Phil Spector, written and directed by David Mamet, debuted on HBO last Sunday. I haven't watched it yet, but I have read Mamet's Truth and Melodrama and Phil Spector about the making of the story.
It's an interesting examination of what makes drama by looking at several films. There are spoilers for Casablanca, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, The Sixth Sense, The Bicycle Thief, Flight and Phil Spector. It's a big spoiler for his film, describing the end pretty thoroughly but if anything, it made me more interested in seeing it.
For another Mamet read, there's David Mamet’s Master Class Memo to the Writers of The Unit. "Besides the fact that it's written in all-caps, there's nothing particularly ranty, pejorative or potty-mouthed about it. Rather, Mamet lays down an extremely sensible case for what makes good television, imploring them to avoid expository writing for what he characterizes as authentic "drama." Along the way, he refers repeatedly to the "blue-suited penguins" (probably the copious-note-givers at the network), while passing along some very useful advice ("any time two characters are talking about a third, the scene is a crock of shit") and helpful writing exercises ("pretend the characters can't speak and write a silent movie"). Screenwriters, take note: You may think you knew this already, but there's nothing like Mamet for a good kick-in-the-ass reminder."
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