David Simon: Most of the time, writing for film or television – if the writer retains a producer’s title on the set – is a straight, simple negotiation: Here’s the page. Say the lines. Yes, like you mean them, as a good actor would. You’re a good actor, right? Of course you are. That’s why we wanted you. So, you talented, photogenic prick motherfucker, say the fucking lines the way they were fucking written and then we can all go to the bar pretending to be friends.
Okay, so it isn’t quite that totalitarian.
2 comments:
I never knew there was so much tension between screenwriters and actors. It makes sense in a way, and is perhaps another example of actors being "too focused" and having "too much to think about" than to give a shit about what someone else's job on set is, or maybe thats me just matching David's bitterness. I have to say that this post was brilliantly written, and I can see why his screenwriting is so effective (until it's not). I also have to question whether or not this is a common trend amongst screenwriter/actor dynamics. It's obviously quite different in theatre, because most often the playwright is not actually in the rehearsal room, unless it's for a new piece. The director then takes those occasional line liberties and may even question the playwrights intentions, but from my personal experience, directors generally like staying alongside the script. Not to mention the fact that in theatre, changing lines is mostly illegal.
I never would have guessed that the relationship between screenwriters and actors would have this much tension. Until now I’d always assumed it was similar to the relationship between actors and playwrights. Two separate worlds that connect at a few small points but otherwise don’t interact with each other much. I guess it makes sense though that there would be tension between the writer and the actor when they’re both in the room. They both have an emotional investment in what’s going on and they both want a good outcome for the project. When you have a situation like that I’d be more surprised if there wasn’t any conflict than if there was, especially in this industry that requires such a close connection with your own emotions. Its not like one group wants the other to look bad or is trying to sabotage them, they just think their own way is more right. That being said I do sympathize with the writer of this article, I’d imagine it would be infuriating to have that kind of situation happen regularly. It can be hard enough to admit to being wrong as it is, let alone when admitting you were wrong means admitting something you painstakingly crafted had flaws that someone else found.
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