Tales from the Script

I've been very lucky in finding these strangely structured documentaries.

Here is a film about writing films. We luckily encounter a large number of screenwriters, some of whom I admire a great deal.

We have a quick shuffle among them, with the assembly being quite a bit more coherent and engaging than staying. This by itself is a remarkable effect. Almost all of these people are master storytellers and they are speaking about something they have examined thoroughly. Each has their own narrative they have created about who they are and how they fit into the machinery of this collaborative art. They assume that what they have honed will be fascinating to us.

But it isn't. It simply isn't. We learn that writing is hard, the business is brutal. You and your art get no respect. It is often unbearable and some accomplished writers simply graduate out of the role. None of these storytellers do much other than decorate these complaints. It becomes obvious early in the game that this is still interesting to watch because the filmmaker jumps around, composing his own narrative out of these interviews. No one bit is kept longer than a minute or so. It is a masterpiece of composition, editing and just plain deep listening.

It is a folded story that says in two ways that the writer is the beginning of the adventure, the generator of first ideas, but is not the filmmaker.

So that's all good. Don't expect a single phrase about writing itself. This is all about the business, the selling and the commerce. There are some people here that I really would like to know better. I did not and this will frustrate you too.

Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.

Filmmakers who neglect producing a good script rarely produce a good movie. Sure, film's a visual medium (but, then, so are comic books)- but all the beautiful imagery in the world is meaningless without a coherent background story. TALES FROM THE SCRIPT is a cautionary tale and, like the documentary THE HECK WITH Hollywood!, it offers some possible solutions for aspiring screenwriters. (Although the solution in THE HECK WITH Hollywood! is to go out and make your OWN movie, without regard to geography, which is probably the BEST advice: as mavericks like George Romero have shown, it IS possible to go out and do it yourself and be successful. With the kind of video technology that exists now, I'm frankly amazed that there aren't MORE independent filmmakers making waves out there...) Posting unproduced scripts online is one way to try to interest potential investors (I may do it myself). The options these days are many. Settling for Hollywood should no longer be the only option.

"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.

Tales From The Script is an essential documentary for aspiring screenwriters. It doesn't break down how to write a script or how to tell a story but it goes over what to expect in a career in screen writing and what they value. It's a very basic doc with interviews shot on DV, but it has access to so many top class writers that I didn't think much about the production of the doc itself. It's fascinating to pick up on the common behaviour of a writer based on their attitudes. It's a doc that both confirms my fears and validates what I want out of screen writing in my life. It finishes with a story from the writer of Ghost talking about a flop he made shortly afterwards where he felt it was finally worth it because it saved the relationship between a mother and son. That's what it's all about.

8/10

After reading the book, Tales from the Script by Paul Herman and Peter Hanson, I watched the movie. It was very interesting and engaging. I particularly enjoyed the way they edited the interviews together to develop an overall understanding of screen writing and the film making process. Hearing the screenwriters discuss their journeys from page to screen was enlightening. I think Peter Hanson and Paul Herman did a great job of getting a diversity of screenwriters and putting together thoughtful interviews. Seeing the people who have written some of my favorite movies was interesting, and I ended up learning about some great movies I've never seen through reading the book and seeing the film. I would definitely recommend this movie and book to anyone who is interested in screen writing or just a general film geek.