey.

Sincerely,

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Final Draft

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