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Information about American Film Scripts Online
Release 7
1. About the Database - a description of the contents of the database and its purpose.
2. Editorial Criteria - detailed criteria used in selecting materials.
3. Release Notes - discussion of current and future releases.
4. Errata - known typographical and software errors to be fixed next release.
5. Acknowledgements - thanks to our partners!
6. The Writers Guild Foundation  - a note about their role in the project.
7. Software Requirements - notes on which browsers are supported.
8. Technical Support - whom to contact for technical support.
9. Subscription and Free Trial Information - how to get a subscription or a trial.
10. License Agreement - licensing terms and conditions.
11. How to Contribute Materials or Comments - how to contribute materials.
12. Copyright and Performance Permission Statement - copyright terms and conditions.
13. Archiving - how this material is preserved for the future.
14. Cataloging Records - what kind of MARC records will be available for this collection.


1
.   About American Film Scripts Online

American Film Scripts Online (AFSO) is an ongoing project to digitize and thoroughly index 1,000 film scripts.  The rationale behind this is not only to provide access to many previously unpublished screenplays, it is to allow scripts to become part of the established corpus of literary works.  Legal, authoritative versions of these screenplays will, we hope, be consulted by a wide range of scholars, including historians, sociologists, and those who study literature.

Our research with historians and sociologists indicated that they wished to examine particular scenes and characters within a defined corpus of films.  For example, they wished to view all scenes of domestic violence in films from the 1980s.  The database has therefore been engineered to provide access at the scene or character level.   It is possible, for example, to find more than 100 criminal characters in the database and view the scenes they appear in.  It is equally possible to find all interior scenes in urban settings in the 1950s.  These and countless other topics for further research can quickly be identified.

The primary focus of the database is the written work, rather than the film itself.  It allows users to see and understand the structure of films, character development, beginnings and endings, plot points and scenes.  It lets scholars see, for example, how derivative scripts are developed.  (There are three versions of A Star is Born and two versions of Little Women.)   

Each script has been painstakingly licensed from the appropriate rights holders, so providing an authoritative source for these materials.  Our thanks to the Writers Guild Association, Warner Bros. and many other organizations and individuals for granting us permissions and for giving us permission to make copies.

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2.   Editorial Criteria

The scripts within AFSO have been chosen by the following criteria:

  • The film or screenplay won a major award.
  • The film was critically acclaimed.
  • The screenplay has historical or sociological significance.  For example, the writer was expressing a minority viewpoint or if a film is particularly representative of a movement, a time period or a minority group.
  • Within these criteria we are building specific clusters based around genres.  For example, the collection will be built around Film Noir, Silent Movies of the 1920's, and key writers such as Paul Schrader.
  • Our goal has been to include the shooting script wherever possible.  In some circumstances we have been unable to do this - typically because of licensing reasons - in which case we have included the draft script.  
  • Only feature films are included.

Such criteria are inevitably subjective, so to assist us in making selections we rely on the advice of our editorial board which includes:

  • Pamela Bloom - New York University, Librarian for Performing Arts
  • Nancy Friedland - Columbia University, Media Services Librarian
  • Lisa Kernan - UCLA, Librarian for Film, Television and Theatre
  • Pat McGilligan - Marquette University, Professor, Film Studies; Editor of the University of Wisconsin Press Screenplay series

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3.   Release Notes

This release contains 823 scripts by 969 writers.   It also contains facsimile images for more than 450 of these screenplays. Most of the scripts have never been published before, and nowhere else are they available online. We have developed the database through arrangements with Warner Bros., Sony, MGM, and with the writers themselves, including Paul Schrader, Lawrence Kasdan, John Sayles, Gus Van Sant, Oliver Stone, and many others. There are terrific new scripts that fall into the previously unpublished category, including Bringing up Baby, Drugstore Cowboy, The Lady from Shanghai, Suspicion, Out of the Past, From Here to Eternity, and Notorious. We also have included important published works from Faber & Faber, Newmarket Press, Penguin Putnam, and Vintage Anchor, including The Shawshank Redemption, In the Company of Men, Network, My Own Private Idaho, and The Last Detail.

With this release, script formatting is in the conventional screenplay format wherever it exists in the original—the preferred format for scholars who teach screenwriting and for many historians. For the occasional writer who did not conform to screenplay conventions (Gus Van Sant, for example), we stay true to the original. Additionally, users now will be able to link from search results directly to a specific scene.

In future we plan to provide many more facsimile images for the screenplays.

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4.   Errata

It is our goal to have no errors in this database. Below are known errors in this release of the database which will be rectified in the next release.

The script "Man About Town: Continuity script, never produced" is not
a continuity script. It is a draft script that was never produced.
This will be corrected in the next release.

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5.   Acknowledgements

Many individuals and organizations have assisted us in the creation of this database.  In particular I'd like to thank Eric Schwartz, Roger Mayer and our friends at Warner Bros. for their early support of the project.

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6.   The Writers Guild Foundation
 

American Film Scripts Online has been produced with the approval of The Writers Guild Foundation.  The foundation has provided us with access to their library, assistance in determining copyright status and advice on how to contact writers.  A portion of the revenues generated by AFSO goes to the foundation.

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7.   Software Requirements

American Film Scripts Online is optimized to operate with Netscape Navigator Version 1.2 or higher or Microsoft Explorer 7.0 or higher.  

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8.   Technical Support

You can contact us by:

When reporting a problem please include your customer name, e-mail address, phone number, domain name or IP address and that of your web proxy server if used.

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9.   Subscription and Free Trial Information

is available for one-time purchase of perpetual access, or as an annual subscription. Please contact us at sales@alexanderstreet.com if you wish to begin a subscription or to request a free 30-day trial

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10.   License Agreement

1. THE PARTIES: "Customer" means the person(s) and/or organization that have ordered or are taking a trial of the Product(s) as listed in Appendix A. The location listed in Appendix A is the "Site." "ASP" means Alexander Street Press, LLC, whose registered offices are situated at 38 Alexander Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. "IP" means the owners of copyright in the original materials that form part of the Product(s).

2. USER LICENSE: This Agreement constitutes a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the Product(s) listed in Appendix B. The Product(s) include(s) the data, any accompanying search and retrieval software, the documentation, and any accompanying tapes or disks.

3. AUTHORIZED USE: Subject to the restrictions contained in Article 5 below, the Customer is hereby granted a non-exclusive license to use the Product(s) in way that is consistent with U.S. Fair Use Provisions and international law, and to make limited numbers of hard or electronic copies for research, education, or other non-commercial use only; for more extended use, the Customer must obtain prior consent in writing from ASP or the relevant IP.

The Customer's rights are limited to itself alone and do not extend to subsidiary or parent corporations, or to any other related or affiliated organizations. Any rights not expressly granted in this license are reserved to ASP.

4. RESTRICTIONS: The Customer may not decompile or reverse engineer the Product(s); modify or create a derivative work; remove, obscure, or modify copyright notices; sell, distribute or commercially exploit the Product(s); or transfer, assign or sublicense this license.

5. AUTHORIZED USERS: Authorized Users are the Customer's currently enrolled full- or part-time students, employees, faculty, staff, affiliated researchers, distance learners, visiting scholars, and walk-in patrons who are physically present at the Site. The Product(s) may be used by the licensed number of simultaneous users for which the Customer has paid.

6. DELIVERY / ACCESS: The Product(s) will be stored at one or more locations in digital form. If the Customer has paid for an annual Web subscription, Authorized Users will be granted access to these location(s). If the Customer has purchased perpetual access to the Product(s), ASP will provide the Customer with the data contained in the Product(s) on a CD-ROM or magnetic tape, which the Customer can either archive or load onto a local server to be accessed by the Customer's search and retrieval software.

7. CUSTOMER SUPPORT: ASP will offer reasonable levels of continuing support via email, phone or fax, during normal business hours, for feedback, problem-solving, or general questions. Any technical assistance that ASP may provide to the Customer is provided at the sole risk of the Customer. The Customer shall name one (1) technical support staff person (listed in Appendix A).

8. PRICING AND TERM: The price of the Product(s) and term of use are specified in a separate agreement letter and may be renegotiated periodically. ASP will provide web access at the start of the term for which the Customer has paid the initial subscription fee. The term will be extended to all periods for which the Customer has paid. In the event that ASP and the Customer mutually agree to an updated version of this Agreement, the updated version shall replace this version. ASP reserves the right to cease offering the Customer the opportunity to renew a subscription.

9. PRODUCT UPDATES: The Customer will receive updates to the Product(s) for which the appropriate fee has been paid. If the Customer fails to comply with any of its responsibilities under this Agreement, the Customer may be denied any and all future updates, without precluding ASP from seeking any other remedies

10. PERFORMANCE: ASP will use reasonable efforts to ensure that its servers have sufficient capacity and rate of connectivity to provide the Customer with a quality of service comparable to current standards in the online information provision industry in the Customer's locale. ASP will use reasonable efforts to provide continuous service with an average of 28 days of up-time per month. Scheduled down-time will be performed at low-usage times.

11. LIMITATION OF WARRANTIES AND LIABILITY: ASP warrants that any tape or disk licensed hereunder is free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use. ASP will replace defective tapes and disks free of charge upon their return to ASP. This will be ASP's and the IP's entire liability with respect to this license. ASP and the IPs warrant and represent that they have the right to enter into this Agreement and to deliver the Product(s) "as is."

These warranties are in lieu of any and all other warranties, written or oral, express or implied, including without limitation, warranties of merchantability of fitness for a particular purpose, all of which ASP disclaims. In no event will ASP be liable for more than the license fee paid (whether such liability arises from breach of warranty, breach of this contract or otherwise, and whether in contract or in tort, including negligence and strict liability).

12. TERMINATION: If the Customer breaches any term of this Agreement, ASP may, in addition to its other legal rights and remedies, terminate this license on 7 days written notice to Customer, if Customer has not remedied the breach within the 7 days. Upon any termination, the Customer will forthwith return to ASP the Product(s) and all copies thereof, and will erase all electronic storage of copies of the Product(s). Any termination, whether or not pursuant to this Article 13, will not affect any obligation or liability of a party arising prior to termination, and the provisions of Articles 12 will survive any termination.

13. FORCE MAJEURE: Neither ASP nor the IP will be responsible for any delay or failure in performance resulting from any cause beyond their control.

14. APPLICABLE LAW: This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Virginia without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws thereof, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Customer consents to the jurisdiction of courts situated in Virginia in any action arising under this Agreement.

15. DISPUTE RESOLUTION: If any differences arise between the Customer and ASP relating to the meaning of this Agreement, the parties agree to resolve such differences through Arbitration or by any other means to which the two parties may agree.

16. INDEMNIFICATION: Each party shall indemnify and hold the other harmless for any losses, claims, damages, awards, penalties, or injuries incurred by any third party, including reasonable attorney's fees, which arise from any alleged breach of such indemnifying party's representations and warranties made under this Agreement, provided that the indemnifying party is promptly notified of any such claims. This indemnity shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

17. ENTIRE UNDERSTANDING: This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of the parties and supercedes all prior communications, understandings and agreements relating to the subject matter hereof, whether oral or written.

18. AMENDMENT: No modification or claimed waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be valid except by written amendment signed by authorized representatives of the Customer and ASP.

19. ENFORCEABILITY BY IP: The IP retains its rights to enforce its trademarks, copyrights, patents, trade secrets and other rights against any violation thereof.

20. SEVERABILITY: If a term or condition of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the remaining terms and conditions hereof shall remain in full force and effect and shall be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Appendix A

  • The Customer is XXXX
  • The Site is XXXXX
  • Authorized Users are the Customer's currently enrolled full-time or part-time students, employees, faculty, staff, affiliated researchers, distance learners, visiting scholars, and walk-in patrons who are physically present at the Site.
  • Nominated technical support staff is XXXXX

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11.   How to Contribute Materials or Comments

Our goal is to create a unique archive of Film Scripts according to the editorial criteria expressed above. We welcome contributions from organizations and individuals, especially if you have materials that are unpublished or of unique interest. Submitting materials to our editors is easy and without obligation on your part. If you have collections of substantial value, we may be able to pay you a royalty in return for the rights to use them.

  • If you are a commercial publisher who would like to discuss licensing materials for inclusion in the database, please contact the Editor at Editor@AlexanderStreet.com or 1-800-889-5937 or 1-703-212-8522.
  • To report factual errors or to suggest improvements, please email us at Editor@AlexanderStreet.com. Please include the writer, the document, and the page number. Please also include your email address, so that we can let you know the status of your correction.

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12.   Copyright and Performance Rights

Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that script and materials in this database are fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America, and all other countries covered by the International Copyright Union (including the British Commonwealth and Canada), and of all countries covered by the Pan-American Copyright Convention, and the Universal Copyright Convention, and of all countries with which the United States has reciprocal copyright relations.  All rights, including but not limited to professional, amateur, motion pictures, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio broadcasting, television, video or sound taping, all other forms of mechanical or electronic reproduction, including information storage and retrieval systems and photocopying, and the rights of translation into foreign languages, are strictly reserved.

Plays from this collection may not be performed without securing permission from the appropriate copyright holders, as listed in the bibliographic display for each play..  Particular emphasis is laid upon the question of readings, permission for which must be secured in writing.  All production rights reserved.  Under no circumstances may any electronic form (CD-ROM, online, or other local storage medium) be used to create production copies of the play. 

Specific performance rights information for each play can be found in the bibliographic detail display for that play.  Alexander Street Press makes no guarantee that this information is correct.  For plays where no performance rights information is listed Alexander Street Press does not warrant that no performance rights exist. 

We are eager to hear from any rights owners who are not properly identified so that appropriate information may be provided in the future. Please e-mail the editor at the address below.

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13.   Archiving

Texts produced for American Film Scripts Online are considered research materials and receive the same level of stewardship as books, paper documents, and photographs. Once complete, copies of the database will be given to all purchasing institutions, so ensuring that the materials are available to subsequent generations.

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14.   Cataloging Records

MARC records are now available for this collection. Records will point to each book, series or manuscript. This will enable patrons to link directly from a public access catalog to all documents pertaining to that publication.

 


Produced in collaboration with the University of Chicago.
Send mail to Editor@AlexanderStreet.com  with questions or comments about this web site.
Terms of use
/ Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database
Copyright © 2003-2007 Alexander Street Press, L.L.C and partners.  All rights reserved.
PhiloLogic Software, Copyright © 2007 The University of Chicago.