Customer Reviews

Syd Field's Screenwriting Workshop Win/Mac [DVD]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Syd Field provides viewers of this "Screenwriting Workshop" with organized assignments that if followed will lead to the completion of a screenplay.

Popular and easy to find movies like Shawshank Redemption, Titanic, and Thelma And Louise are used as examples to allow the viewer to see the techniques that Mr. Field competently articulates.

One would be well advised to watch the DVD once in it's entirety before attempting any of the assignments to see what will be involved on the grand scale. This way you can see what you will be commiting to.

Writing a screenpaly is not a formula, but formulas do exist to complete one. Consider this DVD covering Syd's techniques one of the formulas, or maybe recipe is a better analogy. Most people tweak a recipe to suit the taste of the people they are cooking for. You may tweak Syd's recipe, but if you stick to his original, step by step, you will end up cooking up a finished screenplay.

Will it taste good? Well, that depends on the quality of your ingredients. Syd can't give you that. No one can. Syd does give you excellent structure. That's all he can do... and he does it well.

Worth every penny.

His final speech at the end of the DVD is also very inspiring and heartfelt.

Thanks Syd.

Let's summarize my thoughts and opinion, which hopefully may assist you in making your choice:
- this course is only about how to structure a screenplay in 3 acts. This process has been highly doubted by industry professionals, cause it is copied from the theater which has it's own limitations and style. The 3-act structure might be useful to analyse screenplays but not really to encourage a creative writing process. Also is it not suitable for anybody to write the happenings of each act down on 14 cards and organize them. Syd even breaks his own system by splitting the 2nd act into 2 parts (in fact now we have 4 acts), so you have to use 2x14 cards to write down keywords. It feels like doing homework for primary school. I would rather encourage the following: Every person has their own way to make notes and structure their work and shall use their own style!
- Syd Field derives all his knowledge from analyzing screenplays not from writing them. And of course from this perspective you could force different kinds of structure on to a screenplay and will find ways to justify the chosen one.
- this DVD dedicates a lot of time to market Final Draft Software as best one in the industry. It doesn't mention that there are other software products on the market which are really good and helpful. So in fact, this is a cross selling marketing arrangement with Final Draft.
- Syd field is also good in marketing himself and his products by using associations of success. How does it help a writer to see Syd reading a screenplay, getting into his car, walking in a very self confident and proud manner with another (industry) guy on Rodeo drive, being in front of CAA and entering Paramount Pictures?
- The DVD is as disencouraging as the book is. I started reading the book and put it away before I have read half of it, cause it really killed my motivation to write a screenplay. What he illustrates is painting by numbers and was definitely not suitable for me.

I am glad that after about a year I kind of accidentially got into a weekend writing class, I regained motivation, started to work and also came across some really good literature. One of my recommendations would be Richard Walters Screenwriting which offers a lot of insights on story, character, dialogue, etc. It also presumes a threepart structure, but it doesn't just focus on that. Another good and entertaining read is "The 101 Habits of highly successful screenwriters", which tells you about the real world through interviews. I have started reading Michael Hauge's book and it seems to make sense too. Furthermore I would recommend to read some of John Truby's articles and see if his DVD classes might be suitable for you. And of course Linda Seger offers invaluable tools and advice. William Goldman is an established writer who will be able to share some valuable knowledge too (haven't read his book yet). Whatever you read or write - Good luck with it; and have fun!

This is an excellent workshop that is worth the money. If you take the time to review and do the lessons, you will get better at screenwriting. I disagree with the one reviewer who got nothing out of the DVD. There are exercises that may seem simple at first but in fact offer subtle yet significant learning experiences. And I'm sure if Syd really wanted to write a story that he believed in, he would. He loves teaching obviously.

"We're talking about form -- not formula." From the basic idea to a fully fleshed out screenplay, this course covers the key points. It's certainly a good overview, yet the exercises offer many nuts-and-bolts reminders for more experienced writers.

For those starting out in screenwriting, this is a must-have. My son got a lot of use from it and learned a lot, too. Highly recommended.

I think this is a great resource for emerging writers. Very simple and effective tool. Josh Clark The Bare Bones Book of Screenwriting

Syd's book is great.
This DVD is dead wood.
It's him talking to the camera, with no passion, telling us the tenets of his book.
But it's all dead.
Just dead.

One redeeming quality: an accidentally funny intro video where Syd goes around Hollywood having "Hollywood meetings." It's bad... and wonderful.

Avoid.

If you are new to screenwriting or want an overview of what is expected by those who will read your script, this DVD is unsurpassed and complete with useful graphics and top-notch advice. I completely disagree with the 1 star review elsewhere on this page.

Excellent addition to the book. Adds a step-by-step process to the mechanics discussed in Field's handbook. In additions answers the question, "What the heck does Syd Field look like?" Professionally produced, well worth the money.

Syd Field is probably the fakest person in the industry! As far as I know he's never actually written a produced screenplay. I'm represented by a William Morris agent and Syd Field's lessons and references got me laughed at when I first approached getting an agent.

Buy The Screenwriter's Bible by David Trottier. He actually has his name on several products in the business and is also the book that my agent introduced me to.