Syd Field, whose books on screenwriting became set texts for many
aspiring film writers, has died at the age of 77.
Famous for outlining the “three act” structure used by many
screenplays, the author and lecturer died of haemolytic anaemia at his
Beverly Hills home.
Field was the author of eight best-selling books on screenwriting,
beginning with Screenplay in 1979.
He had been due to take part in a “screenwriter’s summit” in London
last weekend but was too ill to attend.
Elliot Grove, whose Raindance Film Festival organised that event, said
he and his colleagues were “all in a state of shock”.
“He was here in February and seemed strong and full of vigour,” Grove
told the BBC News website.
Born in December 1935 in Hollywood, California, Field studied English
Literature at Berkeley before moving into television.
He went on to become a special script consultant for several Hollywood
studios and the first inductee into the American Screenwriting
Association’s Screenwriting Hall of Fame.
CNN called him the “guru of all screenwriters”.
Field, who died on Sunday, had few screenwriting credits himself,
opting instead to teach John Singleton (Boyz n The Hood), Kevin
Williamson (Scream) and many others through his popular courses and
workshops.
His final speaking engagement took place in September at the Story
Expo event in Los Angeles. – BBC Entertainment
