O what a rogue and peasant slave am I
to the dictates
of Hollywood's ever consternating
release dates.

But no more!

Thanks to the industries changing attitude to the online publication of their scripts.

Time was a virtualista like myself was made to feel a criminal for searching out the likes of the early films of the Cohen brothers or the Epstein twin's masterwork Casablanca but as the poet says, 'the times they are a-changing'.

Studios are now as likely to publish the scripts in advance of a film's release understanding that if you cannot plug the leaks you might as well exert some measure of control over their source. It is a calculated move in these times of increased online piracy. But calculated to do what? I mean, after all, just who reads scripts online?

All this, gentle reader, leads me to my question: Would you read a copy of a film's script in advance of its viewing? Do you think it would hinder your appreciation for the finished work? Enhance it? Cause you to want to see it more? Less?

I am intrigued to know your thoughts.

If you are curious and would like to try I humbly offer forth a collection of legal, studio-hosted scripts for your consideration:
There Will Be Blood
Juno
Charlie Wilson's War
Michael Clayton
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

I should add I have done this several times myself, most recently with Diablo Cody's Juno, and have always preferred the script to the film.
You have been warned.

This topic has been moved to the better-suited "Film Criticism and Appreciation" forum...

I know it's common practice for the geeks like Harry Knowles at Ain't It Cool News, but I have never read a script for a film I haven't seen yet. It's hard enough staying spoiler free after most of the trailers that come out. Seriously though, thank you much for the links. Having actually seen The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, I would actually like to read the script and find out what was changed.

The only script I have read BEFORE seeing the movie was the script for Saved!, which I got a copy of while researching a news story on a bunch of local Christian bands that had turned down an opportunity to be in the film. It was an interesting experience -- both reading the script without any idea how to visualize it, and then seeing the actual movie several months later.

Wasn't aware of this, and hadn't particularly thought of accessing scripts at places like Drew's Script O'Rama as a form of piracy. Is it? I always got the impression that with that site at least it was keenos sat if front of DVD players writing it all down. Is that illegal? AT what point does a quotation become too long to be legal (in film)?

Matt

It probably is illegal, BUT my non-lawyerly understanding is that the violation takes place when the copy is made, i.e., posted on the website. You reading it on the site perhaps isn't illegal?