Going to the Movies

Why are some movies truly great? What makes an actor legendary? Which elements of successful screenplays move people''s hearts more than others?. Syd Field spent a lifetime seeking answers to these questions. His bestselling books on the art and craft of visual storytelling have become the film industry''s gold standard direct from the manThe Hollywood Reportercalled the most sought-after screenwriting teacher in the world.. InGoing to the Movies Field tells his deeply personal story sharing insights and experience gleaned from an extraordinary career. Using a spectrum of classic movies -- fromCitizen KanetoThe Matrix fromCasablancatoPulp Fiction-- Field provides a guided tour of the core components common to all notable films. These building blocks are fundamental; they transcend time and culturerooted in thehuman psyche and our shared need to define ourselves through storytelling. Syd Field''s profound perspective onfilmicstories was the first of its kind.. Discover the celebrated filmmakers films and stars that shaped Field''s unique understanding of the medium including:. Jean Renoir the remarkable French director who steered his young Berkeley protg away from medicine intofilmA dazzling young Francis Ford Coppola directing his thesis film at UCLAAn amazing summer with Sam Peckinpah as he describes the screenwriting techniques behind his westernmasterpieceThe Wild Bunch.Rich in anecdote and wisdomGoing to the Movieswill both entertain and inform enhancing every moviegoer''s appreciation of the magic behind the silver screen.