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Sam Shepard & Wim Wenders: The Making of “Paris, Texas”

In 1982, Sam Shepard (co-screenwriter) introduced Wim Wenders to his then-unpublished “Motel Chronicles”, which served as the foundational blueprint for the film “Paris, Texas”.⁠

The director used Shepard's collection of autobiographical stories and poems to capture the distinct atmosphere of the American West, including a proposed rewrite of the film’s ending in October 1983.⁠

Though Wenders initially wanted Shepard to play Travis, Shepard declined to act in his own script and instead recommended his frequent collaborator, Harry Dean Stanton, for the leading role.⁠

The script was later published in a 511-page book featuring the complete screenplay in English, German and French, alongside over 180 film stills and location photographs documenting Wenders’ visual approach and the film’s behind-the-scenes.