Young screenwriters are always very frustrated when they talk to me. They say, 'How do we get to be a screenwriter?' I say, 'You know what you do? I'll tell you the secret, it's easy: Read 'Hamlet.' You know? Then read it again, and read it again, and read it until you understand it. Read 'King Lear,' and then read 'Othello.'
Interpretation
To become a great screenwriter, immersive reading of classic literature is essential.
This quote emphasizes the importance of foundational literary knowledge for aspiring screenwriters. By advocating for the close study of Shakespeare's works, John Logan suggests that understanding complex characters and narratives found in these timeless plays is crucial for writers who wish to develop their craft and storytelling abilities.
In practice
A workshop on screenwriting techniques could include a discussion on the importance of classical literature.
Personally speaking, growing up as a gay man before it was as socially acceptable as it is now, I knew what it was to feel different, to feel alienated and to feel not like everyone else. But the very same thing that made me monstrous to some people also empowered me and made me who I was.
As a young writer, I was on guard against the Latina in me, the Spanish in me because as far as I could see the models that were presented to me did not include my world. In fact, 'I was told by one teacher in college that one could only write poetry in the language in which one first said Mother. That left me out of American literature, for sure.
Young men and women, your education is ever important - to us, to you, and to God.
Mathematics is the cheapest science. Unlike physics or chemistry, it does not require any expensive equipment. All one needs for mathematics is a pencil and paper.
No book, however good, can survive a hostile reading.
My filmmaking education consisted of finding out what filmmakers I liked were watching, then seeing those films. I learned the technical stuff from books and magazines, and with the new technology you can watch entire movies accompanied by audio commentary from the director. You can learn more from John Sturges' audio track on the 'Bad Day at Black Rock' laserdisc than you can in 20 years of film school. Film school is a complete con, because the information is there if you want it.
The purpose of adult education is to help them to learn, not to teach them all you know and thus stop them from learning.
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