SYD FIELDS PERSPECTIVE

ABOUT SCREENWRITING
By Sukriti Bajaj
TO MAKE A FINE FILM, YOU NEED THREE
THINGS: A GREAT SCRIPT, A GREAT
SCRIPT, A GREAT SCRIPT
By Alfred Hitchcock
INTRODUCTION
Introduction
Screenwriting is a craft that occasionally rises to the
level of an act.

Writing a screenplay is a process.

Always changing & evolving
Whatever we will write today will outdate
tomorrow & so on.
Dont be too attached to your initial ideas &
concept.
All that matters is what works within the
context of the screenplay.
Introduction
If it works, use it & if it doesnt, dont.

Discipline: Find the best time of day or evening

for you to write your screenplay. No one can
decide best time for you.

Writing is a step-by-step day-by-day process.

Dont try to do everything in one time.
WRITERS ARE NOT EXACTLY PEOPLE ...
THEY ARE A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE
TRYING TO BE ONE PERSON.
By F. Scott Fitzerald
OVERVIEW
Overview
GETTING STARTED
The idea.
Action & Character.
Structure.
Write a Four Page Treatment.
CREATING CHARACTERS
Create the Characters.
Define Dramatic Need.
Block their Course of Action, their Emotional Arc.
Discuss the Nature & Function of Dialogue.
WRITING SCREENPLAY
Work in individual unit of Dramatic Action.
Setting up, Structuring & then Writing Act 1.
Prepare Structure & Write Act 2.
Prepare Structure & Write Act 3.
REWRITING SCREENPLAY
Polishing & honing the first draft.
Part 1:

GETTING STARTED
Knowing Whats Not Screenplay?
Knowing what A Screenplay Is & What Its Not.

Its not a Novel.

Action takes place in characters head.
Mindscape of Dramatic Action.

Its not a Play. On Stage, in front of Audience.

Action takes place trough characters words.
Language of Dramatic Action.
Knowing Whats Screenplay?
Screenplay is

a story told in pictures

With dialogues & description

Placed within the context of Dramatic

Structure.
Idea leads to Subject
In language of Screenplay, Subject is an Action &
a Character.

Whos your story about?

Whos your character?
What happens?
How does it ends?
Idea leads to Subject
Before Writing:

WHAT is your story about?

WHOS your story about?

Structure

To build something. To put something together.

Relationship between the parts & the whole.

Structure: The Paradigm
A model created to be an instructional tool.

Essential tool in understanding the structural

nature of screenplay.

Act 1, Act 2 & Act 3 are individual units of

dramatic action.

1 Page of Screenplay is ~ 1 minute screen time.

Structure: The Paradigm
Structure: The Paradigm

Context is a Space.

Context doesnt Change. Only the Content

Changes.
Structure: The Paradigm
THE SET-UP:

Establish Dramatic Premise.

Establish Characters.

Establish the Situations

Establish the Relationships between Characters

Structure: The Paradigm
CONFRONTATION:

Character must encounter obstacles after

obstacle to achieve his/ her Dramatic Need.

Dramatic Need is for the character wants to win

or gain or get or achieve during the course of
Screenplay.
Structure: The Paradigm
RESOLUTION:

What is the solution of your story? Does your

character live or die, succeed or fail, win the race
or not.

Resolution is not the End.

End is the last sequence of scene of the script.

Structure: The Paradigm
PLOT POINT:

Incident, Episode or Event that Hooks into the

action & spins it around in another direction.
Structure: The Paradigm
Four Elements you must know:

Beginning

End

Plot Point 1

Plot Point 2
Activity: 1
Create the Subject of your Screenplay.

Who is the main character?

What is your story about?

Structure the Subject on Paradigm.

Activity: 2
Four things you know:

The Ending
The Beginning
Plot Point 1
Plot Point 2
Activity: 2
Write a 4 page Treatment. (Narrative Synopsis of
the Storyline to give an unformed idea form & to
start the process).

Characters?
Where they are from?
What their goals are?
What their dramatic need is?

To give an unformed idea form

To start the process
Activity: 2 (4 Page Treatment)
In Page : Write the opening scene or
sequence in a dramatic narration.

In Page: Summarize the action that occurs

in Act 1.

In Page: Write the Plot Point at the end of

Act 1 in a dramatic narrative.
Activity: 2 (4 Page Treatment)
In 1 Page: List four obstacles that your
character(s) confront during the action of Act 2.

Obstacle individual or in combination can be -

Internal
External
Physical
Emotional
Mental
Spiritual
Activity: 2 (4 Page Treatment)
In 1 Paragraph: Summarize each of the obstacles
during Act 2. (Describe the obstacle & how the
Character deals with it).

In Page: Write the Plot Point at the end of Act 2 in a

dramatic narration.

In Page: Summarize the action of Act 3, the

Resolution.

In Page: Write the end scene or sequence in

dramatic narration.
Activity: 2 (4 Page Treatment)
In Page : Opening scene or sequence in a dramatic narration.

In Page: Summarize the action that occurs in Act 1.

In Page: Write the Plot Point 1 in a dramatic narrative.

In 1 Page: List four obstacles in Act 2.

In Page: Write the Plot Point 2 in a dramatic narration.

In Page: Summarize the action of Act 3.

In Page: Ending scene or sequence in dramatic narration.

Part 2:

CREATING CHARACTERS
Creating Character

What is Character but the Determination of

Incident.

What is Incident but the Illumination of

Character.
Creating Character
Incident is the Key.

What is the incident that drives your story

forward because its the key that starts the
engine that can power the story you want to
tell.

Once the incident is determined then you can

begin to determine the causes that would let
your character develop.
Creating Character
What makes good Character?

Dramatic Need

Point of View

Attitude

Change
Dramatic Need
What does your Character want to win, gain,
get or achieve during the course of
Screenplay?

Every Character has Dramatic Need because

the source of all drama is Conflict.
Point Of View
Film is Behavior

What does your Character think?

What is your Characters Point of View about

something?
Attitude
A manner or opinion.

Character can show Attitude (manner) or he

can talk about it through dialogues (opinion).

Example - People being superior or thinks

inferior, person who thinks he is right, being
too conservative or too liberal or too
optimistic or too pessimist or opportunist.
Change

Does your Character Change during the

course of your Screenplay.

Character Growth
Creating Character
Tools of Creating Character?

Character Biography

Research

Life of Character

The Circle of Being

Character Biography

Traces your Characters life from birth until

the time the story begin.
Research
Live Research: You find a person & interview
him/her to get some real background on the
Subject & the Character that you are writing
about.

Text Research: Library, books, old

newspapers, magazines, internet, new
media, etc.
Life of Character
Professional Life:
What does he/ she do for a living?
What kind of relationship with his/ her boss?
What kind of relationship with co-workers?

Personal Life:
Is he/ she in a relationship?

Private Life:
What does he/ she do when alone?
The Circle of Being
Event in Characters life that emotionally
parallels & impacts the storyline.

Happens when Character is between 12-18

years of age.

Example Death of parent, physical abuse,

etc.
The Circle of Being

What is Character but the Determination of

Incident.

What is Incident but the Illumination of

Character.
The Circle of Being
Event in Characters life that emotionally
parallels & impacts the storyline.

Happens when Character is between 12-18

years of age.

Example Death of parent, physical abuse,

etc.
Activity: 1

Write a Character Biography in 5 7 Pages or

more.
Activity: 1 (Biography)
Determine your Character.

Name?
Where was he or she born?
How old?
What does father do for a living?
What kind of childhood?
Any brothers or sisters?
Activity: 1 (Biography)
Develop Characters first 10 years (1-10 years
old)

Good student?
Friends?
Activity: 1 (Biography)
Develop Characters second 10 years (10-20 years old)

Like school?
Relationship with teachers?
Clubs she belong too?
High school?
Friends?
First love affair?
Active in sports?
Dreams of college?
Major?
Activity: 1 (Biography)
Develop Characters third 10 years (20-30
years old)

What kind of job?

Girlfriend/ boyfriend/ marriage?
Dreams & aspirations collide with reality?
Activity: 1 (Biography)
Let your Character tell you who he or she is?
Give your Character a voice

Character Biography

Characters Grandparents
Characters Parents
Past Lives
Astrological Breakdown
Activity: 2

Write short essays on your Characters:

Professional Life
Personal Life
Private Life
Activity: 3

Write a Characters Circle of Being.

Activity: 4

Define Characters:

Dramatic Need

Point of View

Attitude

Change
Part 3:

WRITING SCREENPLAY
Preparing Act 1
Act 1 is a unit of dramatic action.

Structure Act 1 on (14) 3*5 cards.

Each card represents a scene or sequence in the

Screenplay.

Write opening sequence/ scene in 5 words or

less.
Write Plot Point 1 in other card.
Now prepare rest 12 cards.
Preparing Act 1
Back Story:

What happens to your main character, a

day, a week, or an hour before the story
begins.

It should affect the opening.

It deals with specific event.

Preparing Act 1

When you are doing the cards: You are doing

the cards.

When you are writing the screenplay: You are

writing the cards.
Activity: 1 (Biography)

Structure Act 1 on (14) 3*5 cards. (Not more

than 5 words per card)

Write the Back Story (in a page or two).

Writing Screenplay
Screenplay needs to be written in the standard format
for universal understanding.

The recommended software for writing Screenplay is

Final Draft.

Screenplay Grammar:

Shot What the camera sees.

Scene The unit or cell of dramatic action.
Sequence A series of scenes, connected by one
single idea with a definite beginning, middle & end.
Writing Act 1
Opening Scene or Sequence. (first 10 pages)

A unit of dramatic action :

o Action driven?
o Character driven?

The main Characters Point of View.

The main & the reader/ viewer are united.

Because both see the things at the same time.

Writing Act 1
Establish :
1. Who is your main character?
(Who is the story about?

2. What is the dramatic premise of your story?

(What is your story about?)

3. What is the dramatic situation?

(Circumstances surrounding the action)

These three threads of storyline are called inciding

incidents
Writing Act 1
Follow the Focus of your main Character.
(second 10 pages)

Setting up Plot Point 1. (1 or 2 scenes)

Plot Point 1 is the true beginning of your
story
Activity: 1
Design & write the first 10 pages of
Screenplay. (dramatic action)

Establish:
Main Character
Dramatic Premise
Dramatic Situation
Activity: 2

Design & write the second 10 pages of

Screenplay. (dramatic action)

Follow Focus of your main Character.

Activity: 3

Set up the one or two scenes needed to write

Plot Point 1
Writing Act 2
60 pages unit of Dramatic Action.

Begins at end of Plot Point 1.

Continues until end of Plot Point 2.

Held together with: Confrontation.

Writing Act 2
All drama is Conflict.

Without Conflict you have no Character.

Without Character you have no Action.

Without Action you have no Story.

Without Story you have no Screenplay.

Writing Act 2
Enter the action by defining Dramatic Need.

Mid Point:

Occurs around page 60.

Breaks Act 2 into two units of dramatic action.
o First Half of Act 2
o Second Half of Act 2
Links the First Half of Act 2 with Second Half
of Act 2.
Link in the change of Dramatic Action.
Writing Act 2
Writing Act 2
Structure: To Structure Act 2.

One major sequence in the First Half of Act

2.

One major sequence in the Second Half of

Act 2.
Writing Act 2
Sequence:

A series of scenes connected by one single

idea with a definite beginning, middle &
end.

It can be expressed in one word.

Example love, escape, fight, etc.

Writing Act 2

Pinch:

A sequence that keeps the action moving

forward to the Mid Point or Plot Point 2.
Writing Act 2
With reference to film Titanic.

Plot Point 1: Jack saves Roses Life.

First Half of Act 2: Jack & Rose Relationship.
Pinch 1: Jack has dinner with Rose & others.
Mid Point: They make love in the car.
Second Half of Act 2: Their attempts to get life boat.
Pinch 2: Rose rescues Jack.
Plot Point 2: Rose leaves lifeboat for Jack
Activity: 1
Things you know:
The Ending
The Beginning
Plot Point 1
Plot Point 2

Determine the Midpoint. Establish Mid Point.

Determine the Sub-dramatic Context of the First Half

of Act 2.

Determine Pinch 1.
Activity: 1
Things you know:
Mid Point
Plot Point 2

Determine the Sub-dramatic Context of the

Second of Act 2.

Determine Pinch 2.
Activity: 2
The essence of Act 2 is Conflict.

Layout the (14) 5*3 cards for the First Half of Act
2.
In free association.
Find Pinch 1 (card 7).

Write the First Half of Act 2 leading to Mid Point.

30 page unit of dramatic action.
Activity: 2
The essence of Act 2 is Conflict.

Layout the (14) 5*3 cards for the Second Half of

Act 2.
In free association.
Find Pinch 2 (card 7).

Write the Second Half of Act 2 through Mid

Point.
30 page unit of dramatic action.
Activity: 1 & 2
Determine Mid Point.
Determine Sub-dramatic context in First Half of Act 2.
Determine Pinch 1.
Structure First Half on (14) 5*3 cards.
Write First Half of Act 2.
Determine Sub-dramatic context in Second Half of
Act 2.
Determine Pinch 2.
Structure Second Half on (14) 5*3 cards.
Write Second Half of Act 2.
Writing Act 3
Resolution means Solution.

Write down the one or two items that are

unresolved at Plot Point 2.

Define them
Articulate them

Structure Act 3 with (14) 5*3 cards.

1 card per scene the contradiction

Writing Act 3

Just let it go.

Then ask

How would you like your story to end?

Activity: 1
Write down the one or two items that are
unresolved at Plot Point 2.

Structure Act 3 with 14 cards (1 card per

scene).

Determine whether your ending works for

now.
Part 4:

REWRITING SCREENPLAY
Rewriting Screenplay
Re-Reading: Read what you have written
from beginning to end without interruption.

Write three essays (in free association or

automatic writing).

Dont Judge & Dont Analyze.

Rewriting Screenplay
1. What was it that originally attracted you to this
idea? (2 Pages)

Real life experience?

Someone you met?
Explore an emotional situation?
A mystery thriller?
A love story?
An action adventure?
A comedy?
Rewriting Screenplay
2. What kind of Screenplay did you end up writing?

What did you set out to do & what did you

end up doing?

3. What do you have to do, to change what you did

do, into what you originally wanted to do?

Intention must be equal to result.

Rewriting Screenplay
Re-Writing: Work in 30 page units of dramatic action
of each.

Rewriting one unit at a time & one section at a time

Rewriting words-on-paper draft will take 3-6 weeks.

Rewrite Act 1
Rewrite 1st Half of Act 2
Rewrite 2nd Half of Act 2
Rewrite Act 3
Rewriting Screenplay
Syd Field called writing Second Draft as Mechanical Draft
from First Draft.
Try to even out the edges of your story to put into the
single line of dramatic action.

Third Draft as Polishing Draft.

Edit & hone each scene.
Strengthening & lightening dialogue.
Find missing scenes.
Add necessary scenes.
Work on transitions.

Smooth out entire storyline from beginning to end.

Activity: 1
Rewrite Act 1
As a unit of dramatic action.
Make notes in margin of pages as you read.

Rewrite Act Two 1st Half

Make notes in margin of pages as you read.
Check your structure.
Activity: 1
Rewrite Act Two 2nd Half
Check your structure.
Change & modify where necessary.

Rewrite Act 3
Smooth the rough edges.
Keep the story line moving forward.
From beginning to end.
YOU FAIL ONLY IF YOU STOP
WRITING.
By Ray Bradbury
THANK YOU !