Stranger Than Fiction (Newmarket Shooting Script) 1st (first) Edition by Helm, Zach, Forster, Marc, Doran, Lindsay published by Newmarket Press

by Zach Helm

The only book tie-in to the major Columbia Pictures film starring Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah, and Emma Thompson, directed by Marc Forster.In this inventive comedy, a novelist (Emma Thompson) struggles to complete her latest, and potentially finest, book-she only has to find a way to kill off her main character, IRS agent Harold Crick, and she'll be done. Little does she know that Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) is inexplicably alive and well in the real world and suddenly aware of her words. Fiction and reality collide when the bewildered and hilariously resistant Harold hears what she has in mind and realizes he must find a way to change her (and his) ending. Stranger Than Fiction sustains an elaborate balancing act between comedy and tragedy as one man awakens to his true nature.The Newmarket Shooting Script book Foreword by director Marc Forster (Finding Neverland, Monster's Ball) Introduction by producer Lindsay Doran (Sense and Sensibility) Complete Shooting Script Scene notes, and facsimile journal entries by Zach Helm 33 color stills Cast and crew credits and filmmaker bios

Genres: Drama

Unknown Binding

First published November 10, 2006

About the author

Zach Helm is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He's known for his work on the films Stranger than Fiction (2006) and Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2007), as well as the stage play Good Canary and its 2009 screen adaptation.

Reviews

[Kimberly Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/St...

Love this creative screenplay!
Your Life is your Story.
Live Well!

[Costi Gurgu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good!

[Cinquantaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Dramatic irony. It'll fuck you every time."

“Dr. Jules Hilbert: Hell Harold, you could just eat nothing but pancakes if you wanted.
Harold Crick: What is wrong with you? Hey, I don't want to eat nothing but pancakes, I want to live! I mean, who in their right mind in a choice between pancakes and living chooses pancakes?
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Harold, if you pause to think, you'd realize that that answer is inextricably contingent upon the type of life being led... and, of course, the quality of the pancakes. ”

“Sometimes, when we lose ourselves in fear and despair, in routine and constancy, in hopelessness and tragedy, we can thank God for Bavarian sugar cookies. And, fortunately, when there aren't any cookies, we can still find reassurance in a familiar hand on our skin, or a kind and loving gesture, or subtle encouragement, or a loving embrace, or an offer of comfort, not to mention hospital gurneys and nose plugs, an uneaten Danish, soft-spoken secrets, and Fender Stratocasters, and maybe the occasional piece of fiction. And we must remember that all these things, the nuances, the anomalies, the subtleties, which we assume only accessorize our days, are effective for a much larger and nobler cause. They are here to save our lives. I know the idea seems strange, but I also know that it just so happens to be true.”

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully offbeat film about love, mathematics and men's fashion accessories. Helm's writing is wonderfully dry and clever.

[Letitia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glorious story! So creative, so touching, so perfectly cast and ingeniously conceived. One of my top 10 films. The screenplay should have been nominated for an Oscar.

[Ian Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and intriguing script, Stranger Than Fiction is a delight to read with plenty of humor and poignant moments that showcase writer Zach Helm's skills as a storyteller. Its unique narrative makes it a page-turner, and I see why it attracted such a strong cast.

I highly recommend reading Stranger Than Fiction, whether you've seen the movie or not.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is seen by some as Kaufman-lite and although it contains the self-reflective and self-referential aspects of much of Kaufman's work it has less self-hating and sex-obsessed protagonist while retaining the layered qualities.

It is a fine piece of fiction writing in its own respect.

[Vigneswara Prabhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stranger than Fiction, the movie, was something which prompted me to appreciate the written word and the way they move minds in a way like never before.

And I appreciate the simple, elegant, teasing, and amusing Prose with which it was put to paper.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book/move script, I read it on dailyscript.com. It was fascinating, after reading the first five pages it seemed one way, then reading on it was very different. I would probably recommend this book to others.

[Kim Van Der Veer]

I taught this with my students, and had them read the same roles as the characters each day. It became more and more fun as time went by, and it was a good way to work with this in the classroom and online.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for ENG 412R.

[Jeffrey Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

As others have stated, this screenplay tells the story of a dispassionate, number-counting guy and his wardrobe accessory. Upon hearing a voice narrating his every move, he learns to follow fate's will for him to find love and the courage to change his life.

The script's humor delivers well, but I am not sure whether it is the script alone or because I saw the film with Will Ferrell first. The story is refreshing, and in addition to my love for stories about writers, this one leaves you changed without manipulating your feelings.

Professor Hillbert's character is an endearing "wise-old man" figure I would love to meet or at least aspire to become like someday.

I especially appreciated the screen notes placed at the end of the script. Seeing other people's processes of creation helps me with my own, and adds more depth the story.

I give this a 4.5 thumbs out of 5.

[lainey · Rating 5 out of 5]

the script is every bit as good as the movie and slightly better cuz i like to relish each word and each scene in my mind.

[Azizi Rahman]

5/5

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

great dramatic theme, comes across brilliantly.