After attending David Mamet’s interview this evening, I am excited to read his play, Oleana. In a deep Chicagoan accent, Mamet made every one of his responses witty, sarcastic, and humorous. With over 50 plays and 25 screen plays under his belt, this writer and director appears to bring personality and passion to his work.
(Mamet's very appearance is whimsical)
The interviewer asked Mamet how he moved from “devouring stories” to “telling stories,” and how he moved from being an actor to a writer. Mamet responded to both questions by saying that he still does or is both. I admired that response because it showed that he recognized the importance of his past. As to Mamet’s past. . . while Chicago greatly affected Mamet’s life, interestingly he was inspired most by a quote from the Qur’an to continue his play writing.
Disguised beneath his sarcasm, Mamet also gave much insight about writing. Related to our future discussion of passion, Mamet said that an audience is imperative for passion in playwriting. The audience gives a writer inspiration and an end goal. Mamet put forth a laid-back and spontaneous view of writing. He claimed that yes, schooling is necessary to learn the basics, but good writing is both a skill and gift. He said that for both writing and acting, school is necessary for the outlines but we must fill in the details with passion and experience. One learns by doing. Sounds very similar to discovery learning!
In giving advice on how to improve as a writer, Mamet pointed out that it is easy to over-write. While I agree with him in that we must keep a natural flow and spontaneity in writing, I also think that the more we edit and refine our writing the better it becomes. Nevertheless, Mamet commented on this skill of editing when he spoke about how a script writer has infinite choices for the plot and dialogue. If there is any doubt that a line will not work or, applied to our life, that a line does not flow, then we should strike it from our work. He spoke of writing as an in-the-moment process—a view I also hold since writing involves putting our thoughts onto paper. For formal writing one must outline those thoughts, but still the actual process involves impulsive feelings and ideas.
Finally, Mamet spoke about how he views himself and his past which interested me since I am still not completely sure as to what I want to do with my life. When asked what he would tell himself if he could go back, he could not think of anything. I only hope that in my future I will be able to look back and not want to redo anything or give myself some sorely needed advice. Mamet referred to himself as a “gag writer” and as both a director and a screen writer. He could not hold in the happiness and passion he has for his work, and I admire and hope to have that same fulfilled feeling someday.
Disguised beneath his sarcasm, Mamet also gave much insight about writing. Related to our future discussion of passion, Mamet said that an audience is imperative for passion in playwriting. The audience gives a writer inspiration and an end goal. Mamet put forth a laid-back and spontaneous view of writing. He claimed that yes, schooling is necessary to learn the basics, but good writing is both a skill and gift. He said that for both writing and acting, school is necessary for the outlines but we must fill in the details with passion and experience. One learns by doing. Sounds very similar to discovery learning!
In giving advice on how to improve as a writer, Mamet pointed out that it is easy to over-write. While I agree with him in that we must keep a natural flow and spontaneity in writing, I also think that the more we edit and refine our writing the better it becomes. Nevertheless, Mamet commented on this skill of editing when he spoke about how a script writer has infinite choices for the plot and dialogue. If there is any doubt that a line will not work or, applied to our life, that a line does not flow, then we should strike it from our work. He spoke of writing as an in-the-moment process—a view I also hold since writing involves putting our thoughts onto paper. For formal writing one must outline those thoughts, but still the actual process involves impulsive feelings and ideas.
Finally, Mamet spoke about how he views himself and his past which interested me since I am still not completely sure as to what I want to do with my life. When asked what he would tell himself if he could go back, he could not think of anything. I only hope that in my future I will be able to look back and not want to redo anything or give myself some sorely needed advice. Mamet referred to himself as a “gag writer” and as both a director and a screen writer. He could not hold in the happiness and passion he has for his work, and I admire and hope to have that same fulfilled feeling someday.
