WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT US: Funny contrast today between two writers (or, rather, a writer and a "writer") who are giving advice to others, but whose advice really is far more interesting for what (and how) it tells us about them. First, Linda Holmes breaks down Jennifer Love Hewitt's questionable advice on love and dating. Second, David Mamet destroys a caps-lock key telling the staff of The Unit how to write unshitty drama.
As great as both of these pieces are, wouldn't you like them to trade tasks? An appetizer of JLH screenwriting tips, and an entree of profane, all-caps David Mamet dating advice?
(Hat tip: Warming Glow)
Re Mamet, I'm reminded of a passage from Sunday's NYT Mag piece on David Simon and Treme:
ReplyDelete“On one script,” Overmyer says of an experience developing a show with a different network, “I counted it up: I actually got 72 separate sets of notes — from the production company, the studio, the network — many of them contradictory.” The most memorable note Overmyer ever received was from an executive very high up at a network. “She said, ‘They’re being so unpleasant with each other.’ And I said: ‘Well, that’s drama. That’s conflict.’ And she actually said, ‘Could we have the drama . . . without the conflict?’ ”
Oh my gravy, that Jennifer Love-Hewitt story is hilarious. Genuine belly laughs at item #9 and Linda Holmes' reactions to it.
ReplyDeleteLinda Holmes has been delightful in her "I will if you will" book club series where they examine the er 'writing style' of the Twilight novels among other book club topics.
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