Warner Bros. Releases Classic Film Scripts as Ebooks

Posted on May 1, 2012

Warner Bros. Digital Distribution announced that it will begin selling classic screenplays as ebooks. The new digital initiative will launch with the sale of four iconic screenplays: Casablanca, Ben-Hur, An American in Paris and North by Northwest which can be read on iPads, Kindles and Nooks. Warner is closely watching sales, hoping to monetize archival materials. The ebooks will consist of the actual shooting script and rare historical documents from the Warner Bros. archives. Each ebook will retail for $10.

Each e-book title will retail for $10 and includes the film's actual shooting script and rare historical documents from the Warner Bros. archives. According the release, each Inside the Script title offers dozens of chapters about the script and the film that detail the movie's development; rare historical documents such as production notes, storyboards and candid photos; and an interactive image gallery of costumes, on-set stills, movie posters, set designs and behind-the-scenes photos.

For Casablanca, the ebook includes Jack Warner's telegrams and memos, producer Hal Wallis' script and production notes, Production Code Administration letters, notes and seal of approval and the telegram from producer Hal Wallis refuting his fight with Jack Warner.

For Ben-Hur the ebook includes rare behind-the-scenes materials including makeup and wardrobe tests, production design sketches, sample matte paintings, a forward and captions written by Charlton Heston's son, Fraser C. Heston, excerpts from Charlton Heston's acting and shooting journals during filming and details about the development of Panavision and MGM's proprietary widescreen process (MGM Camera 65).

This is a fabulous resource for film buffs, screenwriters and directors. The ebooks are available at Amazon.com.

Photo: Warner Bros. Digital Distribution