Scribbling for Stage & Screen
Take your seats, Scribblers; the house lights are comin’ down.
Today, we spotlight legendary playwrights who seamlessly transitioned into screenwriting and directing, using their stagecraft skills to elevate their silver screen stories. The depth of character and mastery of dialogue honed on and off Broadway have led to cinematic brilliance.
David Mamet's expertise in crafting intense, dialogue-driven yarns for the stage is evident in his screenwork. In plays like 'American Buffalo' and ‘Glengarry Glen Ross,’ he learned the art of tight, punchy dialogue, a skill he translated into the film world with his adaptation of GGR, and 'The Untouchables,’ ‘Ronin’ and ‘Wag the Dog.' He creates tension and deepens character via conversation, making his films dynamic and authentic.
Tony Gilroy didn’t just get his start writing for Broadway; his father was a scribbler of note. The best and brightest playwrights were often hanging out around the house. Tony developed a remarkable ability to weave complex narratives with a specificity of the spoken word, seen in his stage works like 'The Cut of Your Faith.' This complexity of plot and verisimilitude of character is a hallmark of his screenwriting in the 'Bourne' series. His directorial debut, 'Michael Clayton,' showcases his intense focus on character development and moral dilemmas, a skill he’d bring to a galaxy far away for his work on ‘Rogue One’ and ‘Andor.’
Nora Ephron's transition from character-driven plays like 'Imaginary Friends' to iconic rom-coms like ‘You’ve Got Mail’ was seamless. Her theatrical background in crafting witty, heartfelt dialogue shines in films like ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ and ‘When Harry Met Sally.’ The intimacy and humanity in her plays translate to her screen stories, and her characters feel real and relatable.
Martin McDonagh's plays, known for their blend of dark comedy and human drama, laid the groundwork for his film style. In plays like 'The Pillowman,' he developed a unique voice that he carried into films like ‘In Bruges.’ and 'Seven Psychopaths.' His ability to balance humor with profound themes is on Oscar-worthy display in ‘Banshees of Inishirin.’
Aaron Sorkin's stagecraft-honed skill at creating fast-paced, witty dialogue became his signature in film and TV. His Broadway hit 'A Few Good Men' showcased his talent for dynamic verbal exchanges, a skill he magnified in movies like 'Steve Jobs' and the TV series 'The West Wing.' His emphasis on dialogue-driven stories is evident in everything he scribbles.
On Star Trek: Discovery, I was lucky to work with Kemp Powers, the playwright of ‘One Night in Miami.’ This play showcases deep characters and received praise for its engaging dialogue, compelling narrative, and the way it addressed themes of racial inequality and friendship. Kemp would go on to write and co-direct ‘Soul’ for Pixar and 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' for Sony.
As storytellers, these career transitions remind us that skills sharpened in one medium can profoundly impact our work in another. At its core, the essence of storytelling remains the same, whether you’re scribbling for the stage or screen.
