'Fruitvale Station' & 'Lee Daniels' The Butler' Screenplays Available For Your Consideration
Today, we present two screenplays based on true stories that challenge us to examine our views on class and race. One is a gritty, modern-day, verité standout from Sundance 2013. The other is a more polished civil rights period piece from a director who was a Sundance standout himself just a few years ago. Thanks to The Weinstein Company, you can now download the screenplays for Ryan Coogler's Fruitvale Station and Lee Daniels' The Butler, written by Danny Strong.
In case you missed it in U.S. theatres this summer and fall, here's the trailer for Fruitvale Station, a more complete portrait than the headlines and YouTube videos of Oscar Grant III, tragically known to most for his untimely death at a BART station on January 1, 2009:
Video is no longer available: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxUG-FjefDk
And here's the trailer for Lee Daniels' The Butler, inspired by the true life story of White House butler Eugene Allen:
Video is no longer available: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uBXH_DLxsU
Here are the links to the screenplays, thanks to The Weinstein Company:
- Fruitvale Station, written by Ryan Coogler
- Lee Daniels' The Butler, written by Danny Strong
As always, please use these screenplays for your educational purposes only, and don’t wait to download them as we never know when they will go offline.
Also, if you missed our previous posts about award contender screenplays available for free, legal download, you can find them at the links below:
- Despicable Me 2 and The Croods
- The Spectacular Now, Spring Breakers, and The Bling Ring
- Before Midnight and Kill Your Darlings
Are you currently writing a screenplay based on a true story? Do screenplays like these help you focus on the key moments necessary to tell your story for the screen? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Your Comment
5 Comments
Wow. Not many comments on this one. I downloaded this script to save to read later. I haven't watched the film yet.
November 15, 2013 at 5:49PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Danny Strong got a lot of flack from those who don't like his political slant on things - they make a compelling case on a number of points - but the first couple of pages and bits of dialog are worth reading. The real story could have been just as fascinating without it being turned into "Color Purple of the White House".
November 16, 2013 at 1:36PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
By the way, Strong signed on to write the last two "Hunger Games" installments. That's a major coup for the guy. A plum career making a$$ignment.
November 17, 2013 at 9:30PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Fruitvale was boring, except for the last part where the main action happens. It's highly overrated.
November 21, 2013 at 3:23PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM
Ryan Coogler, USC Film School Grad.
November 21, 2013 at 3:25PM, Edited September 4, 8:21AM