Product Details

• Actors: James L. Brooks, Nora Ephron, Carrie Fisher, Ed Solomon, Gary Ross
• Directors: Daniel Snyder
• Format: Anamorphic, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: CreateSpace
• DVD Release Date: November 8, 2007
• Run Time: 86 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000YJFWFU
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #87,959 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Featuring interviews with James L. Brooks, Nora Ephron, Carrie Fisher, and other screenwriting luminaries, DREAMS ON SPEC takes an intimate look at how far people will go - and how much they will sacrifice - for the chance to pursue their dreams. The film follows three aspiring Hollywood screenwriters as they pour their hearts into their spec scripts, pitch their ideas to anyone who will listen, go to meetings, hold table reads, and work at low-level day-jobs - all in the hopes of one day seeing one of their beloved creations made into a movie. The documentary offers a funny and compelling look at inspiration, creativity, and solitude in Hollywood.

THE DVD EXTRAS include over 30 minutes of never-before-seen interviews with the superstar screenwriters featured in the film, including James L. Brooks, Nora Ephron, Gary Ross, Carrie Fisher, Larry Karaszewski, Scott Alexander, Paul Guay and many others.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must see!, November 18, 2007

By	Film Buff (beverly hills, ca United States) - See all my reviews

"Dreams on Spec" is a must see for any movie buff, aspiring screen writer or for anyone who enjoys the journey of a film's creation progressing from idea to reality. The transition from famous Hollywood writers to unknown aspiring talent is both fast paced and engaging. Nora Ephron's anecdotes are as charming as her films and Carrie Fisher is her usual bundle of wit and energy, just to mention a few excerpts. Joe, David, and Deborah embody all of the heart, sacrifice, and passion that go into the screen writers attempts in selling their story. I highly recommend "Dreams on Spec" to all those who think they have what it takes to write and sell a script, respect people who do, or dream that they can actually achieve it themselves.

1.0 out of 5 stars Not an accurate look at screenwriters..., November 11, 2009

By	Real Director "Jimmy" (Los Angeles, California United States) - See all my reviews

It's like they chose deadbeat wannabe types instead of actual writers on the verge of selling something. It leaves one with a bitter aftertaste. Imagine a documentary about actors that are trying to make it, and then watching people who will never make it desperately try to break into the business.

It is also a weird structure they use in this documentary. They intersperse those aspiring writers with professional writers, with little clarification or introduction, as if the two groups were one and the same. Only the professional ones made it, we are supposed to think. Of course, they show an aspiring writer printing out her ideal cast list. That made me think, "What kind of writer is this?"

Some of it was interesting, but I found it depressing. It also has poor production value and not much of a unifying theme.

One caveat: this film is interesting in a psychological sense, a case study of how persistence is not always great. I think people need to have a lot of moxy and political smarts in the business, and this documentary showed three people that seemed a bit out of the reality of it all.

Thoughts of the girl who was "producing her own scripts" comes to mind. She was already casting her ideal movie, printing cast lists, etc... And I am thinking: "What are you doing?" Write a good script!

5.0 out of 5 stars Screenwriting Wisdom, February 15, 2009

By	Mother of Two (California) - See all my reviews

"Dreams on Spec" is a DVD every screenwriter should have in his or her film library. Daniel Snyder brilliantly juxtaposes successful screenwriters' advice with the stories of new writers trying to break into Hollywood. The ups and downs of the screenwriter's life are exposed here honestly and realistically. But seeing those who have made it and are here to talk about it reminds us that the dream is possible. The words of wisdom shared by the working screenwriters are priceless. I would have watched two hours of Nora Ephron just by herself. She is AMAZING!!!!!! I love this DVD--it is the perfect gift for all the writers you know.