Tales from the Script

Few modern art forms are as misunderstood as the craft of creating movie scripts, because the collaborative nature of filmmaking and the dominance of celebrity actors and directors obscures the contributions of screenwriters. So if you're a writer eager to break into Hollywood or simply a movie buff excited to learn the stories behind your favorite films, this unique book will captivate you with insights into the wild and mysterious world of Hollywood screenwriting.Meet the men and women who dreamed up some of the world's most beloved movie characters. Revel in the exploits of Shane Black (Lethal Weapon), John Carpenter (Halloween), Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption), Nora Ephron (When Harry Met Sally), William Goldman (The Princess Bride), David Hayter (Watchmen), Bruce Joel Rubin (Ghost), Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver), Ron Shelton (Bull Durham), and dozens of others. Learn how they surmounted the incredible odds against breaking into Hollywood, and discover the myriad ways in which they transformed their ideas into films that topped the box office, launched the careers of major stars, and earned Oscars. The stories behind the storytellers are as exciting, surprising, and inspirational as the narratives of their celebrated films.TALES FROM THE SCRIPT puts readers into the trenches of the Hollywood development process through colorful stories about Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and many more. Entertaining, startling, and uplifting, this collection of exclusive interviews with Hollywood's leading screenwriters is pure pleasure for those who dream of penning the Great American Screenplay — it's a master class taught by those who made that dream come true.