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Special Features
More Tales from the Script (47 min.): Fascinating unheard stories from top screenwriters.
The Gospel According to Bill (12 min.): The wit and wisdom of author/screenwriter William Goldman.
Advice for New Screenwriters (9 min.): Priceless tips and inspiration for beginners.
The Gospel According to Bill (12 min.): The wit and wisdom of author/screenwriter William Goldman.
Advice for New Screenwriters (9 min.): Priceless tips and inspiration for beginners.
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
"Given the indignities to which they are subjected, screenwriters can be forgiven if they feel under-appreciated or consigned to the bottom of the Hollywood totem pole. Now, it's payback time. This entertaining companion to Peter Hanson and Paul Robert Herman's book of the same name gives writers the first and last word on their craft and making it (or not) in the business. "I think the public would be shocked to see how many movies that end up horrific started out as pretty good screenplays or at least screenplays you can see why the studio made this movie," says Mark D. Rosenthal, who wrote the unfortunate Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. The impressive roster of scribes includes Shane Black (Lethal Weapon), Larry Cohen (It's Alive), Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption), Naomi Foner (Running on Empty), William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid), and Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver). The shared wisdom and Us vs. Them war stories ("them" being directors, development executives, studio heads, and actors) provide a revelatory look at the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune (and misfortune) that even the most successful writers suffer. The stories range from the good (on September 3, 2006, Justin Zacham got married and the next morning flew to L.A. to go to Jack Nicholson's house to work on his script for The Bucket List with Jack, Morgan Freeman, and Rob Reiner), the bad (Michael January laments that the movies he writes go direct to video or cable), and the ugly (Genevieve Turner laughs that the notorious hack Uwe Boll's film of her script for Bloodrayne "blows"). Save for illustrative film clips from such movies as Get Shorty, The Last Tycoon, and Barton Fink that introduce each section of the documentary, Tales from the Script is all talking heads, but these heads make their living telling stories, so it seldom flags. A writer writes, so perhaps not even Stephen Susco's reality check--that of the 38 scripts he's written only three have been produced--is likely to deter anyone determined to enter the profession. As one writer states, "It's a hard way to make an easy living." --Donald Liebenson
Product Description
"Relentlessly entertaining." -- New York Magazine
"Full of wry one-liners, well-spun anecdotes, and pithy observations on the movie-making industry." -- Village Voice
"Tales from the Script is actually the ideal summation on the art of screenwriting: rigorously structured, filled with great stories." -- NPR.org
Shane Black (Lethal Weapon), John Carpenter (Halloween), Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption), William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid), Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver), and dozens of other Hollywood screenwriters share penetrating insights and hilarious anecdotes in Peter Hanson and Paul Robert Herman's TALES FROM THE SCRIPT, the most comprehensive documentary ever made about screenwriting. By analyzing their triumphs and recalling their failures, the participants explain how successful writers develop the skills necessary for toughing out careers in one of the world's most competitive industries. They also reveal the untold stories behind some of the greatest screenplays ever written, describing their adventures with luminaries including Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman, Stanley Kubrick, Joel Silver, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By xxxxx
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
"Tales from the Script" provides an interesting inside-out view of the world of screenwriting. In this minimalist documentary, Peter Hanson and Paul Robert Herman have uncovered some amazing gems of wisdom from the best screenwriters in the industry. The movie version breathes additional life into the material that is covered by the book version. Many of the interviews that Hanson and Herman gathered are quite funny. It's fascinating to hear the writers describe the bizarre stories of how their work found its way to the big screen. There are a bunch of unbelievable true stories here that you won't find anywhere else.
"Tales from the Script" is a must-see for anyone that aspires to be a screenwriter!
"Tales from the Script" is a must-see for anyone that aspires to be a screenwriter!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Rayna Rowell
Format:DVD
This movie version of Tales from the Script by Peter Hanson and Paul Herman was very entertaining. I really liked the book, but I wasn't sure how a movie of interviews would be. I was pleasantly surprised! Thanks to the excellent job they did editing the interviews together, the movie flowed really well. I enjoyed seeing the screenwriters who have written some of my favorite movies. It was also really interesting to see the writers describe the process of making a movie. I recommend this movie to film geeks, writers, or anyone interested in film making.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Terry Field
Format:DVD
I caught "Tales from the Script" in the theaters and I'm here to purchase it on DVD as a must have for my library. Whether you are an aspiring or working screenwriter, someone involved in any aspect of the filmmaking business or a film enthusiast who loves to pull the curtains aside and see the inner workings of the business, this DVD is highly recommended.
It seems a bit self-referential to say this documentary is sharply written but, when the subjects themselves are such talented writers who seem willing to tell their stories with honesty and panache, the results sparkle. I found this documentary to be both insightful and very entertaining.
I really enjoyed this film in the theaters and I can't wait for my copy to arrive on DVD so I can share a few viewings with friends.
It seems a bit self-referential to say this documentary is sharply written but, when the subjects themselves are such talented writers who seem willing to tell their stories with honesty and panache, the results sparkle. I found this documentary to be both insightful and very entertaining.
I really enjoyed this film in the theaters and I can't wait for my copy to arrive on DVD so I can share a few viewings with friends.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mixed Bag
Some of the successful writers in this DVD got an early break.
Other writers wrote for years before being recognized. Read more
Other writers wrote for years before being recognized. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Erin Bernardi
3.0 out of 5 stars
Some useful interviews, lots of talking heads
This documentary contains talking-head style interviews with a lot of screenwriters (such as Frank Darabont, Shane Black, John Carpenter, as well as several others). Read more
Published 5 months ago by Nathan Andersen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating Insight into the World of the Screenwriter
In the movie-making process, the scriptwriter is often treated very harshly. Their work is hacked about by other creative artists, and frequently they have no power of redress. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Dr. Laurence Raw
5.0 out of 5 stars
A truthful look at the screenwriting business by those who know!
If you're someone who plans to write, or has written a screenplay, with the intention of selling it and then seeing it produced as a major motion picture, then this DVD is... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Wayne C. Rogers
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Wildly Entertaining And Amusing Ride Through The Hollywood Machine
One thing is certain, screenwriters like to tell stories. That is quite evident in the immensely appealing documentary "Tales From The Script. Read more
Published 19 months ago by K. Harris
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MUST HAVE - NOT ONLY FOR WRITERS
If you are the regular movie buff or just a person who wants to sit down and see a movie, get this dvd. You'll be ... well, shocked. Read more
Published on January 25, 2011 by N. Arvay
5.0 out of 5 stars
A candid, forthright, no-nonsense collection
Tales from the Script is an extraordinary documentary about the art, craft, and business of screenwriting, particularly for Hollywood movies. Read more
Published on May 12, 2010 by Midwest Book Review
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential viewing for budding screenwriters and cinema fanatics too!
Last year First Run Features released a superb documentary on directors of documentaries (Capturing Reality). Read more
Published on March 30, 2010 by Steven I. Ramm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Required Viewing For All Screenwriters
TALES FROM THE SCRIPT should be required viewing for anybody who even thinks that they might want to write and sell a screenplay. Read more
Published on March 26, 2010 by Michael B. Druxman
