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The Matrix: The Shooting Script (Newmarket Shooting Script) by Larry Wachowski
For the first time in the acclaimed Newmarket Shooting Script series format, the screenplay for one of the most successful films in history. A surprise box-office hit when it opened in theaters in the spring of 1999, The Matrix has proven to be nothing short of a phenomenon, setting records for DVD sales, winning four Oscars for Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing, Best Sound & Best Sound Effects Editing and spawning two sequels for release in 2002 and 2003. The extraordinary vision of writers/directors Larry and Andy Wachowski is captured in its purest form with the film's shooting script. The tale of Thomas Anderson, aka Neo (Keanu Reeves), a computer hacker forced to confront his special destiny in the salvation of humankind, challenges our perceptions of reality and expands our expectations of what a movie can be. The 122 pages of the script are presented in facsimile form. Also included are scene notes about the script written by Phil Oosterhouse, assistant to the Wachowskis throughout the making of the film; 20 b/w film still photos & full credits.
Paperback
First published November 30, 2001
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About the author
Lana Wachowski
33 books71 followersLana Wachowski (formerly Laurence "Larry" Wachowski), with her sister Lilly, are American film directors, screenwriters, comic writers and producers.
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August 7, 2021I was surprised to find that this movie wasn't based on a book. If it were, I think it would have had much better built world and plot. I loved the theme and the demystification of the system so much, i think this movie create a whole new generation of fans.
September 20, 2019
4 stars. This was awesome. The Matrix trilogy are some of my all time favorite films so to find this screenplay was pretty cool. It's such an innovative and iconic sci-fi series and it's impossible to deny it's impact. The Wachowski's completely changed the game with these films and the way stories can be told and it's such a cool concept. The characters are fantastic and the action scenes are badass. The screenplay is definitely a fun experience if you are a fan of the films and I had a lot of fun reading it. If I can find the screenplays for the next two I will definitely read those as well.
April 12, 2013
The Wachowski brothers are, in my opinion, brilliant. Although I have seen this film countless times, reading the screenplay opened my eyes to details that I hadn't caught while watching the movie, and gave me a wider perspective on the entire world of the Matrix. This script is entertainment, education, and one hell of a ride into a virtual reality that will keep your eyes glued to each page, or should I say pixel, as you speed through dimensions and dimensions of metaphor, and life explanations. The Matrix had me questioning life, and gave me a broader understanding of fate. If you have seen the film, i encourage you to pick up the script, and delve deep into the ideology of "Wachowski-ism", and learn from their brilliance.
September 7, 2025
The Matrix, by The Wachowski Brothers- at the time, authors that are called Lana and Lilly Wachowski today
The Matrix is a cult movie that can be watched repeatedly and worshipped by a huge community of fans, considering it is included on the IMDB most popular films at 18, and dismissed at the same time by critics, albeit it has a good standing among reviewers, but no outstanding recognition at Awards Ceremonies.
The feature has won four Academy Awards, but they are all in technical categories-Best Film Editing, Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing, Best Sound, Best Effects, Visual Effects, and two BAFTAs for the latter categories.
A quote from John Milton comes to mind — 'The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven....’
It is relevant from two points of view; one referring to the ability the mind has to create worlds like the ones in The Matrix and the other to the manner in which audiences can take the phantasmagoria of this motion picture.
You either go along, enjoy the ride and take many of the statements, lines and exchanges as philosophical, deep, valuable musings that explain not just this world, but the other and the possibility that we all live in a…
Matrix
Keanu Reeves is remarkable, in spite of receiving no major nomination for this part, as Thomas A. Anderson, who becomes Neo and might well be the Chosen One, a reference to other prophets and Deities, from Christ to Mohamed.
However, the leader of the insurgency against the Matrix and what might be taken for a conspiracy of Artificial Intelligence controlled machines, is Morpheus aka Lawrence Fishburne, who strongly believes he has found the Savior.
This is an uphill battle against agents of the Evil Matrix able to transfer and take over the bodies of others, capable of pulling incredible stunts, such as dodging bullets and hitting opponents with astonishing force and rapidity.
The words, concepts and language used in The Matrix can be more than challenging, perhaps overwhelming at times, with ideas like: mental projection, residual images, electric simulation and scenes that take place in an alternative reality, perhaps generated only in a simulation, computer program that can make one forget…everything.
The parallel is not the most appropriate maybe, but one could think of Once Upon a Time in America, wherein Robert de Niro’s character uses opium to get high, thinks about stories in the past, only to give the impression that maybe, all that we have seen never actually happened outside the drugged mind of the main character.
The fight scenes, that seem paradoxical, especially in their multitude, in a film that delves into the real nature and the meaning of existence, are spectacular, flamboyant and to be admired as a resplendent dance by those who reject the violence implied.
There is strong support from science for some, if not most of the suggestions in the Matrix, including the one that the power of the mind is staggering, with examples ranging from Roger Bannister to experiences wherein Buddhist monks have proved what they can achieve, using their fantastic control of their brains.
Which is not to say that we can try at home to jump from one building to another, as Morpheus does and then invites Neo to follow, dodge the bullets in the manner that only the enemy machines had been able up to the moment when The One came to the fore.
There is a traitor within the guerrilla group led by Morpheus, and he is the one who kills some of his mates, in exchange for money, a superior status as a celebrity, say an actor and the cleaning of his memory, which would make him unable to remember any of the bad things that he will have committed…Reagan is the new name suggested, in an attempt to make a joke on the former Republican president-actor.
When Neo consults the oracle, he and the audience are stupefied to find an apparently normal woman, cooking something that looks like the pie and not the “normal” bizarre apparition, with the crystal ball and other paraphernalia that is usually associated with fortunetellers and palm readers.
The ordinary woman does know that a vase will fall before it happens and this raises the issue of self-fulfilling prophecies, as well as what happens next and makes us wonder later in the feature, for she tells Neo that he is not the expected Savior and that Morpheus will choose to sacrifice himself for the One and Neo will have to choose between survival and some other choice facing him.
The Oracle had some smart, profound things to say, including the ancient reference to the other Oracle, from Delphi, where the imperative “Know Thyself” was visibly written above the entrance and celebrated as the most important act of knowledge humans can perform…”the Unexamined life is not worth living”
Very soon, the prophecy seems to be fulfilling, as Morpheus is cornered with Neo and decides to do everything for the latter and fight the enemies in order to let the Chosen One escape to safety, only from here on, the prophet seems to be wrong, until we realize that some fortune telling may be there for a reason.
There are very powerful messages that we can extract from The Matrix, from the aforementioned idea that Words Create Worlds, in the words of the Harvard Professor Tal Ben Shahar, to the notion that we can do almost anything with our minds and then the paramount importance that Artificial Intelligence will have in the near future and beyond.
To end with, a quote has gone viral, together with other lines from The Matrix, and is used in all manner of sophisticated books:
“This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill—the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.”
The Matrix is a cult movie that can be watched repeatedly and worshipped by a huge community of fans, considering it is included on the IMDB most popular films at 18, and dismissed at the same time by critics, albeit it has a good standing among reviewers, but no outstanding recognition at Awards Ceremonies.
The feature has won four Academy Awards, but they are all in technical categories-Best Film Editing, Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing, Best Sound, Best Effects, Visual Effects, and two BAFTAs for the latter categories.
A quote from John Milton comes to mind — 'The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven....’
It is relevant from two points of view; one referring to the ability the mind has to create worlds like the ones in The Matrix and the other to the manner in which audiences can take the phantasmagoria of this motion picture.
You either go along, enjoy the ride and take many of the statements, lines and exchanges as philosophical, deep, valuable musings that explain not just this world, but the other and the possibility that we all live in a…
Matrix
Keanu Reeves is remarkable, in spite of receiving no major nomination for this part, as Thomas A. Anderson, who becomes Neo and might well be the Chosen One, a reference to other prophets and Deities, from Christ to Mohamed.
However, the leader of the insurgency against the Matrix and what might be taken for a conspiracy of Artificial Intelligence controlled machines, is Morpheus aka Lawrence Fishburne, who strongly believes he has found the Savior.
This is an uphill battle against agents of the Evil Matrix able to transfer and take over the bodies of others, capable of pulling incredible stunts, such as dodging bullets and hitting opponents with astonishing force and rapidity.
The words, concepts and language used in The Matrix can be more than challenging, perhaps overwhelming at times, with ideas like: mental projection, residual images, electric simulation and scenes that take place in an alternative reality, perhaps generated only in a simulation, computer program that can make one forget…everything.
The parallel is not the most appropriate maybe, but one could think of Once Upon a Time in America, wherein Robert de Niro’s character uses opium to get high, thinks about stories in the past, only to give the impression that maybe, all that we have seen never actually happened outside the drugged mind of the main character.
The fight scenes, that seem paradoxical, especially in their multitude, in a film that delves into the real nature and the meaning of existence, are spectacular, flamboyant and to be admired as a resplendent dance by those who reject the violence implied.
There is strong support from science for some, if not most of the suggestions in the Matrix, including the one that the power of the mind is staggering, with examples ranging from Roger Bannister to experiences wherein Buddhist monks have proved what they can achieve, using their fantastic control of their brains.
Which is not to say that we can try at home to jump from one building to another, as Morpheus does and then invites Neo to follow, dodge the bullets in the manner that only the enemy machines had been able up to the moment when The One came to the fore.
There is a traitor within the guerrilla group led by Morpheus, and he is the one who kills some of his mates, in exchange for money, a superior status as a celebrity, say an actor and the cleaning of his memory, which would make him unable to remember any of the bad things that he will have committed…Reagan is the new name suggested, in an attempt to make a joke on the former Republican president-actor.
When Neo consults the oracle, he and the audience are stupefied to find an apparently normal woman, cooking something that looks like the pie and not the “normal” bizarre apparition, with the crystal ball and other paraphernalia that is usually associated with fortunetellers and palm readers.
The ordinary woman does know that a vase will fall before it happens and this raises the issue of self-fulfilling prophecies, as well as what happens next and makes us wonder later in the feature, for she tells Neo that he is not the expected Savior and that Morpheus will choose to sacrifice himself for the One and Neo will have to choose between survival and some other choice facing him.
The Oracle had some smart, profound things to say, including the ancient reference to the other Oracle, from Delphi, where the imperative “Know Thyself” was visibly written above the entrance and celebrated as the most important act of knowledge humans can perform…”the Unexamined life is not worth living”
Very soon, the prophecy seems to be fulfilling, as Morpheus is cornered with Neo and decides to do everything for the latter and fight the enemies in order to let the Chosen One escape to safety, only from here on, the prophet seems to be wrong, until we realize that some fortune telling may be there for a reason.
There are very powerful messages that we can extract from The Matrix, from the aforementioned idea that Words Create Worlds, in the words of the Harvard Professor Tal Ben Shahar, to the notion that we can do almost anything with our minds and then the paramount importance that Artificial Intelligence will have in the near future and beyond.
To end with, a quote has gone viral, together with other lines from The Matrix, and is used in all manner of sophisticated books:
“This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill—the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.”
February 25, 2021
Best beginning of 21st century. It brought a shift to mind and thoughts.
April 26, 2025
Reading the script made me fall even more in love with the movie. Though it was released in 1999, it hasn't lost any of its freshness or relevance more than 20 years later. These movies will forever be pure genius.
September 15, 2024
Actually better than the movie
February 18, 2018
Awesome.
March 29, 2013
Such a revolutionary and fun read. It's much less intimidating to read, and it's easier to pick up on details. Still love it and the rest of the movies even more.
January 4, 2014
An incredibly confident and highly intelligent screenplay for the movie that changed not only how movies are made but how we perceive them. Fucking ESSENTIAL!
February 26, 2021
After watching all three of them for the fourth times each, I think I understand two-thirds of it. The rests I'm leaving to understand on my 30th birthday. And when I do, I will award me my medal.
July 29, 2023
The Human Paradox: Suspension of Disbelief and the Pursuit of Truth
The intricate dance between our fascination with fiction and our ostensible desire for truth is an integral part of our human condition. Humans, paradoxically, both crave knowledge and cherish illusion.
We engage with video games as if they were tangible realities, amplifying this pseudo-reality by sharing the experiences with others. We revel in fictional narratives, movies, and television series, allowing ourselves to be transported to imagined realms that blur the lines of our everyday reality. History has shown, as seen during the Spanish Inquisition, that people can fiercely defend and impose their belief systems, be they religious, political or philosophical.
My personal truth is outlined in more detail in my book review of "The Brothers Karamazov" by Dostoevsky; an underlying framework of optimistic nihilism layered with much of Stoicism as my guiding philosophy. However, adopting such a worldview may be alienating, particularly when associating with those who are less open-minded or those who strongly disagree with this perspective.
Our inherent human desire for social acceptance and the evolutionary impulse for survival can often outweigh our need for unadulterated truth. However, it's possible to find a balance: to coexist and interact with those who may hold different, perhaps even misguided, views about the world while maintaining a firm grip on our personal truth.
But why do humans often reject truths, even when they're cognizant of them? I would say familiarity, the desire for belonging, and a general aversion to change all play crucial roles. Nevertheless, unheeded truths have a way of making themselves known, gradually growing from a faint whisper to a relentless clamor that can suffocate our ignorant bliss - like being stuck in an unsuitable job or persisting in an unhealthy relationship or believing in a religion that does not align with your true values.
You can examine this further through Nozick's thought experiment, the experience machine, where he invites you to imagine a machine that could simulate any experience you desire. Once connected to the machine, you could experience the sensation of writing a great novel, climbing Mt. Everest, or enjoying a relaxing day on the beach - all while in reality, you'd simply be lying in a tank with electrodes attached to your brain. In other words, you could experience a perfect life filled with only pleasurable experiences and devoid of any suffering or pain.
Nozick poses a question: would you choose to plug into this machine for the rest of your life, giving up your real life for one filled with only pleasurable experiences? According to Nozick, most people would choose not to plug into the machine. This response, he suggests, indicates that we value more than just pleasurable experiences in life. We value things like authenticity, personal achievement, and genuine relationships with others - things that a machine could simulate but not truly provide.
Navigating this balance, therefore, becomes a key endeavor in our journey through life. While consciously striving to uphold and express our personal truths, it entails acknowledging our inherent need for validation and love. Through this complex dance, we can navigate the labyrinth of human desires, beliefs, and needs, creating a path that balances our need for societal acceptance with our pursuit of intellectual and emotional authenticity.
The intricate dance between our fascination with fiction and our ostensible desire for truth is an integral part of our human condition. Humans, paradoxically, both crave knowledge and cherish illusion.
We engage with video games as if they were tangible realities, amplifying this pseudo-reality by sharing the experiences with others. We revel in fictional narratives, movies, and television series, allowing ourselves to be transported to imagined realms that blur the lines of our everyday reality. History has shown, as seen during the Spanish Inquisition, that people can fiercely defend and impose their belief systems, be they religious, political or philosophical.
My personal truth is outlined in more detail in my book review of "The Brothers Karamazov" by Dostoevsky; an underlying framework of optimistic nihilism layered with much of Stoicism as my guiding philosophy. However, adopting such a worldview may be alienating, particularly when associating with those who are less open-minded or those who strongly disagree with this perspective.
Our inherent human desire for social acceptance and the evolutionary impulse for survival can often outweigh our need for unadulterated truth. However, it's possible to find a balance: to coexist and interact with those who may hold different, perhaps even misguided, views about the world while maintaining a firm grip on our personal truth.
But why do humans often reject truths, even when they're cognizant of them? I would say familiarity, the desire for belonging, and a general aversion to change all play crucial roles. Nevertheless, unheeded truths have a way of making themselves known, gradually growing from a faint whisper to a relentless clamor that can suffocate our ignorant bliss - like being stuck in an unsuitable job or persisting in an unhealthy relationship or believing in a religion that does not align with your true values.
You can examine this further through Nozick's thought experiment, the experience machine, where he invites you to imagine a machine that could simulate any experience you desire. Once connected to the machine, you could experience the sensation of writing a great novel, climbing Mt. Everest, or enjoying a relaxing day on the beach - all while in reality, you'd simply be lying in a tank with electrodes attached to your brain. In other words, you could experience a perfect life filled with only pleasurable experiences and devoid of any suffering or pain.
Nozick poses a question: would you choose to plug into this machine for the rest of your life, giving up your real life for one filled with only pleasurable experiences? According to Nozick, most people would choose not to plug into the machine. This response, he suggests, indicates that we value more than just pleasurable experiences in life. We value things like authenticity, personal achievement, and genuine relationships with others - things that a machine could simulate but not truly provide.
Navigating this balance, therefore, becomes a key endeavor in our journey through life. While consciously striving to uphold and express our personal truths, it entails acknowledging our inherent need for validation and love. Through this complex dance, we can navigate the labyrinth of human desires, beliefs, and needs, creating a path that balances our need for societal acceptance with our pursuit of intellectual and emotional authenticity.
July 13, 2025
hi, doing the "i didn't read this but i watched it and i'm reviewing it on goodreads" thing again please don't come for me
🤯🤯??? ????
been on a sci-fi / dystopia kick lately kind of (not really that much bc i know real sci-fi knowledgable people and i am not them), but have been into it more this summer. it was also scary i had to stop watching this at three separate points bc i am not used to watching movies lol.
i think i am not the target audience and it is not the right kairos... i think a lot of things would have hit harder if i was watching/reading them as they came out 😬 😬 😬 😬 😬 😬. but this was cool. i could have done with less fighting 😭. it's fine. i think we're (i'm?) just too used to the "our whole entire life is a simulation" thing for it to be as impactful as it could have been. also YEAH I'M SORRY I NEVER WATCH MOVIES I'M NOT USED TO WATCHING MOVIES AAHHHH
Not Related But Kinda Related
i have been pleasantly surprised by this english class it's not set up badly, though i don't like vuong loool
i kinda understand the art and lit "wtf is reality" last portion of the semester a little better. want medievalist professor #2 to explain everything to me as always.......
yea. i'm learning just how many movie/tv references i only understand because i've learned about them secondhand... a lot from watching dropout, bestdressed, and taking CWL lol. i am a Five Year Old i cannot do this movies are so intense omg
🤯🤯??? ????
been on a sci-fi / dystopia kick lately kind of (not really that much bc i know real sci-fi knowledgable people and i am not them), but have been into it more this summer. it was also scary i had to stop watching this at three separate points bc i am not used to watching movies lol.
i think i am not the target audience and it is not the right kairos... i think a lot of things would have hit harder if i was watching/reading them as they came out 😬 😬 😬 😬 😬 😬. but this was cool. i could have done with less fighting 😭. it's fine. i think we're (i'm?) just too used to the "our whole entire life is a simulation" thing for it to be as impactful as it could have been. also YEAH I'M SORRY I NEVER WATCH MOVIES I'M NOT USED TO WATCHING MOVIES AAHHHH
Not Related But Kinda Related
i have been pleasantly surprised by this english class it's not set up badly, though i don't like vuong loool
i kinda understand the art and lit "wtf is reality" last portion of the semester a little better. want medievalist professor #2 to explain everything to me as always.......
yea. i'm learning just how many movie/tv references i only understand because i've learned about them secondhand... a lot from watching dropout, bestdressed, and taking CWL lol. i am a Five Year Old i cannot do this movies are so intense omg
October 2, 2024
This is not a quote by Lana Wachowski whose 'shooting script' was taken directly from the book written by Sophia Stewart--The Third Eye--from which two movie franchises were born--"The Matrix" and the "Terminator". Below you'll find a blurb from that book which references this fact:
"Stewart's epic story created two of Hollywood's biggest franchises, the Matrix and Terminator movies series and trilogy. See the court documents, letters of access, registered return receipts, FBI evidence, investigation and future projects. http://www.matrixterminator.com"
All is not what it seems and when the person who is purported to have carried and referenced Sophia's book during the shooting of the Matrix by staff members on the shoot, things must be put in their proper perspective. This is not Lana Wachowski's quote. It never was.
"Stewart's epic story created two of Hollywood's biggest franchises, the Matrix and Terminator movies series and trilogy. See the court documents, letters of access, registered return receipts, FBI evidence, investigation and future projects. http://www.matrixterminator.com"
All is not what it seems and when the person who is purported to have carried and referenced Sophia's book during the shooting of the Matrix by staff members on the shoot, things must be put in their proper perspective. This is not Lana Wachowski's quote. It never was.
August 19, 2017
Когда много лет назад посмотрел кино - это был незабываемый экспириенс. Оно восхитило, тогда, в первую очередь, изумительным стилем съемки, силой визуального решения. Впоследствии пришло понимание что и содержательно кино чего-то стоит.
Тут в дело и вступает сценарий. Он наполнен множеством философских отсылок и идей, он умело дирижирует жанрами, местами действия, уместными диалогами - иногда короткими и простыми, иногда длинными и несущими Большую мысль. В сценарии отличный ритм, читая - смотришь кино - и снова не оторваться.
Главная идея - о том что все в прошлом - очень сильна, фактически Вачовски убили идею о светлом будущем. все хорошее было вчера, сегодня осталась борьба за выживание.
Вызов текущей реальности признаю успешным. Ведь кто может знать: "Может мы в Матрице?"
Тут в дело и вступает сценарий. Он наполнен множеством философских отсылок и идей, он умело дирижирует жанрами, местами действия, уместными диалогами - иногда короткими и простыми, иногда длинными и несущими Большую мысль. В сценарии отличный ритм, читая - смотришь кино - и снова не оторваться.
Главная идея - о том что все в прошлом - очень сильна, фактически Вачовски убили идею о светлом будущем. все хорошее было вчера, сегодня осталась борьба за выживание.
Вызов текущей реальности признаю успешным. Ведь кто может знать: "Может мы в Матрице?"
January 18, 2020
A superbly written screenplay for my favourite movie. Loved the action lines - very visual and creative. A true masterpiece.
December 5, 2020
The Wachowskis are a force, and their script for "The Matrix" is proof of that.
September 6, 2021
Even as just a screenplay, this is still gold
February 11, 2022
Es una experiencia completamente nueva
August 8, 2023
It's one of the best scripts ever written.
March 1, 2024
That was shockingly very enjoyable
February 28, 2021
To this day, this movie is one of the bests of its genre among the ones that got released during that time. The Matrix has created a separate franchise. The wisdom that provoked thoughts among people around that time was new. It definitely was revolutionary.
January 9, 2012
I think just about anybody on earth with access to some form or media knows about this movie. In fact I would almost bet that anybody savvy enough to be on the internet has, and who else would be reading this blog anyhow.
So I’ll skip telling you what this movie is like or about and cut straight to the review of this book, which is in fact the shooting script used to make the movie.
Why review a shooting script? Well, I’ve been working on my script’s first draft now since September and reading scripts can really help the script writer understand how to put things together as well as gleam information on how to actually write some of the scenes correctly - or at least coherently.
And the job of your script, if you are writing one or thinking of it (I’m talking Spec Script here, not shooting script), is to get noticed and get sold. And you want the cleanest, sharpest script you can make to pass the slush piles and get bought. Reading through and thinking about The Matrix script will help you with this. It is a perfect example of what to do.
I’m going to say right now that The Matrix is the best action-hero movie I have ever seen in terms of script form. It has every beat, every nuance, every detail so perfectly executed that once you know what you are looking for in an action-hero script you can see it here - done to near perfection.
And that’s why I like to read it and re-read it, to pick up on those moments and see the pacing of the movie unfold to its ultimate climax when Neo comes back from the dead as does agent Smith.
Strangely enough, once you have watched the movie, reading the script is a fantastic experience. In fact, the best way to enjoy the shooting script is to read a few scenes and then watch them. You relive the scenes and if you study each scene for relevance to the whole, you soon find out the Wachowski brothers had their act very much together.
As a script writer, this shooting script is an absolute jewel. There are a ton of different shots in this movie and it’s informative to know how to write specific types of scenes in script format. Again, you have to be careful writing a Spec script because you don’t number scenes, give directorial directions or camera angles like a shooting script does. What you do need is to be concise.
The Matrix shooting script is very concise. If you ignore the shooting script format and look at it with an eye toward the Spec script you will be fine and learn a lot as I have.
So, with an eye to studying scripts, you can’t go wrong with The Matrix. It has everything you ever want in a script to learn from. And it’s just fun to read anyhow if that is what you are after.
For extras, there is an introduction from William Gibson (Author of Neuromancer) and scene notes by the Phil Oosterhouse (assistant to the brothers during shooting). Both of these extras are well worth the read and a real bonus. I won’t spoil it here by telling you much about either though.
But I have to mention one particular scene note I liked. It is the note about the TV repair shop scene. During one take of that scene, involving Trinity, there was a ghostly figure lurking in the back of the camera shot. Nobody was there. It was later noted that somebody had shot themselves with a handgun in the basement of this shop a few years back. Spooky, but cool. Wish that take had made it to the DVD.
So, if you are a script writer - this is a must book. If you like the Matrix - this is a must book. If you want to know how a great script is put together - this is a must book.
Get it and read it while watching the movie. You may get inspired to write one of your own.
So I’ll skip telling you what this movie is like or about and cut straight to the review of this book, which is in fact the shooting script used to make the movie.
Why review a shooting script? Well, I’ve been working on my script’s first draft now since September and reading scripts can really help the script writer understand how to put things together as well as gleam information on how to actually write some of the scenes correctly - or at least coherently.
And the job of your script, if you are writing one or thinking of it (I’m talking Spec Script here, not shooting script), is to get noticed and get sold. And you want the cleanest, sharpest script you can make to pass the slush piles and get bought. Reading through and thinking about The Matrix script will help you with this. It is a perfect example of what to do.
I’m going to say right now that The Matrix is the best action-hero movie I have ever seen in terms of script form. It has every beat, every nuance, every detail so perfectly executed that once you know what you are looking for in an action-hero script you can see it here - done to near perfection.
And that’s why I like to read it and re-read it, to pick up on those moments and see the pacing of the movie unfold to its ultimate climax when Neo comes back from the dead as does agent Smith.
Strangely enough, once you have watched the movie, reading the script is a fantastic experience. In fact, the best way to enjoy the shooting script is to read a few scenes and then watch them. You relive the scenes and if you study each scene for relevance to the whole, you soon find out the Wachowski brothers had their act very much together.
As a script writer, this shooting script is an absolute jewel. There are a ton of different shots in this movie and it’s informative to know how to write specific types of scenes in script format. Again, you have to be careful writing a Spec script because you don’t number scenes, give directorial directions or camera angles like a shooting script does. What you do need is to be concise.
The Matrix shooting script is very concise. If you ignore the shooting script format and look at it with an eye toward the Spec script you will be fine and learn a lot as I have.
So, with an eye to studying scripts, you can’t go wrong with The Matrix. It has everything you ever want in a script to learn from. And it’s just fun to read anyhow if that is what you are after.
For extras, there is an introduction from William Gibson (Author of Neuromancer) and scene notes by the Phil Oosterhouse (assistant to the brothers during shooting). Both of these extras are well worth the read and a real bonus. I won’t spoil it here by telling you much about either though.
But I have to mention one particular scene note I liked. It is the note about the TV repair shop scene. During one take of that scene, involving Trinity, there was a ghostly figure lurking in the back of the camera shot. Nobody was there. It was later noted that somebody had shot themselves with a handgun in the basement of this shop a few years back. Spooky, but cool. Wish that take had made it to the DVD.
So, if you are a script writer - this is a must book. If you like the Matrix - this is a must book. If you want to know how a great script is put together - this is a must book.
Get it and read it while watching the movie. You may get inspired to write one of your own.
March 19, 2017
When I was 14 I could tell my friends that when I grew up I wanted to live for eternity in a Matrix, trying out different lives, playing Napoleon for 30 years, then trying to live as Gandalf and so on - and they understood me.
The Matrix is a stupid action movie, but set in a soft sci-fi version of a real potential future. Despite the ridiculous sides of the story, the sheer exposure to the idea that we live in a simulation, means that everyone in my generation knows what I am talking about when I start talking about the possibility that we live in a simulation.
The Matrix is a stupid action movie, but set in a soft sci-fi version of a real potential future. Despite the ridiculous sides of the story, the sheer exposure to the idea that we live in a simulation, means that everyone in my generation knows what I am talking about when I start talking about the possibility that we live in a simulation.
December 6, 2014
Shooting scripts are a great read for anyone interested in screenwriting. It broadens my perspective to compare the script to the movie or the movie to the script, and envision more precisely how the transformation occurred.
July 5, 2015
Though, yes, different from what you saw in the original movie (though very small things), but their script goes forth and allows the story and actual character development that flys clear and subtly. A good read for films, and great for fans of the series.
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September 5, 2007ba inke chand bar didam filmasho amma hich kodoom ro kamel nadidam . yeki az pichidetarin dastanhayi hast ke ta hala didam .
October 23, 2010
For the review, see:
http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/1....
http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/1....
November 19, 2014
Hello again Goodreads. Figure I'll get back into actually tracking my reading.
August 4, 2015
اشتباه نكنيد اين يك فيلم اكشن نيست بلكه خلاصه اي از حقايق عرفاني در آن نهفته است
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