DVD Review: Tales from the Script

Tales from the Script
Directed by: Peter Hanson
Featuring: Shane Black, John Carpenter, Frank Darabont, William Goldman, David Hayter, Jose Rivera, Paul Shraderm Ron Shelton, David S. Ward, and many more.

Special Features: More Tales from the Script: Fascinating unheard stories from top screenwriters, The Gospel According to Bill: The wit and wisdom of author/screenwriter William Goldman, Advice for New Screenwriters: Priceless tips and inspiration for beginners

From the Box:

Screenwriters ranging from newcomers to living legends share their triumphs and hardships in this insightful and often hilarious odyssey through the worl dof movie storytelling.  Dozens of celebrated scribes reveal the fascinating creative adventures that gave birth to beloved classics (and notorious flops).

By analyzing their triumps and recalling their failures, the participants explain how successful writers develop the skills necessary for toughing out careers in Hollywood. Candid and unafraid to name names, they also describe their collaborations with stars including Tim Burton, Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman, Stanley Kubrick, Adam Sandler, Martin Scorsese, Bryan Singer, and Steven Spielberg.

Tales from the Script is not a film for everyone.  Sure, it should be seen by as many people as possible, if only to expose them to the people truly responsible for the movies they see, but the real enjoyment from this documentary is for aspiring screenwriters.

The film isn't a technical wonder at all.  It appears about as low-budget as you can get but that is part of the charm of it.  It lends a bit of credibility to the material.  It's not polished and as such the words of each writer are essentially the most important part of the film.  You aren't distracted by a glorious picture or perfect framing or even great sound.  Your attention, all of it, is on these writers and what it is they have to say. You are hearing what they're saying but more importantly, you're listening to them.


This is a definite must see, especially for aspiring screenwriters. These are some of the greats telling you their stories.  Sharing their experiences.  I'm not going to lie, it can be a downer. Punches are not pulled, wool is removed from starry eyes, and you hear the plain yet utterly fascinating truth about the craft and about the industry.

Being able to hear war stories from the likes of Frank Derabont (The Shawshank Redemption), William Goldman (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid), Mick Garris (Masters of Horror), John Carpenter (Halloween), and Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) among many others is extremely valuable.


Even the special features are must watch.  There isn't a scrap of wasted footage here and the information in the extras are just as valuable as in the feature.

Tales from the Script is an extremely valuable insight into a world that so many (including this reviewer) are starved to break into.  It's a rough road and the advice and experience offered in this documentary can only be described as priceless.

I urge any screenwriter, heck anyone even slightly interested in the craft, to pick up Tales from the Script.

Tales from the Script hits stores on April 20.