7ALTER (ILLS FIRST PRODUCED SCRIPT WAS IN IT SAYS ) WAS A JOURNALIST ITS ALSO MISTAKEN ABOUT :DOWHU+LOO BUT HIS FILMS ARE A THROWBACK TO THE 'OLDEN THAT &OR A FEW WEEKS OF MY LIFE WHILE YOUNG AND E !GE AND TO STORYTELLING TRADITIONS THAT SEEM INCREAS UNEMPLOYED ) CONTEMPLATED JOURNALISM n NEVER DID INGLY ENDANGERED IN TODAYS (OLLYWOOD (E BRINGS ANYTHING ABOUT IT ) DID WORK IN THE OIL FIELDS ON 7KH 7KRPDV &URZQ $IIDLU 1RUPDQ -HZLVRQ 6HFRQGDVVLVWDQWGLUHFWRU A MODERN SWAGGER TO OLD FASHIONED GENRES (E 3IGNAL (ILL DURING SUMMERS OF THE LATTER PART OF MY %XOOLWW 3HWHU WWWlLMINTNU &ILM )NTERNATIONAL VARIOUS OTHER FORMS OF INTOXICANTS )M IN NO POSI .EWMAN WAS DOING IT BECAUSE (USTON WAS DOING UNDERSTATEMENT AND HAD A LOT OF MONEY TROUBLE ) TION TO THROW STONES BUT 3AMS HABITS WERE WELL IT ) GOT INTO -ACKINTOSH BECAUSE IT GOT ME OUT OF GOT lRED IN THE END (USTON ENDED UP WRITING A LOT DOCUMENTED AND IN THE END VERY SELF DESTRUCTIVE BEING SUED ! COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE ) HAD BEEN OF THE lNAL SCRIPT LATER HE WAS RELUCTANT TO ADMIT (E WAS ALCOHOLIC BUT FUNCTIONAL AND RATIONAL UP SIGNED TO WRITE AN ORIGINAL 7ESTERN FOR 7ARNERS THIS AS WELL HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AS DID A COUPLE TO ABOUT THIS TIME n AFTER THAT HE WAS IN AND OUT OF h4HE "IG 2" v NEVER GOT WRITTEN WHEN A SPIRITED OF OTHER WRITERS n 'ERALD (ANLEY AND SOMEONE ELSE COHERENCE ESPECIALLY ARTISTIC COHERENCE )M TRYING lGHT BROKE OUT OVER THEIR SELLING MY SCRIPT (ICKEY ) FORGET WHO !S TO THE lNISHED lLM ) WROTE ABOUT TO BE DISPASSIONATE HERE n ITS DIFlCULT ) WAS VERY "OGGS TO 5! ) HAD BEEN PAID ) THINK EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE lRST HALF )LL LET SOMEBODY ELSE FOND OF 0ECKINPAH 7E WERENT TERRIBLY CLOSE BUT HARD TO REMEMBER AND THEY SOLD IT FOR A COUPLE OF DO THE MATH NOTHING AFTER THAT 3OMEHOW ) ENDED HE WAS A FRIEND (E HELPED MY CAREER IN MANY WAYS HUNDRED THOUSAND -Y AGENT *EFF "ERG TOOK THE UP WITH SOLE CREDIT ON THE THING n JUST MY LUCK AND MANY TIMES ENCOURAGED ME AS A WRITER AND A POSITION THAT 7ARNERS WAS MEANT TO BE MAKING ) HAD AMBIVALENT FEELINGS ABOUT (USTON FOR YEARS DIRECTOR (E COULD BE A LOT OF FUN n HE HAD A WICKED MOVIES NOT BROKERING SCRIPTS AND CERTAINLY NOT AND THEN WE GOT TOSSED TOGETHER AGAIN OVER 2EVENGE SENSE OF HUMOR n BUT HE ALSO HAD MOST OF THE TRADI WITHOUT CUTTING THE WRITER IN ON THE WINDFALL 9OU 4HIS WAS BACK IN ,! IN THE MID EIGHTIES (E WAS TIONAL MANIFESTATIONS OF AN AFmUENT ALCOHOLIC AND CAN SEE WHERE THIS IS ALL GOING ANYWAY A YEAR GOES LONELY BROKE VERY SICK LIVING IN SOME CRAPPY HOUSE THEY ARENT PRETTY &OR INSTANCE EXCESSIVE RELIANCE BY 7ARNERS IS MAD BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GETTING AN UP IN ,AUREL #ANYON (E HAD JUST WRITTEN A SCRIPT ON TOADIES AND mUNKIES TALKING BADLY ABOUT PEOPLE ORIGINAL SCRIPT BY ME AS PROMISED BY SIGNED CON BASED ON *IM (ARRISONS STORY WITH HIS SON 4ONY HE ACTUALLY LIKED AND THAT LIKED HIM AND THE CON TRACT AND THEY HAD PAID ME SOME STARTUP MONEY n COINCIDENTALLY ) HAD CO WRITTEN A SCRIPT WITH STANT PARANOID SEARCH FOR DISLOYALTY WAS ABSOLUTELY THIRTY YEARS LATER ) CAN SEE THEY HAD A POINT 3O $AVID 'ILER SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE FROM THE SAME .IXONIAN "ERG SETTLES THE WHOLE MESS BY JACKING UP MY PRICE MATERIAL !ND ORIGINALLY (ARRISON HAD WRITTEN A 0ECKINPAH WAS A GOOD WRITER BUT HE ONLY HAD ONE ON THE OLD h2"v DEAL AND TELLS THEM )LL ADAPT DRAFT ) THINK FOR *ACK .ICHOLSON 2AY 3TARK TRIED TO VOICE (E COULD JUST WRITE HIS KIND OF THING 7EST SOMETHING FOR THEM 4HEY LITERALLY SEND ME A BOX ENGINEER A BLENDING OF THE (ILL'ILER AND (USTON ERNS HARD GUYS BITTER ENDERS "UT HE WROTE THEM OF NOVELS THEY OWNED n ) PICK ONE OUT AND CRANK (USTON SCRIPTS WHICH ) WAS TO DIRECT (USTON WHO QUITE WELL (E WAS GOOD AT STRUCTURE AND GOOD AT OUT A DRAFT n REMEMBER )M STILL FURIOUS ABOUT THE REALLY SHOULD HAVE DIRECTED IT WAS TOO ENFEEBLED AT lNDING THE IRONIC MOMENT /N DIALOGUE ITS A LITTLE (ICKEY "OGGS TRANSACTION 4HE BOOK WAS A HALF THAT POINT /DDLY ENOUGH HE SEEMED TO LIKE OUR HARDER TO BE COMPLETELY GENEROUS (E WAS GOOD AT ASSED SPY STORY A GENRE THATS NEVER BEEN ONE OF MY SCRIPT BETTER THAN HIS OWN SAVE FOR THE ENDING n THE lNDING SHORT CATCHPHRASES FOR CHARACTERS THAT DE FAVORITES )N TRUTH AND PRETTY OBVIOUSLY ) SHOULD LAST THIRTY PAGES ACTUALLY n ) THINK HE WAS RIGHT ) SCRIBED THEIR INNER WORKINGS BUT ) ALWAYS THOUGHT NEVER HAVE DONE THE DAMN THING ) WROTE ) THINK CAN STILL HEAR HIM h9OU HAVE COMPLETELY FUCKED UP HE WAS WAY TOO EXPLICIT IN HAVING CHAR EVERYTHING THAT THE STORY IS TRYING TO BE ACTERS BALDLY STATE THEMATIC IDEAS ABOUT TORN THE PETALS OFF THE ROSEv (E 4HE CONTRAST WITH *OHN (USTON ) ,¶PROGIDVKLRQHG,FDQ LOVED TO ARGUE ) REMEMBER ONCE ) HAP THINK IS INTERESTING (USTON LIKE THE ZULWHLQPRUHWKDQRQH PENED TO MAKE A PASSING COMPLIMENTARY MORE TRADITIONAL SCREENWRITERS COULD REFERENCE TO !POCALYPSE .OW AND WRITE IN MANY VOICES &OR INSTANCE YRLFHEXW,WKLQNDOOP\EHVW (USTON DID THIRTY MINUTES ON WHAT CRAP ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO IMAGINE 3AM WRITING THE lLM WAS n WOULDNT HEAR A WORD IN $R %RLICHS -AGIC "ULLET *EZEBEL VWXIILVZKHQ,SOD\WRP\ FAVOR OF IT OR 7UTHERING (EIGHTS !T THIS TIME HE WAS GETTING READY TO DI "UT ONE CAN CERTAINLY SEE HIM DOING VWUHQJWK8QIRUWXQDWHO\LQ RECT THE *OYCE STORY 4HE $EAD IN 4REASURE OF THE 3IERRA -ADRE 4HIS SOME WAREHOUSE OUT IN THE 6ALLEY (E WAS SOUNDS LIKE A CRITICISM OF 0ECKINPAH BUT P\FDVHWKRVHSURMHFWVDUH PLAYING THE LAST CARD AND KNEW IT 4HEY 7KH*HWDZD\ 'RF0F&R\ 6WHYH0F4XHHQ DQGKLVZLIHLQFULPH&DURO $OL0F*UDZ TRYING TO MAKE A (ITCHCOCK LIKE PICTURE OUT OF THE ISNT MEANT TO BE ) ACTUALLY THINK YOU WERE BRAVE LAST DAYS !NYWAY WE MADE %HORZ 6DP3HFNLQSDK MATERIAL WHICH ) WASNT VERY COMFORTABLE WITH BUT ARE MUCH BETTER OFF WRITING IN AS NAR PXFKKDUGHUWRJHWPDGH OUR PEACE ) WAS DOING MY JOB MAN ROW A VOICE AS POSSIBLE PRODUCES HIGHER 4HE OTHER 0AUL .EWMAN PROJECT WAS ) WROTE A lRST DRAFT IN ABOUT SIX WEEKS AND THEN QUALITY WORK AND A MORE PERSONAL STATE A WORKMANLIKE SCRIPT n THIS IS THE DANGEROUS GIFT OF YET ONE MORE MESS ,ARRY 4URMAN AND THEY HIRED 3AM (E CAME IN FROM %NGLAND WHERE MENT BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT COIN AND 3AM IS BEING ABLE TO WRITE IN MORE THAN ONE VOICE n BUT IT $AVID &OSTER $AVID HAD PRODUCED 4HE 'ETAWAY PEOPLE WHO HAVE ASKED YOU ABOUT 0ECKINPAH BUT 7ALTER (ILL ) HAD BEEN HIRED BY 0ETER "OGDANOVICH HE HAD BEEN lNISHING UP 3TRAW $OGS ) AS ILLUSTRATIVE OF THIS YOU PROBABLY BURN OUT FASTER WASNT ANYTHING MORE THAN WORKMANLIKE #ERTAINLY HAD A DEAL AT &OX AND ASKED ME TO DO A SCRIPT OF 2OSS HES A HARD SUBJECT TO AVOID ) LOVE 4HE 'ETAWAY IT TO WRITE 4HE 'ETAWAY ACTUALLY TO CO WRITE IT WITH SUMED HE WOULD DO ANY REWRITES HIMSELF OR BRING &ILM )NTERNATIONAL $O YOU FEEL YOU WRITE WITH ONE NOTHING SPECIAL !NYWAY VAGUELY EMBARRASSED ) -AC$ONALDS 4HE $ROWNING 0OOL 2ICHARD -ULLIGAN SEEMS THE PEAK BEFORE THE DECLINE 7HAT DID 0ECK HIM (E HAD READ (ICKEY "OGGS AND GOT THE PRO IN ONE OF HIS CRONIES BUT WE TALKED GOT ON WELL VOICE OR MORE TURNED IT IN AND LEFT TOWN ! COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER ) WAS TO DIRECT ) DID A DRAFT AND TRIED TO TOUGHEN UP INPAH BRING TO THAT COLLABORATION AS A WRITER /R DUCERS &OSTER AND "ROWER TO SIGN ME UP )M AC AND HE KEPT ME AROUND 7HILE ) WAS DOING CHANGES 7ALTER (ILL )M OLD FASHIONED ) CAN WRITE IN MORE CALLED "ERG FROM 3AN &RANCISCO AND HE IMMEDIATE THE MATERIAL AND PUT A LITTLE MORE MUSCLE IN ,EW WAS HE MY IMPRESSION PARTLY FRUSTRATED AND INAR TUALLY NOT SURE THAT 0ETER EVER READ (ICKEY "OGGS MAINLY TRIMS DIALOGUE POLISH AND PROBABLY MOST THAN ONE VOICE BUT ) THINK ALL MY BEST STUFF IS WHEN LY SAYS h7HERE THE SHIT HAVE YOU BEEN %VERYBODYS !RCHERS PANTS WHICH WAS PROBABLY A MISTAKE #ER TICULATE AS A WRITER BUT 0OLLY 0LATT DID THEY WERE SEPARATED BUT SHE CRITICALLY n GOING FROM PERIOD n n TO CONTEM ) PLAY TO MY STRENGTH 5NFORTUNATELY IN MY CASE LOOKING FOR YOU n GREAT NEWS BLAH BLAH v )D BEEN TAINLY THE STUDIO AND THE PRODUCERS ENDED UP FEELING WAS STILL A VERY BIG PLAYER IN HIS LIFE ) PORARY HE GAVE ME SEVERAL OF HIS OLD SCRIPTS TO READ THOSE PROJECTS ARE MUCH HARDER TO GET MADE DRIVING ALL OVER THE 'OLD 2USH COUNTRY AND STAYED THAT WAY THEIR MAIN CRITICISM WAS -AC$ONALDS FANS DIDNT KNOW 0OLLY THEN LATER WE GOT (E HAD A MOTIVE (E SUGGESTED ) LIFT A FEW PAGES &ILM )NTERNATIONAL ) KNOW THERE IS SOME TRICK TO A WHILE OVER IN 2ENO HE TOLD ME TO GET MY ASS BACK DONT RESPOND TO PHYSICAL ACTION 4HEY MAY HAVE TO BE FRIENDS OUT OF ONE OF THEM AND ADAPT THEM TO THE STORY AT WRITING FOR 0AUL .EWMAN WHO CAN BE FUSSY BUT IT TO ,! BECAUSE .EWMAN AND *OHN (USTON WERE BEEN RIGHT BUT ) THOUGHT GOING IN THE DIRECTION THEY !NYWAY 0ETER AND ) BEGAN TO WRITE HAND 7HICH ) DID 4HIS WAS THE lRST TIME ) RAN INTO SEEMS LIKE AN ELUSIVE ENIGMATIC JOB FROM THE OUT DOING MY SCRIPT !ND IT WAS TRUE "UT WANTED WITH THE SCRIPT WAS THE HIGHWAY TO DULLSVILLE n ) WAS IN 3AN &RANCISCO WITH HIM THE IDEA OF DIRECTORS REWORKING OLD SCENES AND MAK SIDE 9OU GOT AWAY WITH IT TWICE IN THE EARLY S 4HEY mEW ME TO ,ONDON THEN TO )RELAND TO 3O ) MORE OR LESS JUMPED SHIP TO START WRITING (ARD WHILE HE WAS SHOOTING 7HATS 5P ING THEM lT ANEW )VE DONE IT MYSELF A NUMBER OF (OW 3ERENDIPITY WORK WITH (USTON 7E DIDNT GET ALONG VERY WELL 4IMES AT #OLUMBIA FOR ,ARRY 'ORDON $OC 4HE WAY WE WORKED TIMES !S THEY SAY MOST OF US ONLY KNOW ONE STORY 7ALTER (ILL ) DIDNT KNOW .EWMAN AT ALL 3TILL WITH THE WORK BUT HE WAS GREAT AT LUNCH AND DIN 7HAT FOLLOWED ON 4HE $ROWNING 0OOL WAS THE WAS PRETTY SIMPLE ) WAS STAYING IN /NE OF THE PLEASANT SURPRISES OF MY LIFE WAS HOW DONT ) WAS AROUND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOOT NER (E KEPT WANTING TO STICK TO THE BOOK AND USUAL (OLLYWOOD HORSESHIT ,ORENZO 3EMPLE RE 4HE (UNTINGTON WORKING ON PAGES LITTLE 3AM CHANGED MY 'ETAWAY SCRIPT WHILE THEY ING OF 4HE -ACKINTOSH -AN n h4HE &REE ) KEPT SUGGESTING WED BETTER CHANGE AS MUCH AS WROTE ME 4RACY +EENAN 7YNN THEN REWROTE HIM AND THEN BRINGING THEM TO HIM ON WERE SHOOTING !ND ) THOUGHT IT CAME OUT TO BE A DOM 4RAPv IN THOSE DAYS 7E DID HAVE A COUPLE OF POSSIBLE ) KNOW ALL THIS SOUNDS MORE THAN A BIT !ND lNALLY ) THINK %RIC 2OTH DID SOME WORK ON IT THE SET HE WOULD THEN GIVE ME NOTES PRETTY GOOD lLM n CERTAINLY WELL DIRECTED WELL SHOT MEETINGS TO GO OVER REWRITES n HE WAS QUITE PLEAS SELF SERVING AND HAVE THE ACCURACY OF HINDSIGHT )N THE lNISHED PICTURE THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SCENES 7E HAD MAYBE TWENTY lVE PAGES AND FOR THE MOST PART WELL ACTED ANT STRUCK ME AS THE KIND OF GUY THAT WANTED TO BUT TRUST ME ITS TRUE !NYWAY ) FELT A BIT DESPER THAT ) CAN SAY ) MORE OR LESS WROTE n BEYOND THAT WHEN WE WENT BACK TO ,! AND )N SPEAKING ABOUT 3AM YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL LIVE TO BE A HUNDRED AND HAVE EVERYBODY LOVE HIM ATE SMELLING DISASTER !ND (USTON REFUSED TO GET NOT MUCH -ULLIGAN LEFT THE PROJECT WHEN ) DID HE 3TEVE -C1UEEN lRED HIM .OTH ABOUT WHICH STAGE OF HIS CAREER YOURE TALKING ABOUT (E MAY MAKE IT TOO EXCITED ABOUT IT ALL "Y THEN HED SURVIVED MANY AND ) GOT ALONG lNE .EWMAN WASNT PART OF THE ING TO DO WITH THE PAGES WE HADNT ) THINK THE DIVIDING LINE IS AROUND 0AT 'ARRETT A 4HAT WHOLE THING ;4HE -ACKINTOSH -AN= WAS A DISASTERS AND HE WAS A BIT PREOCCUPIED IT WAS A BAD DEAL AT THE TIME ) THINK HE CAME IN AFTER ,ORENZOS TURNED ANYTHING IN n PERSONALITY lLM )M NOT WILD ABOUT BUT ) KNOW OTHERS ARE REAL lASCO 4HE NOVEL WASNT MUCH MY SCRIPT WASNT TIME FOR HIM (E WAS GETTING SICK EMPHYSEMA DRAFT !S YOU MAY INFER FROM MY REMARKS ) WASNT THING 3O ) STARTED OVER 0ETER WAS /BVIOUSLY )M TALKING ABOUT ALCOHOL AND LETS SAY MUCH (USTON WAS DOING IT FOR THE MONEY AND HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH HIS NEW WIFE MASSIVE TOO CRAZY ABOUT THE MOVIE WWWlLMINTNU &ILM )NTERNATIONAL TO THE CHARACTERS PERFECTLY FIT THE DESIGN ) WAS TRY IT AS A CRAFT RATHER THAN AN ART "UT ITS THE OLD STORY SHOULD REALLY LIKE EACH OTHER OTHERWISE THE PROCESS 2QVFUHHQZULWLQJ ING TO MAKE WORK /F COURSE ALL THIS DEPENDS ON IF THE CRAFT GETS GOOD ENOUGH IT IS AN ART IS SO INTIMATE THAT YOU WILL PROBABLY END UP TRY &ILM )NTERNATIONAL (OW DID YOU TEACH YOURSELF THE NATURE OF THE MATERIAL ) DONT THINK THE STYLE &ILM )NTERNATIONAL )N GENERAL HOW MUCH DO YOU ING TO CHOKE YOUR PARTNER #O WRITING IS GREAT FOR SCREENWRITING WOULDVE WORKED AT ALL HAD ) BEEN WRITING ROMANTIC NEED A CO WRITER EITHER FOR BALANCE FEEDBACK OR TWO BASIC REASONS YOUVE GOT AN EQUAL TO TEST YOUR 7ALTER (ILL 4HE USUAL STORY n READ A LOT OF SCRIPTS COMEDIES JUST COMPANY IDEAS AGAINST AND VICE VERSA THE OTHER REASON BEING SAW EVERY POSSIBLE MOVIE 7ROTE A LOT AT NIGHT -Y &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 9OU APPEAR TO HAVE A KNOWL 7ALTER (ILL !S THEY GET OLDER WRITERS TEND TO SPE YOU HAVE SOMEONE YOU CAN HAVE SOME LAUGHS WITH BIG PROBLEM WAS FINISHING n ) MUSTVE WRITTEN TWEN EDGE AND APPRECIATION OF CERTAIN SCREEN WRITERS OF CIALIZE GIVEN THEIR PARTICULAR COMFORT ZONES BUT )M ) CANT WRITE WITH SOMEONE UNLESS ITS FUN AS YOU TY FIVE FIRST ACTS n ABANDON AND MOVE ON ABANDON THE PAST !RE YOU CONSCIOUS OF THE INFLUENCE OF PAR STILL TRYING TO BE FLEXIBLE )M HAPPY TO SIT DOWN KNOW WRITING ALONE CAN BE VERY GRIM AND MOVE ON 4HIS WENT ON ABOUT THREE YEARS TICULAR OLD TIME SCREEN WRITERS AND WRITE AN ORIGINAL AN ORIGINAL ON SPEC OR AFTER A )N THE PAST )VE ONLY WRITTEN WITH AS OPPOSED TO &UNNY THING ONCE ) WAS ABLE TO FINISH A SCRIPT ) 7ALTER (ILL ) DID SOME HOMEWORK 9OU OWE IT TO PITCH ONE OF THE FIRST RULES ) LEARNED BUT HAVE BRO HAVE WORKED WITH THREE GUYS n $AVID 'ILER ,ARRY WAS ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING AT IT RIGHT AWAY THE CRAFT "ORDEN #HASE ,AMAR 4ROTTI "EN (ECHT KEN MANY TIMES n NEVER WRITE FOR FREE AND NEVER 'ROSS ,UKAS (ELLER 7ITH $AVID WE USUALLY ENDED &ILM )NTERNATIONAL ) DONT MEAN THE FORMAT SO PROBABLY THE CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THE MULTI VOICE USE YOUR OWN MONEY TO BUY A PROJECT OR ADAPT UP WORKING IN HOTELS WITH PLENTY OF TIME FOR 46 MUCH ) MEAN THE ESSENCE OF IT AS WELL AS THE KIND SCREENWRITER 0RESTON 3TURGES ;2OBERT= 2ISKIN FROM A SOURCE ) LIKE CO WRITERS FOR ALL THE REASONS SPORTS AND LONG DINNERS WHERE ALCOHOL WAS SERVED OF STYLE YOU PREFERRED 7ERE YOU INFLUENCED BY SPE AND OF COURSE (AWKS n WHO WAS A WRITERDIRECTOR YOUVE MENTIONED BUT )VE DISCOVERED THERERE VERY ,ATELY HE AND ) HAVE WORKED AT HIS PLACE UP IN THE CIFIC SCRIPTS THOUGH HES USUALLY NOT BILLED THAT WAY ) DONT PRE FEW PEOPLE ) CAN WORK WITH )TS JUST SUCH A DELICATE HILLS n THATS WHERE WE DID 5NDISPUTED ,U 7ALTER (ILL !LEX *ACOBS SCRIPT OF 0OINT "LANK TEND TO BE A SCHOLAR ABOUT THE HISTORY AND EVOLUTION THING YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH NOT WAS A REVELATION (E WAS A FRIEND WONDER OF SCREENWRITING AND ) THINK YOU HAVE TO APPROACH THAT YOU WONT HAVE SOME ROARING DISCUSSIONS n YOU 7KH:DUULRUV SRVWHUDUW FUL GUY LOOKED LIKE A PIRATE FUNNY AND CRAZY 4HIS REVELATION CAME ABOUT DESPITE A CHARACTER FLAW OF MINE ) HAVE ALWAYS HAD DIFFICULTY BEING COMPLI MENTARY TO PEOPLE WHOSE WORK ) ADMIRE WHEN FACE TO FACE WITH THEM 4HIS IS NOT THE NORM IN (OLLYWOOD WHERE EFFUSIVENESS IS GENERALLY A GIVEN !NYWAY A MUTUAL FRIEND TOLD !LEX HOW MUCH ) AD MIRED 0OINT "LANK AND *OHN "OORMAN !LEX THEN VERY GRACIOUSLY GAVE ME A COPY OF THE SCRIPT 4HIS WAS ABOUT THE TIME HE WAS DOING 4HE 3EVEN 5PS !NYWAY BY NOW )D BEEN MAKING A LIVING AS A +DUG7LPHV SCREENWRITER FOR MAYBE TWO OR THREE YEARS AND HAD GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE ) WAS DISSATISlED WITH THE 3RH 6WURWKHU 0DUWLQ &KDQH\ STANDARD FORM SCRIPTS WERE WRITTEN IN n THEY JUST ALL &KDUOHV%URQVRQ SEEMED TO BE A KIND OF SUB LITERARY BLUEPRINT FOR DQG6SHQFHU SHOOTING A PICTURE AND GENERALLY HAD NO PERSONAL ´6SHHG´:HHG VOICE -INE WERE TIGHTER AND TERSER THAN THE AVER -DPHV&REXUQ AGE BUT ) WAS STILL WORKING WITHIN THE INDUSTRY SUHSDUHIRUDQ LOOHJDO¿JKWLQWKH TEMPLATE AND NOT TOO HAPPY ABOUT IT !LEXS SCRIPT VWUHHWVGXULQJWKH JUST KNOCKED ME OUT NOT EASY TO DO IT WAS BOTH 'HSUHVVLRQ PLAYABLE AND LITERARY 7RITTEN IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY THAN STANDARD FORMAT LACONIC ELLIPTICAL SUG 'ULYHU GESTIVE RATHER THAN EXPLICIT BOLD IN THE IMPLIED EDITORIAL STYLE ) THOUGHT !LEXS SCRIPT WAS A PERFECT 7KH'HWHFWLYH %UXFH'HUQ COMPLIMENT TO THE MATERIAL HARD TOUGH AND SMART KDUDVVHHV7KH n MY ABSOLUTE IDEALS THEN 3O MUCH OF THE WRIT 'ULYHU 5\DQ ING THAT WAS GENERALLY PRAISED INSIDE THE BUSINESS 2¶1HDO SEEMED TO ME SOFT AND VASTLY OVERSTATED n VASTLY OVER SENTIMENTAL 4HEN AND NOW ) HAVENT CHANGED MY OPINIONS ABOUT THAT "UT ) HAVE CHANGED THEM ABOUT THE PRESENTATIONAL STYLE !NYWAY ) IMMEDIATELY RESOLVED TO TRY TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION THAT !LEX HAD SHOWN AND ) WORKED OUT MY OWN APPROACH IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS ) TRIED TO WRITE IN AN EXTREMELY SPARE ALMOST (AIKU STYLE "OTH STAGE DIRECTIONS AND DIALOGUE 3OME OF IT WAS A BIT PRETENTIOUS n BUT AT OTHER TIMES ) THOUGHT IT WORKED PRETTY WELL ) NOW REALIZE A LOT OF THIS WAS BEING A YOUNG GUY WHO WANTED TO THROW ROCKS AT WINDOWS &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 7HAT SCRIPTS DID YOU WRITE IN THAT PARTICULAR STYLE 7ALTER (ILL (ARD 4IMES WAS THE FIRST AND ) THINK MAYBE THE BEST !LIEN n THE FIRST DRAFT THEN WHEN $AVID AND ) REWROTE IT WE LEFT IT IN THAT STYLE 4HE $RIVER WHICH ) THINK WAS THE PURIST SCRIPT THAT ) EVER WROTE AND 4HE 7ARRIORS 4HE CLEAN NARRATIVE DRIVE OF THE MATERIAL AND THE SPLASH PANEL APPROACH WWWlLMINTNU &ILM )NTERNATIONAL KAS AND ) ALWAYS WORKED OUT AT MY BEACH HOUSE 7E ,ARRY HAD A PROJECT SET IN 3AN 0EDRO ABOUT STREET GREAT AND THAT TOOK CARE OF IT 3TROTHER COULD BE &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 7AS THE SCRIPT PROCESS ON THE PICTURE WITH ;.ICK= .OLTE 3UDDENLY EVERYTHING :ULWHU'LUHFWRU ALSO MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR 46 SPORTS AND DINNER lGHTING FOR MONEY (E HAD DEVELOPED A SCRIPT FROM VERY WASPISH BUT HE WAS A GENTLE SOUL (E GAVE ME (23 ACRIMONIOUS HAD BROKEN RIGHT AND ,ARRY PUT THE MOVIE TOGETH ,ARRY AND ) USUALLY WORKED AT WHATEVER STUDIO WAS &ILM )NTERNATIONAL (ARD 4IMES HOW MUCH OF A A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE n IT WAS CONTEMPORARY AND A SPECIAL EDITION OF 7HITMAN WHEN WE FINISHED ) 7ALTER (ILL (23 STARTED OUT AS AN IDEA BY ER A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A PERSISTENT PRODUCER n ,ARRY PAYING US THEN WED EACH GO OFF AND WRITE THEN STRUGGLE WAS IT TO GET YOUR FIRST DIRECTING JOB PRETTY ROUGH STUFF n VERY !)0 ) THOUGHT MAYBE WAS SORRY WE NEVER GOT TO WORK TOGETHER AGAIN 4HE ,ARRY 'ORDON )N THE ORIGINAL STORY THE GOVERNOR NEVER QUIT ON IT 7E SHOT THE lLM SEVEN YEARS AFTER WED HOOK UP THE NEXT DAY /BVIOUSLY YOU WORK 7ALTER (ILL ) MET ,ARRY 'ORDON IN THE SPRING OF IF YOU DID IT MORE LIKE A 7ESTERN WITH A KIND OF CAMERAMAN 0HIL ,ATHROP HELPED ME ENORMOUSLY OF ,OUISIANAS DAUGHTER WAS KIDNAPPED BY A VICIOUS 2OGER HAD WRITTEN HIS DRAFT WITH PEOPLE BECAUSE THEYRE GIVING YOU SOMETHING n HE WAS RUNNING !)0 THEN AND HE TOLD MYTHOPOETIC HERO IT MIGHT TAKE THE EDGE OFF n GIVE &ILM )NTERNATIONAL (OW MUCH OF A SWITCH WAS IT CRIMINAL WHO STRAPPED DYNAMITE TO HER HEAD AND 5P TO THIS POINT THERE WASNT ANY ACRIMONY THAT THAT YOU THINK IS GOING TO MAKE IT BETTER ME HED GIVE ME A SHOT AT DIRECTING IF )D WRITE A IT A CHANCE TO COME UP MARKET ,ARRY WENT WITH GOING FROM WRITER TO WRITER DIRECTOR ANNOUNCED TO THE WORLD THERE WERE FORTY EIGHT ) KNEW ABOUT "UT ONCE WE HAD A START DATE AND $AVIDS THE BEST DIALOGUE WRITER )VE EVER KNOWN SCRIPT FOR HIM 7E HAD TO FIND A SUBJECT OBVIOUSLY THAT SO WE MADE IT PERIOD n SET IT IN .EW /RLEANS 7ALTER (ILL .OT A LOT 3OME PEOPLE HAVE A KNACK HOURS TO PAY THE RANSOM OR +!"//- 3OLVING ,ARRY 'ROSS CAME IN TO HELP ME TUNE THE SCRIPT UP !ND HES GOT A MARVELOUS CAPACITY FOR COMING UP n SOMETHING THAT APPEALED TO BOTH OF US n THEN HE ,ARRY HAD SPENT A LOT OF TIME THERE HE WENT TO LAW FOR IT n ) THINK ) FIT THAT CATEGORY 7HAT ) THINK IS THIS DILEMMA WAS OBVIOUSLY A JOB FOR THE MEANEST THEN IT GOT PRETTY ROUGH AND STAYED THAT WAY UNTIL WITH THE UNEXPECTED n A U TURN THATS NOVEL BUT AT MOVED OVER TO #OLUMBIA ,ARRY WAS GOING TO HAVE SCHOOL AT 4ULANE (E KNEW A LOT ABOUT THE CITY AND DEPLORABLE IS THE NOTION THAT DIRECTING IS AN EXTEN COP IN .EW /RLEANS WHO GOES TO THE WORST PRISON THE MOVIE CAME OUT IN THE lRST PART OF $ECEMBER THE SAME TIME UNDERLINES WHAT YOURE TRYING TO DO HIS OWN UNIT THAT SPECIALIZED IN LOW BUDGET ACTION ) THOUGHT ) KNEW A LOT ABOUT EVERYTHING LAUGHS SION OF A WRITING CAREER AND THAT THOSE WHO DONT IN ,OUISIANA AND GETS OUT THE MOST VICIOUS CRIMINAL 7E STARTED SHOOTING IN THE MIDDLE OF -AY IF ) RE WITH THE MATERIAL ! LOT OF THE TIME HELL PRESENT IT FILMS !NYWAY ) GUESS ) TOOK A DEEP BREATH n A SUBJECT MAKE THE JUMP ARE SOMEHOW THE LESS FOR IT IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE A #AJUN FOR HIS SPECIAL MEMBER CORRECTLY WITH ABOUT A SEVEN WEEK PREP AS A JOKE AND ITLL TURN OUT TO BE A GREAT IDEA ,IKE ,ARRY IS ONE OF THE GREAT CHARACTERS FROM -IS MATTER ) LOVED A PRODUCER ) RESPECTED A DEAL THAT &ILM )NTERNATIONAL )S IT POSSIBLE TO SAY WHICH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE DEVIOUS WAYS OF THE KIDNAP ,ARRY 'ORDON WAS BUSY ON A LOT OF HIS PROJECTS SO IN !LIEN WHEN THE )AN (OLM CHARACTER WAS REVEALED SISSIPPI OBSTREPEROUS HIGH DECIBEL TOUGH BUSI SAID ) COULD DIRECT n HERE WAS MY CHANCE NO EXCUSES OF YOUR FILMS WAS MADE WITH THE GREATEST CREATIVE PER WHO COINCIDENTALLY USED TO BE HIS CELLMATE HE HAD *OEL 3ILVER WHO WORKED FOR HIM PRODUCE TO BE A DROID n THAT WAS $AVID NESSMAN REAL SMART AND CAN MAKE YOU LAUGH FOR ALLOWED ) WROTE A DRAFT THEN REWROTE IT FOUR OR lVE FREEDOM 4HE COP AND THE CON DONT GET ALONG VERY WELL BUT THE MOVIE ON A DAILY BASIS WHILE HE ;,ARRY= OVERSAW ,UKAS WAS ALSO A GREAT FRIEND n ) MISS HIM VERY HOURS 4HE lRST THING HE TOLD ME WAS THAT HE DIDNT TIMES BEFORE ) lNALLY GOT IT "UT ) DID GET IT AND ) 7ALTER (ILL ) CANT HONESTLY SAY )VE EVER HAD A LOT FINALLY HARD JUSTICE IS DONE TO THE MISCREANT 6ERY WHAT WAS GOING ON MUCH n HE WAS JUST REALLY GOOD AT EVERYTHING ABOUT lGURE HE WAS TAKING MUCH OF A CHANCE ON ME AS A KNEW IT ) KNEW IT WAS GOING TO GET AN ACTOR AND OF PRODUCER INTERFERENCE ,ARRY AND ) USED TO HAVE HARD JUSTICE !S YOU CAN SEE IN SOME WAYS THINGS &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 3O ,ARRY REMAINED ACTIVE ON SCREENWRITING #ONSTRUCTION 3TORY $IALOGUE DIRECTOR ) COULDNT BE ANY WORSE THAN THE ONES HED GET MADE FIGHTS BUT THEY WERE ALWAYS COUCHED IN GOOD HU CHANGED A BIT !ND IN SOME WAYS THEY DIDNT ) THE PROJECT 4HEME ! TERRIlC ADAPTOR HE HAD TO HAVE SOURCE BEEN WORKING WITH AT !)0 AND AT LEAST HED HAVE A &ILM )NTERNATIONAL (OW MUCH OF A STRUGGLE WAS IT MOR AND RESPECT !ND WHEN HE DISAGREED WITH ME GUESS THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF MY JUVENILE SENSE 7ALTER (ILL 9EAH 6ERY MUCH SO ) THINK (23 MATERIAL /THER THAN THAT HE HAD ALL THE BASES COV SHOT AT GETTING A GOOD SCRIPT ) WAS IN THAT BULLSHIT TO HOLD ON TO THE JOB AND DO IT PROPERLY HE NEVER WENT TO THE STUDIO BEHIND MY BACK 4O A OF HEROICS BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH )M POKING A LITTLE WAS OUR FOURTH MOVIE TOGETHER AND BY NOW WE WERE ERED 4HREE TO lVE PAGES A DAY THEN PASS THE BOTTLE hHOT WRITERv PHASE COMING OFF 4HE 'ETAWAY SO WE 7ALTER (ILL ) SHOT IT IN THIRTY EIGHT DAYS )T SEEMED LOT OF PEOPLE ,ARRYS A BIT OF A ROUGH CHARACTER BUT FUN HERE ) LOVED THE BASIC NOTION OF THE STORY 2IGHT GREAT FRIENDS 4HIS WAS ABOUT THE TIME $ON 3IMPSON ,ARRY IS AN UNAPOLOGETIC INTELLECTUAL 6ERY RARE IN MADE A DEAL WRITE FOR SCALE DIRECT FOR SCALE AND LIKE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF ) GOT ALONG PRETTY WELL ) ALWAYS FOUND HIM TO BE MORE THAN HONORABLE ) FROM THE FIRST WAS CARRYING WATER FOR %ISNER $ON WAS 0RESIDENT OR SHOW BUSINESS %XTREMELY WELL READ THEY COULDNT MAKE THE PICTURE WITHOUT ME 3O IT WITH ;#HARLES= "RONSON NOT SO WELL WITH ;*AMES= HAVENT ALWAYS DONE SO WELL WITH THE STUDIOS 2OGER 3POTTISWOODE WROTE ONE OF THE EARLY 6ICE 0RESIDENT IN CHARGE OF THE 7ESTERN 5NIVERSE %XTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF WAS A GOOD BARGAIN FOR EVERYBODY THEY GOT ME #OBURN LOVED 3TROTHER -ARTIN ) HAD WRITTEN A &ILM )NTERNATIONAL %VEN IN THAT PERIOD IN THE DRAFTS WHILE HE WAS LIVING AT MY HOUSE UP OFF -UL SOMETHING LIKE THAT n ONE OF THOSE PHONY TITLES THEY lLM (ES VERY GOOD AT KEEPING SCENES ON THE THE CHEAP AND ) GOT A SHOT AT DIRECTING 4HE TRUTH IS ) RATHER EXOTIC CHARACTER 3TROTHER ASKED ME IF HE S HOLLAND n RIGHT AFTER WE HAD lNISHED (ARD 4IMES GIVE EACH OTHER ! FEW MONTHS LATER THEY FIRED $ON MATIC TRACT 7ELL DISCUSS SOMETHING AND HELL THEN WOULDVE PAID THEM FOR THE CHANCE COULD JUST PLAY IT LIKE 4ENNESSEE 7ILLIAMS ) SAID 7ALTER (ILL 4HE FIRST TWO FILMS WENT OKAY n WHEN 2OGER WAS THE EDITOR ON THE lLM HE WANTED TO DI AND MADE HIM A PRODUCER n THE WAY HE LIVED MADE CITE A MOMENT FROM $OSTOEVSKY "ORGES 9EATS OR ) TURNED MY CUT OVER TO #OLUMBIA ON (ARD 4IMES RECT AND ,ARRY AND ) ENCOURAGED HIM TO WRITE HIS THEM NERVOUS !NYWAY $ON WOULD GET %ISNERS SOME SUCH TO ILLUSTRATE IT THEN WE SIT THERE AND TRY THEY HAD TWO LITTLE NOTES ) SAID NO AND THEY SAID WAY INTO THE JOB "ILL +ERBY WROTE A DRAFT AS DID A NOTES AND TRANSMIT THEM TO ME 4HEY WERE USU TO lGURE OUT HOW TO STEAL IT LAUGHS FINE ) HAD SOME REAL FIGHTS WITH -ICHAEL %ISNER ON COUPLE OF OTHER GUYS n THE PROJECT MOVED FROM #O ALLY INCOHERENT MORE OR LESS DEPENDING UPON THE &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 0EOPLE ALWAYS SAY THAT WRITING 7KH/RQJ5LGHUV 4HE 7ARRIORS AND A FEW YEARS LATER ON (23 "UT LUMBIA TO 0ARAMOUNT 4HEN 4RACY +EENAN 7YNN AMOUNT OF DRUGS $ON HAD INGESTED !T SOME POINT IS A LONELY PROFESSION BUT DIRECTING ALTHOUGH YOU ,ARRY ALWAYS SMOOTHED THEM OUT AS BEST AS POS WROTE A DRAFT ) GUESS THEN IT WAS MY TURN ) WROTE THE STUDIO FIGURED OUT THIS SYSTEM ARE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE IS ALSO A SOLO ACT ) CAN 5LJKW 7KHERWFKHGUREEHU\ SIBLE A QUICK DRAFT THAT TOOK IT IN ANOTHER DIRECTION WASNT SO HOT 3O 2ICARDO -ES FIGURE OUT WHAT MIGHT BE PROFESSIONALLY REQUIRED &ILM )NTERNATIONAL $O YOU LIKE %ISNER 4HIS WAS MEANT TO BE FOR %ASTWOOD ,ARRY GOT TRES STARTED DOING THE NOTES n BUT WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGICALLY NECESSARY FOR A WRITER %HORZ %DQGRIEURWKHUV)URP 7ALTER (ILL ) LIKE HIM ABOUT AS WELL AS HE LIKES ME HIM INTERESTED IN THE STORY BUT #LINT WANTED AND $ON JUST SIGNED THEM )TS TO MAKE THE LEAP TO BEING A DIRECTOR WKHOHIW &ROH WWWlLMINTNU &ILM )NTERNATIONAL LOUSY 7HEN ) DID THE GUNFIGHT SCENE IN THE HOTEL RIES IS ACTUALLY QUITE ACCURATE IF ONE SUBSTITUTES THE RIGHTS AND KICKED IT AROUND FOR A FEW WEEKS TRYING WHERE .ICK FACES OFF WITH *IMMY 2EMAR n ) THINK WORD hTHEMEv FOR hSTORIESv TO lGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT 2EMEMBER NEITHER IT WAS THE FIRST OR SECOND WEEK AFTER WE GOT BACK TO &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 3PEAKING OF MEGA HITS CAN YOU OF US WAS A REAL SCI l WRITER OR A HORROR WRITER BUT ,! THEY THE EXECUTIVES WENT TO DAILIES AND SAID CLARIFY YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE !LIEN SERIES WE WERE ARROGANT ENOUGH TO THINK WE UNDERSTOOD )D NEVER WORK AT 0ARAMOUNT AGAIN 7ALTER (ILL ) GENERALLY DUCK ANSWERING !LIEN QUES HOW THE GENRES WORKED &IRST WE GAVE THE ORIGINAL &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 7HY TIONS IN INTERVIEWS n SO MUCH OF IT ENDED UP ACRI SCREENPLAY TO THE STUDIO WE HAD A DEAL WITH &OX 7ALTER (ILL 4OO VIOLENT 4HEY THOUGHT IT WOULD MONIOUSLY AND WHEN YOU GIVE YOUR SIDE IT USUALLY THEY READ IT AND PASSED ACTUALLY IT HAD BEEN PREVI KILL THE HUMOR COMES OUT SOUNDING TOTALLY SELF SERVING OUSLY SUBMITTED TO THEM SO TECHNICALLY THEY PASSED &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 9OU DID WORK AT 0ARAMOUNT &ILM )NTERNATIONAL !LIEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU TWICE BUT WE JUST DIDNT WANT TO LET IT GO 7E BE AGAIN FUNCTIONED AS A PRODUCER LIEVED THAT IF YOU GOT RID OF A LOT OF THE JUNK n THEY 7ALTER (ILL 9EAH "UT THEY WERE ALL GONE 7ALTER (ILL 9ES 4HIS IS COMPLICATED n MAINLY )LL HAD PYRAMIDS AND HIEROGLYPHICS ON THE PLANETOID A &ILM )NTERNATIONAL $ID THEY REALLY WANT TO FIRE TRY TO TALK NOT AS A PRODUCER BUT AS A WRITER n HOW LOT OF VON $ÛNIKEN CRAP AND A LOT OF BAD DIALOGUE %DDIE -URPHY EVER IN THIS CASE ITS DIFFICULT TO SEPARATE n THAT WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE LEFT MIGHT BE A VERY 7ALTER (ILL 9ES "UT THAT WASNT %ISNER 3EVERAL OF $AVID AND ) HAD FORMED A PRODUCTION COMPANY GOOD VERY PRIMAL SPACE SURVIVAL STORY &INALLY ) THE EXECUTIVES DIDNT THINK %DDIE WAS FUNNY /R TO WITH 'ORDON #ARROLL n THIS WAS ABOUT SAID )D GIVE THE FUCKER A RUN THROUGH IT WAS NOW +56 BE PRECISE THEY DIDNT THINK HE WAS LIKE 2ICHARD !BOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER WE STARTED ) WAS GIVEN A AROUND #HRISTMAS HOLIDAYS $AVID WAS GOING OFF $ERYH &RQYLFW 5HJJLH +DPPRQG (GGLH 0XUSK\ 0RYOR WHO WAS THE DEFINITION OF FUNNY BLACK MAN SCRIPT CALLED !LIEN BY A FELLOW ) KNEW -ARK (AG TO (ONG +ONG WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND BUT BEFORE HE LEFT DQGFRS-DFN&DWHV 1LFN1ROWH WU\LQJWRRXWVWDUH AT THAT TIME ) SHOWED %ISNER SOME CUT FOOTAGE AND GARD INTERESTING GUY A REAL *OHN &ORD EXPERT WHO WE THRASHED IT OUT PRETTY GOOD HDFKRWKHU HE THOUGHT %DDIE WAS FINE BUT THAT ) WAS STILL NOT WAS FRONTING THE SCRIPT FOR THE TWO WRITERS $AN &ILM )NTERNATIONAL (OW DID THE REWRITE DIFFER LETTING THE MOVIE BE FUNNY ENOUGH (E KEPT TALKING /"ANNON AND 2ONALD 3HUSETT ) READ IT DIDNT FROM THE ORIGINAL SCRIPT 5LJKW ³,DP\RXUELJJHVWQLJKWPDUH DQLJJHUZLWKD EDGJH´5HJJLHJRLQJZLOGLQDUHGQHFNEDU ABOUT hBLOCK COMEDYv SCENES 4HATS A 46 EXPRES THINK MUCH OF IT BUT IT DID HAVE THIS ONE SENSATION 7ALTER (ILL &OR STARTERS IN THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL IT SION )M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT IT MEANS ) WAS AN ALL MAN CREW AND THE CREATURE WAS TOLD -ICHAEL ) DIDNT KNOW WHAT THE FUCK SOME KIND OF OUTER SPACE OCTOPUS n THE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT BUT NOT TO WORRY MAIN IDEA $AVID AND ) HAD WAS TO DO A THE STORY WAS COMING ALONG FINE !ND SLICKED UP HIGH CLASS @" MOVIE THAT AS THAT %DDIE WAS VERY FUNNY !S USUAL ,ARRY BEST WE COULD AVOIDED THE USUAL CHEESE 'ORDON SMOOTHED IT ALL OUT AND ) KEPT BALL CHARACTERS AND DIALOGUE 4HIS DOESNT SHOOTING 4HE PERSON THAT REALLY UNDER SEEM LIKE MUCH NOW BUT THE NOTION THAT STOOD THAT %DDIE WAS DOING GREAT WAS *OEL YOUD WRITE UP TO A @" MOVIE IDEA n MAKE 2EMEMBER THIS WAS %DDIES FIRST MOVIE IT TO BE PLAYED WITH THE SAME INTENTIONS AND HE WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE BUT *OEL AND STYLE AS HIGH DRAMA n THAT WAS OUT OF UNDERSTOOD WE WERE ONLY GOING TO USE THE THE BOX THEN !ND PRETTY OBVIOUSLY WE GOOD STUFF !ND THERE WAS PLENTY OF THAT WERE THINKING LIKE PRODUCERS BEFORE WE BEGAN TO DEAL WITH IT AS SCREEN WRITERS /NE OTHER THING n ) RESIST SCIENCE lC 3URGXFHUZULWHU $OLHQ TION THAT SUGGESTS THE UNIVERSE IS SOME &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 9OU WERE WORKING THING OTHER THAN DARK COLD HARSH DAN IN A SPECIAL NICHE OF YOUR OWN IN THE LATE GEROUS ) SAID BEFORE HOW MUCH ) LIKED S AND EARLY S WITH (ARD 4IMES (AWKSS 4HE 4HING AND ONE OF THE IDEAS 4HE $RIVER 4HE 7ARRIORS 4HE ,ONG 2IDERS IN THE lNISHED SCRIPT THAT ) LIKED BEST WAS $QRWKHU+56 AND 3OUTHERN #OMFORT n LEAN ELEGIAC FILMS THE WAY IT DRAMATIZED AND VALORIZED IN WHICH )M GUESSING BENEFITED FROM MOD STINCTIVE WARINESS AND PRACTICALITY WHEN $ERYH -DFNDQG5HJJLHDWHDFKRWKHUVWKURDWVDJDLQ EST BUDGETS AND EXPECTATIONS AS WELL AS DEALING WITH THE UNKNOWN OVER THE LOW PRODUCER INTERFERENCE NEEDS OF SCIENCE 2IGHT FROM THE lRST ) 5LJKW :DOWHU+LOOUHOD[LQJRQVHWZLWKKLVWZROHDGLQJPHQ 7ALTER (ILL 9ES THAT NICHE NO LONGER EX WANTED VERY MUCH TO GET A VERSION OF THAT ISTS 4HE MIDDLE GROUND HAS LARGELY FALLEN INTO THE SCRIPT !ND ) THINK THAT QUALITY IS OUT OF THE STUDIO SYSTEM WHAT MADE THE MOVIE SO !MERICAN EVEN 4HOSE 7HO !LSO 3ERVE WOULD TRY TO IMPLEMENT *OKES 3ITUATIONAL GAGS OR SIGHT GAGS ARE USUALLY BE 7ALTER (ILL .OT A LOT /CCASIONALLY HE CAME UP &ILM )NTERNATIONAL )S IT POSSIBLE TO SAY THOUGH IT WAS SHOT IN %NGLAND HAD AN THEM WITH SPECIFIC IDEAS 3O THE NOTES YOU WERE GET YOND THEM UNLESS YOU GO UP TO THEIR OFFICE AND WITH SOMETHING REALLY GOOD WHICH ) WAS SMART FOR YOU WHICH OF THEM TURNED OUT THE BEST /R IN $OLHQ (OOHQ5LSOH\ 6LJRXUQH\:HDYHU ORVWLQ %NGLISH DIRECTOR %NGLISH TECHNICIANS AND SEVERAL TING REPRESENTED A COMMITTEE TRYING TO ASSUAGE THEIR ACT IT OUT )VE NEVER BEEN MUCH FOR THAT 3O ,ARRY ENOUGH TO GO WITH ) MEAN HE IS A VERY FUNNY GUY RETROSPECT YOUR FAVORITE VSDFH %NGLISH CAST MEMBERS BOSS #LASSIC STUDIO PROCEDURE 'ROSS AND ) JUST KEPT WRITING SPECIFICALLY TO THE WHEN HE WANTS TO BE "UT LETS NOT GET INTO THE IDEA 7ALTER (ILL ) COULDNT SAY 4HEYRE SOCIAL AS WELL AS $AVID HAD SUGGESTED MAKING THE CAPTAIN $AL &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 7HAT DID YOU DO WITH THE PERSONALITIES OF .ICK AND %DDIE ;-URPHY= n AND THAT 7ILLIAM 0OWELL AND -YRNA ,OY REALLY TALKED AESTHETIC EXPERIENCES )F YOU POINT A GUN AT ME )D LAS A WOMAN ) TRIED THAT BUT ) THOUGHT THE MONEY NOTES WE GOT IT WHERE WE THOUGHT CERTAIN SCENES WOULD THAT WAY 4HEY HAD WRITERS PROBABLY SAY 7ILD "ILL IS AS GOOD AS ANYTHING AL SCENE n WHICH LATER WE ALWAYS CALLED hTHE CHEST WAS ON MAKING THE ULTIMATE SURVIVOR A WOMAN 7ALTER (ILL ) USUALLY READ THEM AND TOSSED THEM PLAY TO THEIR STRENGTHS 4HE BIG PROBLEM IN A SENSE &ILM )NTERNATIONAL )N THE REDNECK BAR SCENE WHO )VE DONE "UT THAT WAS YEARS LATER BURSTERv ) SHOULD PROBABLY ALSO SAY THAT 4HE 4HING n ) NAMED HER 2IPLEY AFTER "ELIEVE )T /R .OT LATER THEN AFTER A WHILE ) DIDNT READ THEM AND TOSSED WAS %DDIE n ) KNOW ) SHOULD HAVE SUCH PROBLEMS WROTE THE LINE n h)M YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE n A NIG &ILM )NTERNATIONAL !RE THE MEGA HITS LIKE (23 WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE lLMS FROM WHEN ) WHEN SHE HAD TO HAVE A lRST NAME FOR )$ CARDS ) THEM n FINALLY ) JUT STARTED SENDING THEM OVER TO ON ALL MY MOVIES n AND TURNING HIM INTO A REAL FILM GER WITH A BADGEv A KIND OF MIXED BLESSING WAS A KID AND THIS SCRIPT REMINDED ME OF IT BUT IN ADDED %LLEN MY MOTHERS MIDDLE NAME ) CALLED *OEL ;3ILVER= UNREAD AND TOLD HIM TO TELL ME IF PERSONALITY NOT LETTING HIM SIMPLY BE A COMEDY 7ALTER (ILL ) DID 4HAT SCENE WAS DONE OUT OF SE 7ALTER (ILL 4HE POSITIVE FACTORS ARE OBVIOUS AND AN EXTREMELY CRUDE FORM THE SHIP .OSTROMO FROM #ONRAD NO PARTICULAR THERE WAS ANYTHING ANY GOOD IN THEM (E HAD HIS SKETCH CHARACTER OUT OF 3ATURDAY .IGHT ,IVE ,ARRY QUENCE PRETTY MUCH AT THE END OF SHOOTING %DDIE ON THE WHOLE OUTWEIGH EVERYTHING ELSE ! BIG HIT ) GAVE IT TO $AVID WITH ONE OF THOSE h) MAY BE CRA METAPHORIC IDEA ) JUST THOUGHT IT SOUNDED GOOD SECRETARY READ THEM AND SHED TELL *OEL WHAT SHE 'ROSS AND ) WERE REWRITING %DDIE TO THE VERY LAST STARTED A FEW WEEKS AFTER PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWS YOU TO GO FORWARD KEEP WORKING "UT THE ZY BUT A GOOD VERSION OF THIS MIGHT WORKv SPEECHES 3OME OF THE CHARACTERS ARE NAMED AFTER ATHLETES THOUGHT DAY OF SHOOTING 4HE MORE WE LEARNED THE BETTER BEGAN HE WAS FINISHING UP HIS COMMITMENT TO FINANCIAL PEOPLE CONSTANTLY WANT YOU TO NOT SIMPLY 4HE NEXT NIGHT ) REMEMBER ) WAS WATCHING *IMMY "RETT WAS FOR 'EORGE "RETT 0ARKER WAS $AVE 0ARKER &ILM )NTERNATIONAL ) ASSUME SHE WASNT A TRAINED HE GOT /F COURSE ITS OBVIOUS THAT HE WAS A GOLD 3ATURDAY .IGHT ,IVE AND ) HAD ARRANGED TO DO REPEAT YOURSELF )M NOT AGAINST THIS IN PRINCIPLE #ARTER GIVE HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH TO THE $EMOCRAT OF 4HE 0IRATES AND ,AMBERT WAS *ACK ,AMBERT OF STORY ANALYST MINE OF TALENT ) GUESS WE DID SOMETHING RIGHT MOST OF HIS HEAVY LIFTING AS LATE AS POSSIBLE IN THE REMEMBER WE ONLY KNOW ONE OR TWO STORIES BUT IC CONVENTION AND WAS QUITE HAPPY TO ANSWER THE 4HE 3TEELERS 7ALTER (ILL 3HIT NO SHE WASNT !NYWAY %ISNER n %DDIE PLAYED BASICALLY THE SAME CHARACTER FOR THE SCHEDULE SO WED HAVE MORE TIME TO WRITE TO HIM THEY USUALLY WANT YOU TO GO OUT AND MAKE EXACTLY PHONE WHEN IT RANG )T WAS $AVID n HE TOLD ME ) )N A SENSE WHAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE WAS FRANTIC THAT ) WOULDNT LET THE MOVIE GET FUNNY NEXT TEN YEARS AND WORK WITH HIM 4HE ATMOSPHERE ON THE SET WAS THE SAME MOVIE RIGHT DOWN TO THE SHOELACES ) AM WAS CRAZY BUT HE HAD JUST GOT AS FAR AS THE BIG SCENE /"ANNON3HUSETT SCRIPT IS DIFlCULT TO ANSWER ENOUGH n WHICH WAS BULLSHIT "UT YOU KNOW THE &ILM )NTERNATIONAL (OW MUCH OF %DDIES DIALOGUE TERRIFIC 7E HAD A LOT OF FUN MAKING THE MOVIE "UT AGAINST THAT )F ) MAY DIGRESS THIS OLD SAW THAT )VE THE CHEST BURSTER AND IT WAS REALLY SOMETHING 3O 4HERE WERE CERTAINLY A LOT OF lNITE THINGS THE DRILL THEY ONLY THINK @FUNNY IS WHATS ON THE PAGE WAS IMPROVISED THE ATMOSPHERE AT THE STUDIO AS )VE INDICATED WAS JUST USED AGAIN ABOUT ONLY KNOWING A COUPLE OF STO BASICALLY OFF THE STRENGTH OF THAT WE ACQUIRED THE PROTAGONIST AS A WOMAN MIXED GENDER CREW THE WWWlLMINTNU &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 7AYLAND 9UTANI #OMPANY THE CONSPIRACY THEORY PROBABLY WROTE TWENTY TIMES BEFORE WE GOT IT RIGHT ROOM AND NOBODY GIVES A SHIT COLD "UT AT THE UNDERTONES TO THE 7AYLAND 9UTANI #OMPANY !NYWAY $AVID WENT OFF TO (ONG +ONG AND ) SAT SAME TIME THATS ONLY A HALF TRUTH ITS ALSO FUN n A THE POSSIBILITY OF USING THE !LIEN AS A BIOLOGICAL DOWN AND DID THE SPEC REWRITE OF THE /"ANNON GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE OLD SHOW BIZ ROUSER WEAPON !SH AS A DROID THE IDEA OF CLASS LINES BASED 3HUSETT SCRIPT )T TOOK MAYBE A WEEK !FTER THE HOLI &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 7HAT ABOUT !LIENS ON JOB DESCRIPTIONS n WHAT WE CALLED hTRUCKERS IN DAYS $AVID GOT BACK AND THEN HE AND ) REWROTE IT 7ALTER (ILL 4HIS WAS A FEW YEARS LATER $AVID AND SPACEv THIS BECAME AN INSTANT CLICH£ YOU COULDNT SEVERAL TIMES 7E GAVE IT TO THE STUDIO AND THEY GOT ) SAT DOWN AND HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THE SE MAKE A SCI l MOVIE AFTER THIS WITHOUT BASEBALL ON BOARD 'ARETH 7IGAN WAS THE EXECUTIVE ON THE QUEL SHOULD BE 7E FIGURED THE NEXT ONE SHOULD BE HATS BUT THE MOST SIGNIlCANT DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO PIECE HES ONE OF THE VERY FEW EXECUTIVES )VE EVER A STRAIGHT ACTION THRILLER n THE MILITARY TAKES OVER n A SCRIPTS WAS SETTING THE MOOD THE ENVIRONMENT AND WORKED WITH WHOS ACTUALLY VERY GOOD WITH SCRIPT PATROL MOVIE $AVID WROTE IT DOWN ON A COUPLE OF WHAT BECAME THE STANCE OF THE lLM 4HAT SAID WE $AVID AND ) THEN DID WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN ENDLESS PAGES *IM #AMERON WROTE A TREATMENT $AVID AND THEN ADDED A ROUGH CONTEMPORARY QUALITY TO THE SERIES OF POLISHES 4HE LAST COUPLE WE DID IN .EW ) REWROTE IT A BIT THIS MUST BE ABOUT FALL OF @ WE CHARACTERS THAT BROKE IT OUT OF THE USUAL GENRE MOLD 9ORK IN MY ROOM AT THE .AVARRO NOW THE 2ITZ GAVE IT TO THE STUDIO AND THEY SAID h'O TO SCRIPTv n THE hKISS MY ROSY RED ASSv AND hKILL THE MOTHER #ARLTON WHILE ) WAS PREPPING 4HE 7ARRIORS *IM WENT OFF AND DIRECTED 4HE 4ERMINATOR FUCKERv KIND OF DIALOGUE THAT HISTORICALLY YOU DIDNT &ILM )NTERNATIONAL "UT IN THE END YOU TWO WERENT THEN CAME BACK AND WROTE THE FIRST DRAFT )T NEVER lND IN 3CIENCE &ICTION MOVIES 2EMEMBER WE WERE CREDITED CHANGED MUCH AT THE SAME STUDIO THAT HAD MADE 3TAR 7ARS 7ALTER (ILL #ORRECT 4HE ;7RITERS= 'UILD DECIDED &ILM )NTERNATIONAL $ID YOU LIKE THE FILM 4HE ON LOT JOKE AT THE TIME WAS THAT WE WERE THE WE DIDNT DESERVE ANY WRITING CREDIT FOR OUR EFFORTS 7ALTER (ILL /BVIOUSLY *IM HAS A GREAT TALENT FOR 2OLLING 3TONES TO THEIR "EATLES &ILM )NTERNATIONAL )T SOUNDS LIKE YOURE STILL UN CONNECTING WITH BIG AUDIENCES ) THOUGHT HE SHOT &ILM )NTERNATIONAL $ID YOU LIKE THE JOKE HAPPY ABOUT THIS THE SHIT OUT OF IT 4REMENDOUS PHYSICALITY ) WASNT 7ALTER (ILL 3HOOT ME AS THE !NTICHRIST BUT ) NEVER 7ALTER (ILL )TS A LONG TIME AGO AND THERE ARE A TOO CRAZY ABOUT THE STUFF WITH THE KID MUCH LIKED THE "EATLES LOT MORE IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE WORLD HOWEVER &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 7HAT ABOUT !LIENÎ &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 4HE FILM IS SOMETIMES CRITI ) CERTAINLY BELIEVE IT WAS AN INJUSTICE IN THE SENSE 7ALTER (ILL !NOTHER COMPLETE FUCKING MESS 4HE CIZED FOR HAVING WEAKLY DEFINED CHARACTERS THAT IT DOESNT REFLECT THE TRUTH 0ARTIALLY AS A RESULT STUDIO WANTED TO CRANK ANOTHER ONE OUT 4HERE 7ALTER (ILL 4HATS BULLSHIT 9OU CLEARLY KNOW WHO OF ALL THAT AFTER THE FIRST !LIEN ) HAVE TO ADMIT ) WERE A NUMBER OF FALSE STARTS $AVID AND ) WERE A EACH OF THEM ARE AND WHAT THEIR ATTITUDES REFLECT NEVER FELT AS INVOLVED OR COMMITTED TO THOSE THAT BIT SICK OF IT AND WANTED TO END THE WHOLE THING n AND THEY HAVE IMMEDIACY !ND OF COURSE OUR BEST FOLLOWED THOUGH OBVIOUSLY ) WAS QUITE HAPPY AT "UT WE WANTED TO DO IT WITH SOME CLASS AND THE CHARACTER WAS THE !LIEN THEIR SUCCESS MATIC COHESION 7E THOUGHT THAT KILLING 2IPLEY ³$SHUIHFWRUJDQLVP &ILM )NTERNATIONAL #AN YOU ELABORATE &ILM )NTERNATIONAL )S IT TRUE YOUVE SUED &OX OVER n OR TO BE MORE PRECISE HAVING HER SACRIFICE HERSELF 7ALTER (ILL $AVID AND ) JOKED ABOUT CALLING HIM THE PROFITS WHILE RIDDING THE UNIVERSE OF THE ALIEN n WOULD BE ,WVVWUXFWXUDOSHUIHF HER .IETZSCHE YOU KNOW "EYOND 'OOD AND %VIL 7ALTER (ILL 9ES 4WICE "OTH TIMES SETTLED IN OUR A BOLD MOVE AND ROUND OUT THE TRILOGY 4HAT WAS 3ERIOUSLY THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS IN MAKING THE FAVOR OUR ONLY STIPULATION BEYOND THAT WE TRIED TO STAY WLRQPDWFKHGRQO\E\LWV THING FLY n WE ARTICULATED THAT NOTION IN A WAY THAT &ILM )NTERNATIONAL !NY BACKLASH TO THIS OUT OF IT AS WRITERS !S USUAL $AVID AND ) WERE BUSY GOT TO THE AUDIENCE 7ALTER (ILL ) AM TOLD THAT $AVID AND ) ARE CUR ON OTHER FILMS 4HERE WERE A NUMBER OF WRITERS AND KRVWLOLW\,DGPLUHLWV &ILM )NTERNATIONAL ) LOVE THE !SH DEATH SPEECH h! RENTLY BLACKBALLED AT &OX 3O BE IT DIRECTORS THEN $AVID &INCHER WAS HIRED 4HERE WAS PERFECT ORGANISM )TS STRUCTURAL PERFECTION MATCHED &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 7HY WAS !LIEN SO SUCCESSFUL A START DATE THE SCRIPT WAS ANNOUNCED TO BE A MESS SXULW\$QRUJDQLVPXQ ONLY BY ITS HOSTILITY ) ADMIRE ITS PURITY !N ORGAN 7ALTER (ILL &IRST BUT NOT NECESSARILY FOREMOST IT WAS n IT HAD BEEN RUN THROUGH ABOUT FIVE WRIT ISM UNCLOUDED WITH REMORSE CONSCIENCE OR DELU IT WAS A GOOD SCRIPT n SUGGESTIVE OF DEEPER ISSUES ERS UP TO THEN SETS WERE BEING BUILT ACTORS BEING FORXGHGZLWKUHPRUVH SIONS OF MORALITY v DEEPER TERRORS NIGHTMARES )TS NOT QUITE A 3CI &I HIRED n THE USUAL CIRCUS OF EXPENSIVE INCOMPETENCE FRQVFLHQFHRUGHOX 7ALTER (ILL )AN (OLM 7ONDERFUL ACTOR ) REMEM MOVIE NOT QUITE AN ACTION MOVIE NOT QUITE A HOR 4HE STUDIO AND 3IGOURNEY ASKED US TO PUT ON OUR BER ) MET WITH 4OMMY ,EE *ONES IN .EW 9ORK WE ROR MOVIE BUT SOME KIND OF ODD SYNTHESIS THAT FIREMEN SUITS SO $AVID AND ) WENT TO ,ONDON AND VLRQVRIPRUDOLW\´ WERE INTERESTED IN HIM PLAYING $ALLAS n HE TOLD ME CAME TOGETHER VIA A GOOD SOLID OLD FASHIONED STORY STARTED WRITING &IFTEEN YEARS LATER AND WERE STILL IN $OLHQ 7KHFRQIURQWDWLRQEHWZHHQ5LSOH\DQG$VK ,DQ+ROP HE HAD READ THE SCRIPT TWICE AND THE ONLY CHARACTER MOVE 4HE OBJECTIVE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST HALF BE HOTEL ROOMS REWRITING !LIEN 7E FELT WE WERE WORK THAT REALLY GRABBED HIM WAS THE MONSTER AND THAT COMES SUBJECTIVE IN THE SECOND HALF BY GETTING INTO ING IN HANDCUFFS n WRITING TO SETS THAT WERE ALREADY HED SIGN UP TOMORROW IF HE COULD PLAY IT 2IPLEYS HEAD AND EXPERIENCING THE TERROR THROUGH BUILT PLOT MOVES THAT HAD BEEN COMMITTED TO THAT &ILM )NTERNATIONAL )T SOUNDS LIKE YOU AND $AVID HER 4HE FINAL DRAFT WAS VERY TIGHT ONLY ABOUT WE DIDNT AGREE WITH 4HEN THERE WERE DIFFERENCES 'ILER HAD A GOOD TIME WRITING THE SCRIPT EIGHTY PAGES LEAN AND MEAN OF OPINION WITH &INCHER 3IGOURNEY AND THE STUDIO 7ALTER (ILL 4OO MUCH PROBABLY !ND TO TELL THE "UT WHATEVER THE QUALITY OF THE SCRIPT lLMS HAVE 7E DID OUR BEST AND WENT HOME TRUTH WE WERE KIND OF LEFT HANDING THE WHOLE TO BE REALIZED !ND IN THIS CASE IT JUST ALL WORKED &ILM )NTERNATIONAL /N THIS ONE YOU AND $AVID THING ) DONT MEAN WE THOUGHT WE WERE ABOVE THE ;$IRECTOR= 2IDLEY 3COTT DID A WONDERFUL JOB THE 'ILER GOT CREDIT MATERIAL THATS THE WORST SIN AND SENDS YOU STRAIGHT BEST lLM HES DONE ) THINK 3IGOURNEY 7EAVER WAS 7ALTER (ILL /R THE BLAME ) THINK A LOT OF THE IDEAS TO THE INNER CIRCLE OF HELL "UT WE WERE BUSY ON A ICONOGRAPHICALLY PERFECT AND HAD THE CHOPS TO PULL IN THE THIRD ONE ARE ACTUALLY THE MOST INTERESTING IN LOT OF OTHER PROJECTS AND AGAIN NEITHER OF US FELT IT OFF 3HE WAS A VERY YOUNG WOMAN THEN INEXPERI THE SERIES BUT THE WHOLE THING DIDNT QUITE COME SCI FI WAS OUR NATURAL M£TIER !LTHOUGH ) HAD BEEN ENCED BUT IT MADE THE MOVIE SO MUCH BETTER THAT OFF !ND CERTAINLY SOME OF THAT IS OUR FAULT 3PEAK A BIG SCI FI READER WHEN ) WAS A KID $AVID NOT AT SHE WASNT A KNOWN ACTRESS .EEDLESS TO SAY THAT WAS ING FOR MYSELF ) DONT THINK OUR SCRIPT WAS NEARLY AS ALL /DDLY ENOUGH IN THE LONG RUN ) THINK THAT A TOUGH ONE FOR THE STUDIO TO SWALLOW ) MEAN WE GOOD AS THE ONE WE DID FOR THE FIRST !LIEN DISTANCE HELPED THE SCRIPT n THE FEELING WE HAD OF WERE INSISTING ON A FEMALE LEAD IN A 3CI &I ACTION &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 7HAT ABOUT THE FOURTH !LIEN STANDING SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE THE GENRE HELPED GET lLM AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT INSISTING ON AN UN 4HE 2ESURRECTION IT OFF CENTER AND MADE IT DIFFERENT IN TONE !ND IT KNOWN FEMALE LEAD 7ITH A DIRECTOR WHOSE PREVIOUS 7ALTER (ILL 7E HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT ONE GAVE US THE COURAGE TO BE IRREVERENT ) MEAN WHEN lLM HAD A WORLDWIDE GROSS OF ) THINK LESS THAN HALF n DIDNT EVEN THINK IT WAS A GOOD IDEA FOR STARTERS ITS TWO AM AND YOURE WRITING ABOUT A MONSTER A MILLION DOLLARS 4HATS WHY MAYBE THE ULTIMATE n WE THOUGHT WE HAD ENDED THE SERIES !ND OUR WITH ACID FOR BLOOD SOME IRREVERENCE IS CALLED FOR GOOD GUY WAS ,ADDIE n HE SAID YES RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STUDIO HAD DETERIORATED EVEN WE WERE ALWAYS TAKING AN IMPLAUSIBLE SITUATION AND 4HE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IN (OLLYWOOD IS THAT MORE PROBABLY DUE TO THE LAWSUITS 0EOPLE DONT TRYING TO MAKE IT SOUND REAL AND MOST OF THE TIME WARM lLMS ARE COMMERCIAL AND COLD ONES ARE NOT USUALLY LOVE YOU WHEN YOU SUE THEM /UR ONLY REAL WE PULLED IT OFF ) THINK ) GUESS WHAT )M TRYING TO !S USUAL THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM ISNT TRUE AND IT FUNCTION WAS TELLING THE STUDIO THAT THE SCRIPT THEY SAY IS THAT WE MAY HAVE LEFT HANDED THE SCRIPT BUT ISNT TRUE BY THE BAGSFUL WITH !LIEN )TS A VERY COLD DEVELOPED WITHOUT OUR INPUT WASNT ANY GOOD AND $OLHQV 5LSOH\1HZW &DUULH+HQQ DQG+XGVRQ %LOO3D[WRQ $OLHQñ WE DID WORK VERY HARD THE !SH DEATH SPEECH WE lLM (OSPITAL COLD )M HERE TO DIE IN THIS STERILE WOULDNT WORK 7E THEN SUFFERED THE TRADITIONAL FATE WWWlLMINTNU &ILM )NTERNATIONAL OUTSMARTED IS VERY OFTEN YOURSELF &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 7HAT IS THE ACTUAL WRITING THIS BEGS FOR DEFINITIONS HOWEVER AND MY NOTIONS THEN NINETY PERCENT OF WHAT GOT MADE WOULD BE &ILM )NTERNATIONAL )T SEEMS TO ME THAT WHEN PROCESS FOR YOU OF WHO IS COMPROMISED AND WHO ISNT PROBABLY DIF SHIT YOU HAVE DIRECTED hONLYv AND ESPECIALLY PRODUCED 7ALTER (ILL 7HEN )M WORKING ALONE THE OLD HARD FER RADICALLY FROM OTHERS ! LOT OF ATTEMPTS AT GOOD WORK GET DONE IN THE hONLY v THAT OFTEN YOU ARE DOING SO PARTLY IN ORDER WAY ,ONGHAND &OUNTAIN PEN ,EGAL PADS 4HESAU /BVIOUSLY SUSTAINING A CAREER IS PRIMARILY DUE TO INDEPENDENTS BUT THEY GENERALLY LACK SCALE !ND TO STEP OUTSIDE THE MOLD DOING OFFBEAT COMEDIES OR RUS AT MY SIDE 4HIS LAST ITEM )M NOT ASHAMED TO BEING ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER COMMERCIAL SUCCESS OR SCALE IS ONE OF THE GLORIES OF lLM #URRENTLY WHATS OTHER STUFF HORROR ETC THAT OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT SAY IS QUITE HELPFUL n WHEN YOU WRITE SCREENPLAYS WIDELY HELD NOTIONS OF HAVING DONE QUALITY WORK MOST GETTING LOST IS THE PERSONALITY WITHIN lLMS 7E COME YOUR WAY )S THAT A FAIR GENERALIZATION YOU DONT HAVE A LOT OF ROOM AND THE STAGE DIREC "UT QUITE OFTEN THE lRST IS A MATTER OF LUCK AND THE NEED 2ED 2IVER (AWKS AND "ORDEN #HASE 7ALTER (ILL 9ES !BSOLUTELY !ND WITH MIXED RE TIONS CAN BECOME ONEROUSLY REPETITIVE IF YOU DONT SECOND A MISTAKE IN JUDGMENT THAT GETS REPEATED ! WONDERFUL OLD SCREENWRITER TOLD ME THIS RECENTLY SULTS WORK AT FRESH DESCRIPTIONS 4RY TO SHOW THE READER OFTEN ENOUGH TO HAVE A LIFE OF ITS OWN h)TS A PARADOXICAL TRUTH (OLLYWOODS WORSE THAN &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 9OU SEEM TO HAVE MADE A A NEW WAY TO SEE IT 5NLESS OF COURSE YOU ARE US !RE THE CURRENT PRODUCERS OR STUDIO EXECUTIVES EVER BUT IT WAS ALWAYS BADv POINT OF DIRECTING OR PRODUCING WITHOUT WRITING THE ING REPETITION AS A RHYTHM DEVICE IN CREATING MOOD WORSE THAN EVER IN TERMS OF SCRIPT STANDARDS "UT ) CANT QUIT ON THAT NOTE )TS ONLY HALF TRUE )N SCRIPTS FOR QUITE A FEW FILMS AFTER THE MID S )S n WHICH ) GUESS IS A PERFECT ILLUSTRATION OF ONE OF ,ETS NOT KID OURSELVES ITS ALWAYS BEEN A WHORE MY CASE THE OTHER HALF BEING THAT FOR NEARLY FORTY THAT PARTLY HAPPENSTANCE /R IS IT A DECIDED CAREER THE THINGS ) LIKE BEST ABOUT SCREENWRITING WHATEVER HOUSE "UT ) THINK IT WAS A MORE ELEGANT ONE IN YEARS NOW ITS BEEN A VOYAGE WHERE )VE BEEN LUCKY CHOICE IS TRUE THE OPPOSITE CAN ALSO BE TRUE "OTH AT THE THE PAST AND CERTAINLY THERE WAS A MUCH GREATER ENOUGH TO WORK WITH AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TAL 7ALTER (ILL .EITHER ) THINK IN EVERY INSTANCE FOR TECHNICAL LEVEL AND AT A MUCH LARGER ONE n ) THINK ATTEMPT TO TELL ADULT STORIES ) HAVE CONFESSED MY ENTED PEOPLE !ND GOT PAID FOR IT .O COMPLAINTS BETTER OR WORSE ) DID A LOT OF WORK ON THE SCREEN ITS BEST APPROACHED AS AN ENIGMATIC WAY TO MAKE JUVENILE SENSIBILITY BUT NOW WHATS ON DEMAND ISNT PLAYS BUT DECIDED TO NOT PUT IN FOR CREDIT )N SOME A LIVING JUVENILE ITS MORE OFTEN CHILDISH !S YOU KNOW 1RWHV *HURQLPR $Q$PHULFDQ/HJHQG*HURQLPR :HV6WXGL /W&KDUOHV%*DWHZRRG -DVRQ3DWULF CASES ) FELT ) DIDNT DESERVE IT IN OTHERS ) THOUGHT ) &ILM )NTERNATIONAL 7HEN YOU LOOK AROUND THE PRODUCERS STUDIOS COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES )N 4HE HILLTOP lELDS DOTTED WITH OIL DERRICKS ON 3IGNAL (ILL OVERLOOKING NEARBY WOULD HURT THE CHANCES OF THE WRITERS ) WAS WORK ROOM AT A 7RITERS 'UILD FUNCTION NOWADAYS HOW GENERAL )D SAY THAT NOW THEY PUT MUCH MORE EM ,OS !NGELES ING WITH IN GETTING CREDIT !S DISCUSSED BEFORE )M MANY PEOPLE DO YOU RECOGNIZE STILL WORKING AT THE PHASIS ON CONCEPT MUCH LESS EMPHASIS AND HAVE 0RODUCERS ,ARRY 4URMAN AND $AVID &OSTER "EST KNOWN EARLY IN HER CAREER AS A COSTUME AND PRODUCTION DESIGNER NOT A GREAT ADMIRER OF THE ARBITRATION PROCESS )VE CRAFT FROM YOUR OWN FIRST DAYS AS A SCREENWRITER LESS CONlDENCE IN THE CRAFT OF STORYTELLING THE MULTI TALENTED 0OLLY 0LATT CLOSELY COLLABORATED WITH HUSBAND 0ETER OF THE MESSENGER 0ERSONALLY ) THINK ITS A LOUSY CERTAIN AMOUNT OF REPETITION WHICH CERTAINLY IS A NEVER DIRECTED A SCRIPT ) DIDNT CONTROL WITH THE EX 7HAT HAS BEEN THE SECRET OF LONGEVITY IN THE FIELD ) DONT WANT TO FALL INTO THE TRAP OF THE OLD FUCKER "OGDANOVICH UNTIL THEIR DIVORCE .OWADAYS 0LATT IS AS LIKELY TO TURN UP ON MOVIE !ND THEY JUST WASTED 7INONA 2YDER 4HATS KIND OF STRAITJACKET IS INEVITABLE 9OU ARE GOING TO lLM CREDITS AS A PRODUCER "OTTLE 2OCKET OR SCREEN WRITER ! -AP OF CEPTIONS OF THE 3UPERNOVA MESS AND THE $EADWOOD ,UCK TENACITY TALENT WHO COMPLAINS THAT EVERYTHING WAS BETTER IN THE THE 7ORLD INEXCUSABLE HAVE TO DEAL WITH GUNlGHTS AND CHASES !ND USUALLY PILOT FOR ("/ 7ALTER (ILL )M UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT VERY FEW PAST ) DONT BELIEVE THAT "UT ) DO THINK SOMETHING (USTON MADE AN UNCREDITED CONTRIBUTION TO 7UTHERING (EIGHTS THERE ARE CERTAIN OTHER LIMITATIONS THAT ARE A GIVEN 4HE -ACKINTOSH -AN IS BASED ON $ESMOND "AGLEYS NOVEL 4HE &REEDOM )F YOURE WILLING TO MAKE lLMS WITHOUT REALLY PEOPLE THAT STARTED WRITING ABOUT THE TIME ) DID REASONABLY ADULT IS MORE DIFlCULT TO GET THROUGH 4RAP PUBLISHED IN )F YOURE DOING $IRTY (ARRY %ASTWOOD IS NOT GOING LATE S ARE STILL AT IT BUT ) COULD BE WRONG 2EVENGE WAS EVENTUALLY PRODUCED IN WITH +EVIN #OSTNER !NTHONY 3XULW\LQJHQUHILOPPDNLQJ CONTROLLING THE STORYTELLING ELEMENTS THEN YOU CAN THE STUDIO SYSTEM THAN BEFORE NOT THAT IT WAS EVER TO BE SHOT DEAD AT THE END RIGHT 3O IT BECOMES A 1UINN AND -ADELEINE 3TOWE STARRING 4ONY 3COTT DIRECTING AND THE SCRIPT PROBABLY WORK A LOT MORE "UT UNLESS YOURE BROKE /NE LOSES CONTACT n THATS THE NATURE OF THE WORK EASY 4HERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS FOR THIS BUT THE CREDITED TO NOVELIST *IM (ARRISON AND *EFFREY !LAN &ISKIN &ILM )NTERNATIONAL ,ETS RETURN TO YOUR MASCULINE KIND OF GAME 4HE AUDIENCE KNOWS WHAT THE CON WHY BOTHER "UT ITS FOOLISH TO THINK THERE ARENT A LOT OF CASU GREATEST OF THEM GO BEYOND (OLLYWOOD n ESSENTIALLY 4HE COMPANY WAS CALLED "RANDYWINE PHYSICAL HEROICS FOR A MOMENT !RE THERE WAYS IN CLUSION WILL BE BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO ENTERTAIN THEM ALTIES ALONG THE WAY !S TO WHAT MAKES FOR CAREER THE CHANGING NATURE OF A MASS AUDIENCE DOMESTIC !LAN ,ADD *R THEN PRODUCTION HEAD OF TH #ENTURY &OX WHICH THIS STRENGTH HAS ALSO BECOME A STRAITJACKET 3O YOU ARE ALWAYS WALKING ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE LONGEVITY n THIS IS DIFFICULT YOUR CATEGORIES OF LUCK AND FOREIGN ) SHOULD ADD )M THE KIND OF PERSON &KDQJHV )M THINKING OF VIOLENCE AND CAR CHASES FOR EX n TRYING TO JUGGLE THE GENRE EXPECTATIONS WHICH CAN TALENT AND TENACITY ARE CERTAINLY FACTORS n TO LAST AT THAT BELIEVES IF YOU HAD A SYSTEM BUILT ON ALTRUISM AMPLE n WHICH DATING BACK TO 0ECKINPAH AND 4HE SLIP INTO CLICH£S AND IN MANY CASES ARE CLICH£S n AND &ILM )NTERNATIONAL (OW DOES YOUR SCRIPT FORMAT A SIGNIFICANT LEVEL RELATIVELY WITHOUT COMPROMISE AND GREAT GOODWILL WITH THE SOLE AIM OF MAKING 'ETAWAY n WERE AN EVOLUTIONARY INNOVATION IN THE YOUR PERSONAL NEED TO DANCE WITH THE IDEA OF TAKING DIFFER FROM WHEN YOU STARTED OUT $O YOU WRITE LESS SEEMS TO ME TO BE THE HARDEST TRICK TO PULL OFF !LL A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO POPULAR CULTURE n EVEN 7UHVSDVV .LQJ-DPHV 7UDF\0DUURZDND,FH 7 6DYRQ 2¶6KHD-DFNVRQDND,FH&XEH !MERICAN CINEMA BUT NOWADAYS IN OTHER HANDS THE FAMILIAR AND GETTING A LITTLE OFF CENTER GETTING IT DIALOGUE LESS DESCRIPTION NOWADAYS OR WHAT THESE IDEAS TOO OFTEN BECOME A SIMPLISTIC CLICH£ ) TO PLAY n PUTTING YOUR lNGERPRINTS ON IT 7E HAVE 7ALTER (ILL -Y SCRIPTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A BIT TERSE CAN SEE PRODUCERS COMING TO YOU EXPRESSLY FOR THAT OUR AREAS OF SKILL AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO EX BOTH IN STAGE DIRECTIONS AND DIALOGUE ) THINK )VE AND URGING MORE AND MORE VIOLENCE AND SMASHUPS PLORE THEM BECAUSE WE FEEL THERES PROBABLY SOME LOOSENED UP IN THE DIALOGUE DEPARTMENT BUT ) STILL UPON YOU IN TERMS OF BOTH SCRIPT AND FILMING 4HE THING LEFT TO SAY n THE NEED TO MAYBE THIS TIME GET TRY TO KEEP THE DESCRIPTIONS FAIRLY MINIMAL AND IN STARS TOO BEGIN TO FALL INTO A MOLD AND THEN DEMAND IT RIGHT ,UKAS (ELLER ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT ;2OBERT= SOME CASES PURPOSEFULLY MINIMALIST ) STILL PUNC SUCH THINGS 9ES NO !LDRICH USED TO SAY THAT THE MANIPULATION OF IDIOTS TUATE TO EFFECT RATHER THAN TO THE PROPER RULES OF 7ALTER (ILL 9ES "UT SINCE YOUVE ASKED A COMPLI ;THE STUDIO= WAS PART OF THE JOB "UT YOU MANIPU GRAMMAR ) OCCASIONALLY USE ONOMATOPOEIAS NOW A CATED QUESTION ALLOW ME TO BE A BIT CIRCULAR ) LOVE LATE THEM TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHASE A KIND OF LUXURY ) WOULD CERTAINLY NEVER HAVE ALLOWED MYSELF COMEDIES MUSICALS AND THRILLERS LIKE EVERYBODY LIMITED PERFECTION WHEN ) WAS YOUNGER -Y FAVORITE DESCRIPTION OF ELSE BUT ) CONFESS TO BELIEVING ACTION PICTURES ARE 4HE MAIN THING IS TO USE WHATEVER MEANS ARE AT THE DILEMMA OF SCREENWRITING COMES FROM $AVID WHAT MOVIES ARE MOST ESSENTIALLY ALL ABOUT )TS THE HAND TO TELL STORIES THAT MEAN SOMETHING TO YOU ON 'ILER h9OUR WORK IS ONLY READ BY THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THEY DO BEST AND UNIQUELY BEST ) DONT MEAN A PERSONAL LEVEL !ND OFTEN AGAIN ESPECIALLY IN THE WILL DESTROY ITv ACTION MOVIES ARE BETTER IN FACT MOST OF THEM ACTION lELD WHAT IS PERSONALLY INTERESTING TO YOU ARE ACTUALLY A LOT WORSE THAN THE NORM "UT THE MAY BE INVISIBLE TO OTHERS )N THE END OF COURSE -RKQQ\+DQGVRPH FEW THAT REALLY WORK ARE SUBLIME &ILMS LIKE #OLO WHEN REVIEWING THE RESULT THE PERSON YOU HAVE RADO 4ERRITORY 7HITE (EAT 2IDE THE (IGH #OUNTRY 4HE 3EVEN 3AMURAI 3CARFACE (EAT $IRTY (ARRY !TTACK 4HE 'OOD THE "AD THE 5GLY OR A HUNDRED OTHERS ) CAN NAME 4HE REAL POWER OF MOVIES LIES IN THEIR CONNECTION TO OUR UNCONSCIOUS OR SEMICONSCIOUS DREAM LIFE AND ACTION MOVIES ARE ABOUT HEROISM AND DEATH 7ILL HE LIVE OR WILL HE DIE IS THE ULTIMATE DRAMA ISNT IT 0URITY IS IMPORTANT "ECAUSE ITS THE ESSENCE OF WHAT THE CREATIVE PERSON IS MOST TRYING TO ACHIEVE n THE IDEAL 4HIS IS WHERE ) THINK SCREENPLAYS AND MOVIES CAUSE TERRIBLE FRUSTRATION THE DRAMATIC FORM ITSELF IS SO MESSY 3O MUCH OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS SIMPLY TO PUT THINGS IN PROPER ORDER !ND THIS ORDERING OF THINGS IS COMPLICATED ITS ABSOLUTELY NOT SIMPLE .OW IF YOURE GOING TO DO ACTION lLMS A WWWlLMINTNU &ILM )NTERNATIONAL
Walter Hill Interview (FI #12)
