Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Much like The Mailroom (2003), which looked at the wheeling and dealing in Hollywood from the perspectives of power players who came up through agency mailrooms, Tales from the Script offers a comprehensive look at the realities of working as a screenwriter from the perspective of those who have made careers out of writing for the big screen. Editors Hanson and Herman interviewed 50 writers for the book, including William Goldman, Antwone Fisher, and Nora Ephron. The writers offer candid thoughts and anecdotes about everything from breaking into the business to learning how to accept rejection, from finding a niche in the business to dealing with getting fired off a project. In between the writers' commentary are sections that feature thoughts from others involved in the business, including a contest judge, a development executive, and a therapist. There is a sense of being in the Old West here it's like panning for gold, writer Steve Koren opines. In all, this overview captures the excitement, frustration, and reality of being a working screenwriter in an accessible and essential volume that aspiring screenwriters will devour.--Huntley, Kristine Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this companion to the documentary of the same name, filmmakers Hanson and Herman distill advice, anecdotes and warnings from 50 screenwriters, including Shane Black (Lethal Weapon), John Carpenter (Halloween), Nora Ephron (Julie & Julia), and William Goldman (The Princess Bride). Divided by topic, the text covers a wide range of issues regarding the notoriously elusive career, including the ins and outs of a first sale; dealing with producers, directors and actors; staying positive and productive in the face of rejection; and the Hollywood system at large. Aspiring screenwriters will instantly recognize most of the bold-faced names, though they won't find much help regarding the mechanics of screenwriting. Anyone who's wondered how their favorite scribe landed her first film job, or what happens behind the headlines of a high-profile spec sale, will find plenty of information, as well as general advice and inspiration. (Jan.) Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.
Review by Library Journal Review
Hanson and Herman, screenwriters and producers of a documentary of the same title that was an official selection at the Newport Beach, Palm Springs, and Sonoma film festivals, present a behind-the-scenes look as 50 veteran Hollywood screenwriters who take readers through the whole screenwriting process as they experienced it. This is a quick read that shares a lot of pertinent information from such screenwriters as William Goldman (All the President's Men), Shane Black (Lethal Weapon), and Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) on what the life of a screenwriter is really like in Hollywood. In another recent book of screenwriters' stories, McGilligan (film, Marquette Univ.; Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light) continues the highly acclaimed "Backstory" series with this more academic look at screenwriting, featuring detailed and personal interviews with screenwriters who made their marks in the 1990s, e.g., Nora Ephron (Sleepless in Seattle), Barry Levinson (Avalon), and Albert Brooks (Mother). Verdict Anyone with an interest in screenwriting or Hollywood careers will learn a lot of practical information quickly from Tales from the Script. Backstory 5 is a well-documented, detailed, and more academic selection for students and fans of the previous four Backstory books.-Sally Bryant, Pepperdine Univ. Lib., CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
