Bringemovies
← Browse Movies
Tales from the Script
TITLE DETAILS

Tales from the Script

2009-01-10 · 105 min · ★ 6.6

Documentary

Shane Black ("Lethal Weapon"), John Carpenter ("Halloween"), Frank Darabont ("The Shawshank Redemption"), William Goldman ("The Princess Bride"), Paul Schrader ("Taxi Driver"), and dozens of other Hollywood screenwriters share hilarious anecdotes and penetrating insights in "Tales from the Script," the most comprehensive documentary ever made about screenwriting. By analyzing their triumphs and recalling their failures, the participants explain how successful writers develop the skills necessary for toughing out careers in one of the world's most competitive industries. They also reveal the untold stories behind some of the greatest screenplays ever written, describing their adventures with luminaries including Harrison Ford, Stanley Kubrick, Joel Silver, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg. The film was produced in tandem with the upcoming HarperCollins book of the same name.

Open detail page

Trailers are previews, not full movies.

No authorized playback source configured. Use the legal watch options below.

Production details

Directors
Peter Hanson
Production companies
Unavailable
Countries
United States of America
Status
Released

Top Cast

John CarpenterJohn CarpenterSelf
Frank DarabontFrank DarabontSelf
Steven E. de SouzaSteven E. de SouzaSelf
Antwone FisherSelf
William GoldmanWilliam GoldmanSelf
Guinevere TurnerGuinevere TurnerSelf
Jose RiveraJose RiveraSelf
Melville ShavelsonMelville ShavelsonSelf
Justin ZackhamSelf
Allison AndersAllison AndersSelf
Doug AtchisonDoug AtchisonSelf
John AugustJohn AugustSelf
Shane BlackShane BlackSelf
John BrancatoJohn BrancatoSelf
Larry CohenLarry CohenSelf
Gerald Di PegoGerald Di PegoSelf
Mark FergusMark FergusSelf
Naomi FonerNaomi FonerSelf
Joe ForteSelf
Josh FriedmanJosh FriedmanSelf

Title information and images are supplied by TMDb. Explore our discovery guide for advice on comparing metadata and legal viewing options.

Where to watch

Availability provided by JustWatch via TMDb. Offers can change. Provider links are listed on TMDb; full playback requires a separately authorized source.

Recommendations

Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return
★ 6.8
Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return2022Documentary

This special explores the return of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker to the screen, as well as Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen to their classic roles. Director Deborah Chow leads the cast and crew as they create new heroes and villains that live alongside new incarnations of beloved Star Wars characters, and an epic story that dramatically bridges the saga films.

Being James Bond
★ 7.8
Being James Bond2021Documentary

Daniel Craig candidly reflects on his 15 year adventure as James Bond. Including never-before-seen archival footage from Casino Royale to the upcoming 25th film No Time To Die, Craig shares his personal memories in conversation with 007 producers, Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.

Spielberg
★ 7.5
Spielberg2017Documentary

A documentary on the life and career of one of the most influential film directors of all time, Steven Spielberg.

Altman
★ 6.6
Altman2014Documentary

Robert Altman's life and career contained multitudes. This father of American independent cinema left an indelible mark, not merely on the evolution of his art form, but also on the western zeitgeist. With its use of rare interviews, representative film clips, archival images, and musings from his family and most recognizable collaborators, Altman is a dynamic and heartfelt mediation on an artist whose expression, passion and appetite knew few bounds.

Seduced and Abandoned
★ 6.2
Seduced and Abandoned2013Documentary

SEDUCED AND ABANDONED combines acting legend Alec Baldwin with director James Toback as they lead us on a troublesome and often hilarious journey of raising financing for their next feature film. Moving from director to financier to star actor, the two players provide us with a unique look behind the curtain at the world's biggest and most glamourous film festival, shining a light on the bitter-sweet relationship filmmakers have with Cannes and the film business. Featuring insights from directors Martin Scorsese, 'Bernando Bertolucci' and Roman Polanski; actors Ryan Gosling and Jessica Chastain and a host of film distribution luminaries.

Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Eternals
★ 7.1
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Eternals2022Documentary

Join director Chloe Zhao and the Cast of Eternals as they recount their experiences during the making of Marvel Studios’ most ambitious film to date. Discover how the ensemble cast felt stepping into their roles, filming in remote locations, and creating bonds that would help to create the on-screen relationships that span over 7,000 years.

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
★ 7.8
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy2010Documentary

For decades, Freddy Krueger has slashed his way through the dreams of countless youngsters, scaring up over half a billion dollars at the box office across eight terrifying, spectacular films.

Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Hawkeye
★ 7.2
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Hawkeye2022Documentary

Join the likes of Jeremy Renner, Hailee Steinfeld, Florence Pugh, and Vincent D’Onofrio as they reveal how Marvel Studios’ “Hawkeye” was conceived and created. Witness firsthand what it took to pull off the show’s pulse-pounding action set pieces, and discover how iconic characters from the pages of Marvel Comics such as Kate Bishop were adapted and brought to life for the six-episode series.

John Candy: I Like Me
★ 7.9
John Candy: I Like Me2025Documentary

Those who knew iconic funnyman John Candy best share his story, in their own words, through never-before-seen archival footage, imagery, and interviews.

Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
★ 7.1
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness2022Documentary

Join visionary director Sam Raimi and the cast of the film as they recount their experiences bringing Marvel’s darkest story to life. From world-building to universe-building, hear first hand accounts from the cast and crew on what it took to design, create and make each universe unique and believable.

The Eyes of Orson Welles
★ 6.9
The Eyes of Orson Welles2018Documentary

A poetic journey into the visual world of the legendary filmmaker and actor Orson Welles (1915-85) that reveals a new portrait of a unique genius, both of his life and of his monumental work: through his own eyes, drawn by his own hand, painted with his own brush.

Cameraperson
★ 6.7
Cameraperson2016Documentary

As a visually radical memoir, CAMERAPERSON draws on the remarkable footage that filmmaker Kirsten Johnson has shot and reframes it in ways that illuminate moments and situations that have personally affected her. What emerges is an elegant meditation on the relationship between truth and the camera frame, as Johnson transforms scenes that have been presented on Festival screens as one kind of truth into another kind of story—one about personal journey, craft, and direct human connection.

Sidney
★ 6.9
Sidney2022Documentary

This revealing documentary honors the legendary Sidney Poitier—iconic actor, filmmaker, and civil rights activist. Featuring interviews with Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Halle Berry, and more.

Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20
★ 7.2
Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/202022Documentary

An inside look at one of the most anticipated movie sequels ever with James Cameron and cast.

American Symphony
★ 6.5
American Symphony2023Documentary

Musician Jon Batiste attempts to compose a symphony as his wife, writer Suleika Jaouad, undergoes cancer treatment.

Maria by Callas
★ 7.4
Maria by Callas2017Documentary

Told through performances, TV interviews, home movies, family photographs, private letters and unpublished memoirs, the film reveals the essence of an extraordinary woman who rose from humble beginnings in New York City to become a glamorous international superstar and one of the greatest artists of all time.

Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold
★ 7.4
Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold2017Documentary

Literary icon Joan Didion reflects on her remarkable career and personal struggles in this intimate documentary directed by her nephew, Griffin Dunne.

American Teen
★ 6.4
American Teen2008Documentary

A documentary on seniors at a high school in a small Indiana town and their various cliques.

The Last Repair Shop
★ 7.5
The Last Repair Shop2024Documentary

In a warehouse in the heart of Los Angeles, a dwindling handful of devoted craftspeople maintain more than 80,000 student musical instruments, the largest remaining workshop in America of its kind. Meet four unforgettable characters whose broken-and-repaired lives have been dedicated to bringing so much more than music to the schoolchildren of this city.

Let It Be
★ 7.7
Let It Be1970Documentary

A documentary chronicling the Beatles' rehearsal sessions in January 1969 for their proposed "back to basics" album, "Get Back," later re-envisioned and released as "Let It Be."

Similar titles

Poster unavailable
Not rated
City at Night1949Documentary

Keith Hetherington and Dorothy Gardiner travel to a different and unannounced location of interest every week, the program here presents a "live," behind-the-scenes look at the shooting of the 1950 George Pal film "Destination Moon".

Kirk Douglas: Before I Forget
★ 7.3
Kirk Douglas: Before I Forget2009Documentary

Kirk Douglas recounts his remarkable life in a celebrated one-man theater performance augmented with rare film highlights. He shares memories of family, marriages, other Hollywood greats, breaking the blacklist and his life-altering stroke – all with honesty and humor.

Poster unavailable
★ 7.7
Dearly Departed2006Documentary

Hollywood is a hot spot for celebrities, and tour guide Scott Michaels (E!'s "20 Most Horrifying Hollywood Murders," FindADeath.com) knows their, well, haunts. DEARLY DEPARTED is an all-access tour of the "backlots" of L.A. - locations where the most infamous murders, suicides and bizarre crimes involving A-listers have taken place. The Viper Room, the site where "The Black Dahlia" was discovered, and dozens more legendary spots are explored in this funny and equally shocking ride into L.A.'s seedy underground.

Flannery
★ 5.0
Flannery2019Documentary

Explore the life of Flannery O’Connor whose provocative fiction was unlike anything published before. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage, newly discovered journals, and interviews with Mary Karr, Tommy Lee Jones, Hilton Als, and more.

A Common Experience
Not rated
A Common Experience2013Documentary

A poetic exploration of the multi-generational affects of Canada's Indian Residential School system, based on the personal trials of Aboriginal playwright Yvette Nolan.

Foghorn: Child Actor, Veteran, Friend
Not rated
Foghorn: Child Actor, Veteran, Friend2021Documentary

Over the serene and verdant landscape of Northern California, a man with an everlasting childlike spirit lived his last years in a cabin. A story of friendship and loneliness, George Carl Wenzlaff was a Navy veteran and postal service worker with unique artistic talents and an amazing past.

Who's Afraid of Kathy Acker?
★ 7.0
Who's Afraid of Kathy Acker?2007Documentary

Documentary tracing the extreme life of outlaw writer, performance artist and punk icon, Kathy Acker. Through animation, archival footage, interviews and dramatic reenactments, director Barbara Caspar explores Acker's colorful history, from her well-heeled upbringing to her role as the scribe of society's fringe.

9/11: Cleared for Chaos
★ 4.0
9/11: Cleared for Chaos2019Documentary

On September 11, 2001, the unimaginable transpired when devastating attacks on the World Trade Center forced the shutdown of the entire U.S. airspace. Thousands of kilometres away in Gander, Newfoundland, a group of Nav Canada air traffic controllers suddenly had the lives of 33,000 people in their hands and had to think fast to find a place for them to go. Discovery uncovers how these unsung heroes managed to safely land 224 planes in four hours, without incident.

Hollywood Hobbies
★ 5.6
Hollywood Hobbies1939Documentary

In this short film, two starstruck movie fans hire a tour guide and see a plethora of Hollywood stars.

Poster unavailable
★ 7.7
Hitchcock, Selznick and the End of Hollywood1999Documentary

Paying homage to two of Hollywood's central icons, the film creates an unparalleled portrait of two very different personalities amidst the demise of the studio system.

François Mitterrand, une autre vie possible
Not rated
François Mitterrand, une autre vie possible2026Documentary

This documentary explores the inner life of François Mitterrand from a unique perspective: that of the writer he never ceased to be. From bookworm child to prolific author, from his brilliant speeches to his literary friendships, François Mitterrand's life cannot be separated from the literary world. His daughter Mazarine Pingeot undertakes to read the texts left behind by her father.

It Conquered Hollywood! The Story of American International Pictures
★ 7.4
It Conquered Hollywood! The Story of American International Pictures2001Documentary

A 60-minute salute to American International Pictures. Entertainment lawyer Samuel Z. Arkoff founded AIP (then called American Releasing Corporation) on a $3000 loan in 1954 with his partner, James H. Nicholson, a former West Coast exhibitor and distributor. The company made its mark by targeting teenagers with quickly produced films that exploited subjects mainstream films were reluctant to tackle.

Poster unavailable
★ 7.0
Barbican1969Documentary

About the development scheme for a residential area in the City. Barbican, which will be largely completed by 1973, will provide about 7,000 people with not only flats and houses but shops, schools and a wide range of cultural and other amenities.

imagine… Russell T Davies: The Doctor and Me
★ 9.0
imagine… Russell T Davies: The Doctor and Me2023Documentary

imagine... follows celebrated British TV writer Russell T Davies as he prepares to return as the showrunner of Doctor Who – with two Doctors and bigger ambitions.

The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened?
★ 6.7
The Death of "Superman Lives": What Happened?2015Documentary

The Death of 'Superman Lives': What Happened? feature film documents the process of development of the ill fated "Superman Lives" movie, that was to be directed by Tim Burton and star Nicolas Cage as the man of steel himself, Superman. The project went through years of development before the plug was pulled, and this documentary interviews the major filmmakers: Kevin Smith, Tim Burton, Jon Peters, Dan Gilroy, Colleen Atwood, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and many many more.

Poster unavailable
★ 9.0
John Huston War Stories1999Documentary

During World War II, the propaganda engine of the U.S. government made a pivotal decision with unforeseeable results: they tapped John Huston to shoot war documentaries with an expressly patriotic spin. Few could guess the degree to which Huston's documentaries would depict the sheer brutality and horror of modern warfare - particularly his Let There Be Light and The Battle of San Pietro. The films served (by default) as cinematic protests, even as they graced new and brilliant heights within the scope of American documentary. (Indeed, Light was banned by the government for 35 years). Midge Mackenzie's 1998 documentary John Huston: War Stories explores this little known facet of Huston's career, intercutting clips from the various documentaries with a Huston interview shot just prior to his death.

Jisoe
★ 10.0
Jisoe2005Documentary

A year in the life of troubled Australian graffiti artist Justin Hughes.

The Body Heals
Not rated
The Body Heals2016Documentary

A portrait of a woman recovering from cosmetic surgery in Miami.

Poster unavailable
Not rated
Censored!1999Documentary

A documentary about the cultural effect of film censorship, focusing on the tumultuous times of the teens and early 1920s in America.

Philip K Dick: A Day in the Afterlife
★ 6.8
Philip K Dick: A Day in the Afterlife1994Documentary

A poetic look at the life and legacy of legendary author Philip K. Dick (1928-1982), who wrote over a hundred short stories and 44 novels of mind-bending sci-fi, exploring themes of authority, drugs, theology, mental illness and much more.

Your favorites

Recently viewed

Watch

Choose an authorized server.

Full video from an operator-configured authorized source. Official trailers use a separate player. If a server fails, retry or select another authorized server.

Legal watch options

Official trailer

Trailer preview only. Press Play to start.

Privacy choices

Favorites stay in your browser. Movie images load from TMDb. YouTube trailers contact YouTube only after you allow external media and choose a trailer. Advertising consent, if ads are enabled, is managed separately by the operator’s certified CMP.

Privacy policy

After allowing external media, choose the trailer button to load its player.