Abstract:

Syd Field is a renowned screenwriting theorist, as famous as Robert McGee. Field’s Screen Play: The Foundations of Screenwriting is regarded as a bible to screenwriting beginners. His theories of screenwriting underscore basics, effects and practicality. The “threeact structure” and the fourquarter tip proposed by Field reflects the trace of traditional influence and the importance of two major plot points ina screen play, holding that top priorities should be given to the end instead of the beginning in plot planning. As the founder of the modern screenwriting theories, Field is also a forerunner and practitioner of the study of the screenwriting, a mentor and guru to screenwriting learners. On the other hand, Fields’ screenwriting theories are comparatively conservative and care less about nonlinear narrative movies.

Key words: plot point, Syd Field, story visualization, threeact structure