Category: Film

Paul Schrader Scripts

Screenwriters can often be seen as men and women “behind the mask.” Despite the fact that they create worlds that are presented to the world in movie form, they are often forgotten by the public and left to anonymity outside of professional film makers in the field. A good example of an anonymous, yet profound, writer is Paul Schrader. Most people who have seen the film Taxi Driver (1976) associate the film with its director, Martin Scorcese.

In all respects, Taxi Driver does represent many of the qualities that have distinguished Scorcese as a director. However, the film was written by Paul Schrader. The mental workings of this creative genius are apparent when looking at a few other scripts that he has written. Raging Bull (1980) was a profound drama about a boxer who goes through much tumultuous inner struggles before coming out on top in the end. The same thing goes for Taxi Driver.

                In addition to these two films, Schrader is also responsible for the adaptation of one of the most controversial films in recent history. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) is among a few select films that have defied conventional morality in the retelling of Jesus Christ.

It goes without saying that Schrader has had a positive career in the industry, simply by knowing that he had a part in the making of the previously stated three films. However, his career has not been perfect. For every successful film script he wrote, there were a few flops that were considered weak. Some of his scripts became films that remain in anonymity to this day!

The most important lesson for a screenwriter to learn when writing a script is to have faith in their writing ability regardless of how an audience interprets one script. No matter how good a writer is, there will always be a time when he or she simply cannot express an idea in a way that an audience accepts wholeheartedly. Sometimes it takes years or decades for people to even start appreciating the work of one writer. However, he or she must not give up and continue to write; for each writers’ experiences are important and are worthy to be expressed, no matter how the rest of the world depicts it for a moment in time.

  1. (2007) The Walker
  2. (1999) Bringing Out the Dead Script
  3. (1999) Forever Mine
  4. (1997) Affliction Script
  5. (1997) Touch
  6. (1996) City Hall
  7. (1992) Light Sleeper Script
  8. (1988) The Last Temptation of Christ Script
  9. (1987) Light of Day
  10. (1986) The Mosquito Coast [Transcript]
  11. (1985) Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
  12. (1980) Raging Bull Script
  13. (1980) American Gigolo
  14. (1979) Old Boyfriends
  15. (1979) Hardcore Script
  16. (1978) Blue Collar
  17. (1977) Rolling Thunder
  18. (1976) Obsession [Transcript]
  19. (1976) Taxi Driver Script
  20.  (1974) The Yakuza

Bizarre and Forbidden Romance Scripts

What constitutes a romance film? For many mainstream audiences, a romance film consists of a pretty general theme of a man and a woman falling in love. They usually go through certain ups and downs, inspiring love even more than when they first met. Eventually they realize that they were meant for each other (and live happily ever after) or… one of them dies, leaving the other to suffer lovingly for their lost partner.

However, the world is a very bizarre place, and not all people fall in love the same way that the “average” person does. In a world with diverse people, there are bound to be romantic stories that just don’t fit into that traditional “boy-meets-girl” theme. That is where the following list comes into play.

The films below deal with love stories that defy mainstream expectations and, sometimes, even societal norms about morality.  Many of the films below have stirred up controversy; frightening members of society who just aren’t willing to accept such a disturbingly different representation of love. However, many of the following films have also (eventually) been reveled as cult classics or even Hollywood blockbusters, owing to the fact that they touched on a controversial subject long before it was financially rewarding.

Script writers who plan to write love stories can learn a lot from reading the following scripts and/or watching romance movies that push the mainstream boundaries. The best love stories come from a person who knows love. If a person is limited to understanding love on a strictly conventional standpoint then what does he or she have to add to the millions of romantic movies that already exist?

Love is far more complex than anyone can imagine. It can happen anywhere and at any moment to any person in the world. The screenwriter who can truly understand love will not only write romance scripts with ease, but he or she will be able to communicate those messages to a world that constantly seeks to understand the cryptic subject of love.

  1. (1967) The Graduate Script
  2. (1971) Harold and Maude Script
  3. (1992) The Crying Game Script
  4. (1999) Boys Don’t Cry Script
  5. (1999) American Beauty Script
  6. (1999) Snow Falling On Cedars Script
  7. (2005) Brokeback Mountain Script
  8. (2007) Lars and the Real Girl Script
  9. (2008) The Reader Script

 

 

 

Naomi Watts Scripts

      Blonde haired and beautiful, Naomi Watts is, at first glance, just another pretty actress. She is well mannered, sophisticated and is considered one of the more respected Hollywood actresses in the industry. However, upon viewing some of the films that Watts has starred in, a different woman appears that is far more complex than could be imagined.

        Despite her ability to play a pretty girlfriend or a love interest, Watts has defied conventional stereotypes to play intelligent, frightening and bizarre characters. In Mulholland Drive (2001), Watts played a struggling young actress overwhelmed with bitterness over her lover’s rejection of her. The rejection causes her to behave erratically and imagine things that are not quite real.

In Funny Games (2007), Watts is a quite normal character. However, when a pair of sadistic young men break into her house to play deathly mind games with her, she is transformed from a pretty housewife to a desperate, three-dimensional character.

Watts has climbed the ladder to stardom and is now considered a quite respectable mainstream star. However, she did not start out that way. Her film history is littered with independent films that have helped her build up the reputation that she needed to succeed.

As an actress, Watts provides a great example of how important it is for actors to choose their roles wisely. Not all independent films are good, and an actor or actresses must protect their new reputation by choosing the best roles possible for themselves. If an audience leaves a film feeling good about themselves and their experience, then they will associate the actor with good things as well.

Same thing goes for screenwriters. If a screenwriter cannot write characters that are interesting and three dimensional, then he or she will handicap the script from attracting great up and coming actors/actresses. Nobody wants to ruin their reputation on a terrible script. To ensure the success of a film, a writer must make sure that they create characters that actors would kill to play.

Filmography

  1. (2011) J. Edgar Script ($)
  2. (2011) Dream House
  3. (2010) Fair Game Script
  4. (2010) You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
  5. (2009) Mother and Child Script
  6. (2009) The International
  7. (2007) Funny Games [Transcript]
  8. (2007) Eastern Promises Script
  9. (2006) The Painted Veil [Transcript]  
  10. (2005) King Kong Script    
  11. (2005) Stay Script
  12. (2005) The Ring Two [Transcript]
  13. (2005) Ellie Parker
  14. (2004) I Heart Huckabees [Transcript]
  15. (2004) The Assassination of Richard Nixon
  16. (2004) We Don’t Live Here Anymore
  17. (2003) 21 Grams [Transcript]
  18. (2003) Le divorce [Transcript]
  19. (2003) Ned Kelly [Transcript]
  20. (2002) Undertaking Betty
  21. (2002) The Ring [Transcript]
  22. (2002) Rabbits
  23. (2001) Mulholland Drive Script
  24. (2001) Down
  25. (1999) Strange Planet
  26. (1998) Dangerous Beauty
  27. (1997) Under the Lighthouse Dancing
  28. (1996) Persons Unknown
  29. (1995) Tank Girl [Transcript]
  30. (1993) The Custodian
  31. (1993) Gross Misconduct
  32. (1993) Wide Sargasso Sea
  33. (1993) Matinee
  34. (1991) Flirting [Transcript]
  35. (1986) For Love Alone

Grunge Era Teen Horror Film Scripts

                The 1990’s were a great time for the horror genre in terms of originality and evolved technique. During this period, films such as The Blair Witch Project (1999) terrified audiences and rocketed the “found footage” genre that is now popular today. Other films, such as Cemetery Man (1994) and The Exorcist III (1990) are considered ground-breaking even today, in terms of technique and plot.

With all of these intense horror films that came up during this period, it is easy to forget the less appreciated and more formulaic teen horror movies that were also being ground out on a regular basis. However, as time goes by, these teen horror films are beginning to stand apart for their own unique reasons.

The 90’s teen horror film brought up many teen issues which, before, would seem untouchable. For instance, Scream (1996) had a protagonist who suffered the death of her mother the year before. However, by the film’s end, she finds out that her mother was the town slut and had been murdered for that reason.

Disturbing Behavior (1998) was another film that focused on the depression that many kids dealt with during the emotionally-dead grunge era. The film is introduced with a teenager trying to cope with the suicide of another teen. These types of issues, once considered off-limits for teen films, were now being expressed. Not only that, but the plots were well accepted by the teen communities that flocked to see it.

Every generation of teens have problems that the previous generation did not have. Until a decade ago, the risk of a teen committing suicide over being cyber-bullied on the internet was slim to none. Nowadays, it is quite commonplace. Sex scandals with teen boys and adult teachers have become overwhelmingly popular in the modern day, despite the massive backlash by the public. A screenplay writer must take this into consideration when writing a movie aimed at teenagers. If a film maker wants to make a film aimed at teens, he or she must know the problems that they face in the modern day and implement these ideas into his or her script. By doing this, he or she will not only grab an audience, but will also help young people feel that they are being accurately represented and understood by the movie industry, which is crucial for making them life-long movie goers.

 

  1. (1996) Scream Script
  2. (1997) An American Werewolf in Paris Script [PDF]
  3. (1997) I Know What You Did Last Summer [Transcript]
  4. (1998) Disturbing Behavior Script [PDF]
  5. (1998) The Faculty Script
  6. (1999) Idle Hands [Transcript]

Sci-Fi Western Film Scripts

Despite the popularity of American Western films in Europe and other nations, the genre has had waning success with American audiences. Some of the best Western films were not even made in America, but were redesigned by foreign filmmakers, such as Sergio Leone (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)). With few exceptions, the Western has all but died with most mainstream American audiences.

However, there are people in the United States who still aspire to the classic American westerns that graced the screen prior to 1980’s. The nostalgic filmmakers who remembered the cowboy dramas of their youth were not so quick to throw the genre aside.

However, in order to make a living, filmmakers had to ensure that audiences would not dismiss their films as just another Western. A twist needed to be added to capture the short attention spans of a new, computer-aged generation.

Thus the creation of the sci-fi western films. By improvising a bit of the storyline and adding new twists, filmmakers were able to capture the attention of young audiences and lure them into the theaters for a western in disguise. Instead of having villainous Indians or cattle rustlers, audiences were amazed to see villainous robotic castle rustlers and giant aliens living beneath the surface of the towns.

The creation of sci-fi westerns can easily be seen as a noble attempt by writers to introduce their childhood heroes and stories to a new generation. The writers could have sat on noble high horses and refused to adapt their beloved Westerns of the past to a new generation. However, by mixing the Western themes of the past with the technology of the future, they instilled a place for Westerns in the hearts of children for years to come.

Screenwriters who hold on deeply to nostalgic films of their youth can take a lesson from sci-fi westerns. Regardless of how great a story is, it will not be a success unless it adds something new and different. Remake films are often failures because they try to regurgitate the same story in a higher resolution film. To reach a wide audience, a nostalgic script writer must be able to compromise their classic ideals with the new trends of the present.

 

  1. (1973) Westworld [Transcript]
  2. (1981) Indiana Jones Script
  3. (1990) Back to the Future Part III Script
  4. (1999) Wild Wild West Script
  5. (2004) Tremors 4: The Legend Begins Script
  6. (2007) Ghost Rider Script
  7. (2011) Priest Script

Judd Apatow Scripts

Judd Apatow has been credited with producing and writing some of the funniest films of this generation. However, it was only recently that he was able to accomplish this. He started his career in the film industry in the mid-90’s, producing and writing comedies such as Heavyweights (2005) and The Cable Guy (1996). Neither of these films were mainstream successes, despite The Cable Guy’s all star cast. Apatow was stunned that The Cable Guy wasn’t a monumental success. He believed that it would be just the thing to jump start his career.

The problem with The Cable Guy was really more of a timing issue than anything else. In the 1990’s, people were not ready for the type of dark comedy that Apatow presented. Comedies were distinguished from other genres by their lack of a poignant storyline. The Cable Guy was crossing genre boundaries, which may have led to its monumental disaster.

Apatow continued working and attempting to write films that would be successes. His big chance came when he wrote The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005). His timing was perfect. Film studios had been getting lazy. Instead of trying to create new ideas, comedic writers were settling for regurgitating the same old jokes under different packaging (i.e. Epic Movie).

The film was an outstanding success, making millions of dollars worldwide. Apatow’s writing style, once believed to be too quirky, proved to be a template to a new type of comedy. Seth Rogan’s Superbad (2007) followed the Apatow template and made over $100 million dollars. The template, which uses moralistic messages mixed with humorous antidotes and raunchy sight gags, have projected the comedy genre into a whole different field. In this field, comedic
films are not restricted by their genre. They can incorporate seriously dramatic elements, horror and romance in a way that touches peoples’ hearts as well as their funny bones.

Some screenwriters are beyond their time and will not be appreciated until later in life. This should not stop them from writing though. Screenwriters will do themselves a favor by learning from Apatow and refusing to give up on their ideas or toss them aside as “unmarketable.” A few years from now, who knows what the public will be attracted to?

Filmography

  1. (2012) This is 40
  2. (2009) Funny People Script
  3. (2008) Pineapple Express Script
  4. (2008) You Don’t Mess with the Zohan Script
  5. (2007) Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Script
  6. (2007) Knocked Up Script
  7. (2005) Fun with Dick and Jane  [Transcript]
  8. (2005) The 40 Year Old Virgin Script
  9. (1995) Heavyweights Script ($)

Jonah Hill Scripts

No one gets famous simply by being talented. The music, film and art industries are all fueled by socialization. If a person is well connected, then he or she has a greater chance of succeeding with less talent than someone who has a lot of talent minus connections. In the case of Jonah Hill, connections to the industry have been one of the major tools that helped skyrocket his career to the record high that it is at now.

This is not to say Jonah Hill is not talented. The 28 year old producer/director/actor/writer has wowed audiences with his unique comedic style and adorable personality. From his first major role in Superbad (2007), Hill captured America’s heart in his realistic depiction of a desperately hopeless teenage boy trying to buy alcohol on a Friday night.

However, if it wasn’t for his connections, Hill may not have known, let alone had the chance to audition for the now-famous role. The real start of his career occurred when he met the children of Dustin Hoffman, who were present at one of his small time gigs. The kids loved his acting and introduced him to their father who helped jump start his career with a role in I Heart Huckabees (2004).

Since then, Hill has ridden the waves to fame and fortune in comedic films such as Get Him to the Greek (2010) and the upcoming film, 21 Jump Street (2012). Needless to say, Hill has a great future ahead of him as long as he continues to wow audiences with his remarkable acting roles.

Hopeful actors may take a note from Hill by remembering the importance of establishing connections in the industry. Script writers and directors would also do well to seek out talent and inspiration in small clubs and performing arts districts. There are plenty of talented people and stories in the world that never make it to Hollywood simply because of a lack of connections. A person who can sift through and find the gems will be justly rewarded for their efforts.

Filmography

  1. (2012) 21 Jump Street
  2. (2011) The Sitter
  3. (2011) Moneyball Script
  4. (2010) Megamind Script
  5. (2010) Get Him to the Greek Script
  6. (2010) How to Train Your Dragon Script
  7. (2010) Cyrus
  8. (2009) The Invention of Lying Script
  9. (2009) Funny People Script
  10. (2009) Night at the Museum: Escape From the Smithsonian Script
  11. (2008) Just Add Water
  12. (2008) Forgetting Sarah Marshall Script
  13. (2008) Horton Hears a Who
  14. (2008) Strange Wilderness [Transcript]
  15. (2007) Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story [Transcript]
  16. (2007) Superbad Script
  17. (2007) Evan Almighty [Transcript]
  18. (2007) Knocked Up Script
  19. (2007) Rocket Science [Transcript]
  20. (2006) 10 Items or Less
  21. (2006) Accepted
  22. (2006) Click
  23. (2006) Grandma’s Boy
  24. (2005) The 40 Year Old Virgin Script
  25. (2004) I Heart Huckabees [Transcript]

Seth Rogan Scripts

            Seth Rogan is one of the few comedians who have skyrocketed to success following the success of the film, 40 Year Old Virgin (2005). The film, which starred many now-famous actors such as Steve Carrell and Jonah Hill, was an original masterpiece that changed the path of comedic films.

Judd Apatow, the writer of the 40 Year Old Virgin, reaped enormous fame and success following this film, and continued to work with Rogan in other features such as Pineapple Express (2008) and Knocked Up (2007). The repeated film successes gave Rogan the fame and reputation that he needed to start his own career as a writer.

Following the success of Knocked Up, Rogan wrote a film that became a national sensation, spurring on the careers of even more film actors including Jonah Hill and Michael Cera. That film was called Superbad (2007). Since this film, Rogan has become a household name. On IMDB.com, he is on the top 500 list of celebrities and he is only climbing upwards from there.

Screenwriters may have noticed the types of comedic trends that have been brewing in Hollywood lately, spurred on since the release of the nearly-moral yet raunchy 40 Year Old Virgin. Despite the dirty humor that occurs, popular comedic films have also added on a sentimentalism that is downright endearing. Behind the crude humor are deeper issues that many people deal with in their lives.

By employing moralistic elements and endearing characters, comedic films have been able to bridge the gap that has forever divided them from classic dramas and romances. Long gone are the tasteless, ill-prepared lobotomies that once cursed the comedy genre. Now there is realism and sentimentality that could just make comedy a respectable genre… perhaps even an Oscar winner!

Filmography

  1. (2013) The Apocalypse
  2. (2012) The Guilt Trip
  3. (2012) For a Good Time, Call…
  4. (2011) 50/50 Script
  5. (2011) Take This Waltz
  6. (2011) Kung Fu Panda 2
  7. (2011) Paul
  8. (2011) The Green Hornet Script
  9. (2009) Funny People Script
  10. (2009) Monsters vs Aliens
  11. (2009) Observe and Report
  12. (2009) Fanboys
  13. (2008) Zack and Miri Make a Porno
  14. (2008) Pineapple Express Script  
  15. (2008) Step Brothers [Transcript]
  16. (2008) Kung Fu Panda [Transcript]
  17. (2008) Horton Hears a Who!
  18. (2008) The Spiderwick Chronicles [Transcript]
  19. (2007) Superbad Script
  20. (2007) Shrek the Third Script
  21. (2007) Knocked Up Script
  22. (2006) You, Me and Dupree
  23. (2005) The 40 Year Old Virgin Script
  24. (2004) Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
  25. (2001) Donnie Darko Script

2012 Oscar Nominee Scripts

‘Tis Oscar season and for those of us looking for scripts on the internet it’s a bonanza.  The studios, in their quest for nominations and awards, made their candidates’ scripts available (and in PDF no less !)

Original Screenplay

Adapted Screenplay

Best Motion Picture of the Year