Blog Posts

Ed TV

Ed TV poster thumbnail
Year:1999
Director:Ron Howard
Written by:Émile Gaudreault (Screenplay), Sylvie Bouchard (Screenplay), Lowell Ganz (Screenplay), Babaloo Mandel (Screenplay)

Script Synopsis:Video store clerk Ed agrees to have his life filmed by a camera crew for a tv network.
*4051

Conan the Barbarian (2011)

Conan the Barbarian poster thumbnail
Year:2011
Director:Marcus Nispel
Written by:Sean Hood (Screenplay), Joshua Oppenheimer (Screenplay), Thomas Dean Donnelly (Screenplay), Robert E. Howard (Characters)

Script Synopsis:A quest that begins as a personal vendetta for the fierce Cimmerian warrior soon turns into an epic battle against hulking rivals, horrific monsters, and impossible odds, as Conan (Jason Momoa) realizes he is the only hope of saving the great nations of Hyboria from an encroaching reign of supernatural evil.
*3995

Adam Sandler Acting Scripts

Adam Sandler is one of the few comedic actors that have successfully transitioned into dramatic and romantic roles as well. In the beginning of his career, Sandler was known for his goofy (and sometimes tasteless) sense of humor; beginning with Billy Madison (1995) and ending with Little Nicky (2000). For those five years, Sandler could easily be predicted. Going to his movies guaranteed a couple of good laughs and no deep message to consume the audience’s thoughts afterwards.

Then came Punch Drunk Love (2002), an independent-styled romantic picture with loads of drama and a bit of comedy as well. The film was directed by Paul Anderson, a well-respected director known for his work in the film Magnolia (1999) and There Will Be Blood (2007). Stereotypically thinking, this director’s idea for a film was much different than the Happy Gilmore-esque films from Sandler’s past.

However, the risk that Sandler took was not in vain and the movie was a huge success.  The film was nominated for 5 Oscars including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay; and Sandler’s acting career took off even more after that.

While still making occasional slapstick films per his usual style, Sandler took a different road from most comedic actors and started taking roles in films with a dramatic or romantic overtone.

His greatest decision though, was when he decided to produce his own films. The films that resulted from this (i.e. “Click”) took elements from all different genres; including romance, drama and, of course, comedy. These movies have been pretty successful as well, considering their complexity.

If there is ever an Oscar given to a comedic actor, then the best candidate would have to be Adam Sandler. With the art and complexity that he was welded with comedy, there is no doubt that he is a pioneer in the field of film making and acting.

  1. (2010) Grown Ups
  2. (2009) Funny People Script
  3. (2008) Bedtime Stories [Transcript]
  4. (2008) You Don’t Mess With the Zohan [Transcript] 
  5. (2007) Reign Over Me
  6. (2007) I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry [Transcript]
  7. (2006) Click
  8. (2005) The Longest Yard [Transcript]
  9. (2004) Spanglish Script
  10. (2004) 50 First Dates [Transcript]
  11. (2003) Anger Management [Transcript] 
  12. (2002) Eight Crazy Nights [Transcript] 
  13. (2002) Mr. Deeds [Transcript]
  14. (2002) Punch Drunk Love Script
  15. (2000) Little Nicky Script  
  16. (1999) Big Daddy [Transcript]
  17. (1998) The Waterboy [Transcript]
  18. (1998) The Wedding Singer [Transcript]
  19. (1996) Happy Gilmore [Transcript]
  20. (1995) Billy Madison
  21. (1994) Airheads

Scripts Based on Shakespearean Plays

One of the few authors that remain as popular today as they did in their own time is William Shakespeare. The ingenious writer concocted plays that intrigued his audiences and scintillated their minds. Today, film and theater production companies crank out remakes and adaptations with the desperate desire to add even more beauty to the already classic plays.

In order to create a film or play based on a Shakespearian script, a writer must remember that he or she should not go too far in changing the story. While the film, Romeo and Juliet (1996) fared well in theaters, some Shakespearian fans thought it was a cheesy remake. The same can be said of Hamlet (1996), which had many qualities of the original play, but lacked some of the most important plot points.

In order to create a Shakespearian-inspired script, an individual must become familiar with the master. In addition to that, the writer must be humble enough to realize the tremendous impact that Shakespeare had on the literary world. By becoming humble, the writer may be able to characterize the emotions of the original play in a respectfully done modern adaptation.

Remember that people come to Shakespearian-inspired films and plays with their own pre-conceptions. They have, more than likely, read the original Shakespeare play and will judge the new film against his original work. To go against Shakespeare is like a fight between David and Goliath. But instead of fighting the giant, the writer must learn to stand on his shoulders.

Below is a list of some of the greatest and worst Shakespearian-inspired scripts. Take note of the differences that make them good or bad. Sometimes all it takes is a little too much creativity to cause the popularity and emotion of the film to plummet. The best plays consist of a person making the most of their technological advances to further the ideas that Shakespeare had already pictured but perhaps, lacked the technology to display.

 

  1. (1956) Forbidden Planet [Transcript]
  2. (1958) Kiss Me Kate [Transcript]
  3. (1967) Chimes At Midnight Script ($)
  4. (1968) Romeo and Juliet [Transcript]
  5. (1989) My Own Private Idaho Script
  6. (1990) Hamlet [Transcript]
  7. (1996) Romeo and Juliet [Transcript]
  8. (1996) Hamlet Script ($)
  9. (1999) A Midsummer Night’s Dream [Transcript]
  10. (1999) Ten Things I Hate About You Script
  11. (2000) Hamlet Script ($)
  12. (2003) Deliver Us From Eva [Transcript]
  13. (2004) The Merchant of Venice [Transcript]
  14. (2006) She’s the Man Script ($)

Film Scripts Based on “Romeo and Juliet”

Out of the hundreds of “Romeo and Juliet” films that have been made in the past, only handfuls have been able to stand up to the test of time. Writers have tried everything to make the story different, while still maintaining the basic storyline first depicted by the great William Shakespeare. There are Romeo and Juliet films based in underground vampire worlds, slum cities and even in a suburban family’s backyard.

Many of these film scripts make it to the big screen, simply because audiences cannot get enough of this tragic love story. However, the success of a movie depends solely on the film maker’s ability to weld his or her creativity with the work of Shakespeare.

In the film, Romeo + Juliet (1996), Director Baz Luhrmann took a chance by creating a modern landscape with the same romantic couple. In this sexy, high fashion world, he was able to paint an astounding picture of the lovers’ lives that attracted young audiences everywhere.

Some people thought that the film was trash, but to this day it is still a very popular film.

On the other hand, a film maker can create a great adaptation by merely, omitting most of Shakespeare’s direct influence. In these films, the advertisements make no mention that the love story is based on Shakespeare. In fact, the film can only hint to the possibility of a relationship. A good example of this is the film, Underworld (2003) that tells the story of a doomed relationship between a wolf-man and a vampire.

By leaving out the potential influence of Shakespeare, the director steered clear of the “Shakespeare Police” crowd, who are characterized by their severe, religious devotion to the original Shakespeare plays; and will blow the whistle at anyone who tries to take too much creative freedom in the depiction.

So take note from the following film scripts and determine what route to take when writing a “Romeo and Juliet” styled play. There are a million creative ways that it can be expressed- it just requires an original mind to employ them.

  1. (1961) West Side Story Script
  2. (1998) The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride Script
  3. (1961) Romanoff and Juliet Script
  4. (1996) Romeo + Juliet Script
  5. (2003) Underworld [Transcript]

Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters poster thumbnail
Year:1984
Director:Ivan Reitman
Written by:Dan Aykroyd (Screenplay), Harold Ramis (Screenplay)

Script Synopsis:After losing their academic posts at a prestigious university, a team of parapsychologists goes into business as proton-pack-toting "ghostbusters" who exterminate ghouls, hobgoblins and supernatural pests of all stripes. An ad campaign pays off when a knockout cellist hires the squad to purge her swanky digs of demons that appear to be living in her refrigerator.
*4744

Zodiac

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Year:2007
Director:David Fincher
Written by:James Vanderbilt (Screenplay), Robert Graysmith (Novel)

Script Synopsis:The true story of the investigation of the "Zodiac Killer", a serial killer who terrified the San Francisco Bay Area, taunting police with his ciphers and letters. The case becomes an obsession for three men as their lives and careers are built and destroyed by the endless trail of clues.
*4743

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

Zack and Miri Make a Porno poster thumbnail
Year:2008
Director:Kevin Smith
Written by:Kevin Smith (Writer)

Script Synopsis:Lifelong platonic friends Zack and Miri look to solve their respective cash-flow problems by making an adult film together. As the cameras roll, however, the duo begin to sense that they may have more feelings for each other than they previously thought.
*4742

You’ve Got Mail

You've Got Mail poster thumbnail
Year:1998
Director:Nora Ephron
Written by:Miklós László (Theatre Play), Nora Ephron (Screenplay), Delia Ephron (Screenplay)

Script Synopsis:Book superstore magnate, Joe Fox and independent book shop owner, Kathleen Kelly fall in love in the anonymity of the Internet—both blissfully unaware that he's trying to put her out of business.
*4741