links for 2010-03-26

• David Mamet's Master Class Memo to the Writers of The Unit | Movieline
  David Mamet chews out the writing staff of "The Unit" in a very memorable screed about how to (and how not to) write drama.

  The whole thing is written in caps - Mamet is screaming at his writers to use more finesse. Love it.

  "HERE ARE THE DANGER SIGNALS. ANY TIME TWO CHARACTERS ARE TALKING ABOUT A THIRD, THE SCENE IS A CROCK OF SHIT.

  ANY TIME ANY CHARACTER IS SAYING TO ANOTHER “AS YOU KNOW”, THAT IS, TELLING ANOTHER CHARACTER WHAT YOU, THE WRITER, NEED THE AUDIENCE TO KNOW, THE SCENE IS A CROCK OF SHIT.

  DO NOT WRITE A CROCK OF SHIT. WRITE A RIPPING THREE, FOUR, SEVEN MINUTE SCENE WHICH MOVES THE STORY ALONG, AND YOU CAN, VERY SOON, BUY A HOUSE IN BEL AIR AND HIRE SOMEONE TO LIVE THERE FOR YOU."

  
  
  (tags: via_DaringFireball david_mamet screenwriting tv rants)