Product: Syd Field's Screenwriting Workshop [VHS] (1999)
Rating: 3.0
Look him up on IMDB.com
I viewed these tapes recently, and can tell you immediately that the product has been mis-labeled. This is "Screenwriting for Dummies," folks. The extremely basic aphorisms and advice he gives at the beginning make it appear as though he's aiming towards someone who's not only never written a screenplay before, but has never successfully published any written work. He repeats the key points ad nausaeum, until you're sure he thinks you're some clueless yahoo fresh out of college and eager to pound away at the keyboard.Ironically, upon looking him up on the Internet Movie Database, you'll find Mr. Field hasn't produced a single feature film screenplay. He hasn't done anything save for a bit part as "Patient #1" and a role in a very recent indie flick I've never heard of. There's the inevitable question of, "If this guy knows so much, why isn't he making millions?" Well, read on.This is my theory: the man is an excellent researcher and instructor, but not actually creative himself. His theories have revolutionized Hollywood. Particularly his 30-60-30 theory of number of pages for each act. It's based on extensive research he's done...but what he's found is a _pattern_, not a _formula_. Mr. Field implies that this is a formula, that this will help you get your screenplay produced, and it might, but only because almost every producer in Hollywood has adopted his pattern as a formula for deciding which script is yes and which script is no. Kind of a vicious cycle. Kinda prevents innovation. But you're gonna need to know Sid's jargon if and when you pitch your project, because they'll use his words and ideas to sound out your screenplay. Just skim over one of his books and read all the italicized and bolded text, I guess.I recommend Final Draft, however, if you are a professional screenwriter or really serious about becoming one.