Syd Field, author of screenplay how-to, dies

The author of the screenplay manual that inspired James Cameron and Judd Apatow to make movies has died.
A spokesman for Syd Field says the author died Sunday of a blood disorder at his home in Beverly Hills, California, He was 77.
Derek Christopher said today that Field was surrounded by friends and family, including his wife, Aviva Field, and brother, Dr. Morton Field.
Syd Field's book "Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting" has been required reading in Hollywood since it was published in 1979. It has been published in 23 languages and used in universities around the world.
A Hollywood-born graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Field wrote eight books on screenwriting and lectured across North America, South America, Europe and Asia.

Christopher says memorial arrangements are pending.