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IMDbPro

Tales from the Script

  • 20092009
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Tales from the Script (2009)
Trailer for this documentary about screenwriters
Play trailer2:24
2 Videos
4 Photos
Documentary
War stories and life lessons from the industry's top writers.War stories and life lessons from the industry's top writers.War stories and life lessons from the industry's top writers.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
    • Peter Hanson
    • Peter Hanson
    • Paul Robert Herman(based on an idea by)
  • Stars
    • Allison Anders
    • Jane Anderson
    • Doug Atchison
    • Peter Hanson
    • Peter Hanson
    • Paul Robert Herman(based on an idea by)
  • Stars
    • Allison Anders
    • Jane Anderson
    • Doug Atchison
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 26Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Tales From The Script
    Trailer 2:24
    Watch Tales From The Script
    Tales from the Script
    Trailer 2:23
    Watch Tales from the Script

    Photos

    William Goldman in Tales from the Script (2009)
    Guinevere Turner in Tales from the Script (2009)
    Tales from the Script (2009)
    Add photo

    Top cast

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    Allison Anders
    Allison Anders
    • Self
    Jane Anderson
    Jane Anderson
    • Self
    Doug Atchison
    Doug Atchison
    • Self
    John August
    John August
    • Self
    Shane Black
    Shane Black
    • Self
    John Brancato
    • Self
    • (as John D. Brancato)
    John Carpenter
    John Carpenter
    • Self
    Larry Cohen
    Larry Cohen
    • Self
    Frank Darabont
    Frank Darabont
    • Self
    Steven E. de Souza
    Steven E. de Souza
    • Self
    Gerald Di Pego
    Gerald Di Pego
    • Self
    Mark Fergus
    Mark Fergus
    • Self
    Antwone Fisher
    Antwone Fisher
    • Self
    Naomi Foner
    Naomi Foner
    • Self
    Joe Forte
    Joe Forte
    • Self
    Josh Friedman
    • Self
    Mick Garris
    Mick Garris
    • Self
    William Goldman
    William Goldman
    • Self
      • Peter Hanson
      • Peter Hanson
      • Paul Robert Herman(based on an idea by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Quotes

      John D. Brancato: 'Always sit on the couch,' that's my advice to wannabe writers when they get in there. Don't take the big chair. Let the producer or the director take that.

    • Connections
      Features In a Lonely Place (1950)

    User reviews9

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Film critics and aspiring screenwriters need to see this one...
    "Tales From the Script" is a documentary that probably won't excite the average viewer. However, if you have notions of one day becoming a screenwriter or you like to do film criticism, then it's a must-see picture. It is very simple in style and simply consists of a lot of screenwriters talking to the camera--telling their anecdotes, advice and experiences. Much of it is very interesting--again, at least to screenwriters and critics.

    The documentary also gave me a lot to think about as well since I spend an awful lot of my time critiquing movies...and often criticizing the quality of the screenplays (this is often the worst part of a film). What I learned is that so little of what you see on screen is what was in the original script. There are many re-writes (often dozens)--and LOTS of changes insisted upon by practically everyone but the gaffers and grips! First, the producers and directors want their say--and since screenwriters are about as low on the food chain as you can get, these folks get a lot of say. Next, when the actors read through the scripts, they also have tons of suggestions--and if they are very famous and have a lot of star power, these changes WILL be made. But that's not all-- you also have committees of studio execs, junior execs and junior junior execs who also want to make changes. One of the interviewees said that in some of her films, only about 20% of what you see in the final picture was her original script!! So, I certainly will be sure to be a bit kinder--perhaps being sure to criticize the final script not the screenwriter.

    In addition to learning about this process, the film also talks about how tough it is to make a living screen writing, how originality is often frowned upon and, surprisingly, how being famous for a blockbuster or receiving an Oscar does NOT make the writer necessarily that much more marketable. It's all very interesting...and very depressing for young filmmakers. But it's not all depressing--the DVD has tons of extras. Some of these are things that were edited out of the film due to time but some is great material--such as a special extra where they have specific advice for a budding screenwriter. Well worth seeing even if it is NOT especially cinematic or exciting (plus the music really is pretty cheap and awful). For the right audience, this is a brilliantly insightful and satisfying film. And, if you want to see it, it's available through Netflix or Amazon.
    helpful•1
    0
    • planktonrules
    • Jul 8, 2014

    Details

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    • Release date
      • January 10, 2009 (United States)
      • United States
      • Official site
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Grand River Films
      • Jade Tiger Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 45 minutes
      • Color

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