film

SCREENWRITING MASTERY: FIELD vs. MCKEE

Book Overviews:

- Screenplay by Syd Field: 3-Act Paradigm, rigid pages (~250pg)

- Story by Robert McKee: Principles, archplot spectrum (457pg, 19 chapters)

TOP 10 TERMS:

1. Plot Point 1: Field's Act 1 end (p25-30)

2. Controlling Idea: Value + Cause (McKee)

3. Gap Theory: Expectation vs Reality

4. Law of Conflict: Escalation only

5. 4D Setting: Period/Duration/Location/Conflict

6. Archplot: External/active (*Die Hard*)

7. Miniplot: Internal/passive (*Kramer vs Kramer*)

8. Antiplot: Nonlinear/absurd (*Pulp Fiction*)

9. Value Turn: Scene changes love→hate

10. Dramatic Need vs Want

Jaws Beats:

- Opening Image: Ocean dawn

- Inciting Incident: Chrissie attack (p12)

- Plot Point 1: Town ignores (p25-30)

- Midpoint: Beach chaos (p60)

- Plot Point 2: Boat hunt (p85-90)

- Climax: Brody kills shark

McKee Elements:

- Setting 4D: Blade Runner dystopia

- Genre: Subvert conventions

- Character: Antagonism drives

- Meaning: "Sacrifice conquers love" (*Casablanca*)

- Substance: Gaps create truth

- Structure: Arch/Mini/Antiplot

Field Process:

- Logline → Treatment → Step Outline → Script

- Format: Courier 12pt, INT. DAY slugs

- Scene: Action + Image + Subtext

Exercises:

1. Logline: When [inciting], hero must [goal] or [stakes]

2. Analyze Godfather baptism value turn

3. Classify Pulp Fiction: Antiplot

4. Compare Star Wars beats

Films:

- Jaws: Field perfection

- Chinatown: McKee complexity

- Casablanca: Controlling Idea

- Die Hard: Archplot

19-Ch McKee TOC:

Part 1: Story Problem

Part 2: Structure/Setting/Genre/Character/Meaning

Part 3: Substance/Incident/Acts/Scenes/Crisis

Part 4: Antagonism/Exposition/Method

Field Beats (13):

1. Opening Image (1)

2. Theme (5)

3. Inciting (12)

4. Plot Point 1 (25)

5. Midpoint (55-60)

6. Plot Point 2 (85)

7. Climax (90-110)