Script for Dead Man's Shoes?

[billydrags]

Hi,

I'm a student at Sydney Film School and i'm looking to get a copy of the script for Dead Man's Shoes, in order to study it for Screen Studies class.

Does anyone know where i could get a copy? Or buy a pdf or anything?

Thanks!

[thegooddoctor]

I think the general understanding is that DMS was largely improvised from a fairly skeletal written script (and, let's face it, the basic plot can be summed up in a couple of sentences). As such, any existing 'script' that closely resembles the finished film (and I'm not sure I've ever come across something like this) will probably be the work of a patient fan who has transcribed it from the movie.

That's my guess, at least. Anyone else?

[jill]

Dave's the best bet for an answer to this. I don't know, but like thegooddoctor says I think the films start out following a script, but the final work is a product of a lot of improvisation. I did just take a quick flick through the first few pages of the graphic novel (still available from Warp films) in case the author had been provided with a script. It's close, but-no-not the same.

[RichK]

Yep, m'learned friends are correct. The script was about twenty pages of notes, ideas and plot points, with some of the dialogue worked out and written down.

Of course we didn't stick to it!

Best bet would be if someone, anyone reading this, downloaded the free celtx software (or use final cut pro if you're flash), start the film and transcribe it all.

A-ha! Idea for the site Dave, Jill, Martin et al - why don't you divide Dead Man's shoes into sections then each person transcribes their section into script. Put them all together and then have a bit of a communal polish, check the dialogue and scene description is correct and tight then make it available for all. If it was all done on celtx it'd make sure all the formatting was correct and it'd be a simple task to combine the submissions then save it as a pdf. It's about 80 minutes long so in scriptland that means 80 pages. 8 volunteers would only need to look at ten minutes each and write ten pages, although depending on their section I reckon anything between 8 & 12 pages would be about right. Easier to divvy it up by the nearest scene breaks than exactly 10.00 and 20.00 etc.

Would be a fab resource for posterity and also give this currently quiet forum (new members excepted, hello new members) a bit of a project to keep it entertained.



**Edit** Seeing as the film is already in the public domain I can't envisage any specific issues regarding initial permissions if you compile this privately, but would definitely need to double check with the bosses if thinking of making it an available free resource online. Can't imagine it being a problem but rights issues can be bloomin' complicated, a script would technically be the copyright of whoever has all the rights to the film these days, so would absolutely need to check they were happy. This would be pretty easy to do.

[jill]

Taking a leaf from two of my role models (Simpson and Calf), aw, I hate helping people, especially f*cking students. Joking! I'd be prepared to do 10 minutes. Can't see that copyright would be a problem, if the relevant parties agreed, much better if it was publicly available. although if it was distributed through the site Dave would be libel, so he'd no doubt more savvy about such things.

[thegooddoctor]

Yep, happy to play my part too. Am on the dole so not lacking spare time!

[Dave]

This does sound like a pretty cool project. I guess Shane and Paddy are the original creators of the story, but then Warp probably have the all the legal end of things. No idea.

I currently don't seem to have enough free time. Trying to edit a new short film that I wrote (and directed by Mr Rydian Cook), and I'm not finding enough time to dedicate to that at the moment. I want to swap my current job for one where I edit and write.... even if it is transcribing someone else's film!