Great Writer Trivia
July 31, 2010 1 Comment
Q: What great writer dropped this piece of wisdom?
Like a snake shedding his skin after each shedding the project gets stronger and more vital. That old saying is so true: Writers don’t write, they rewrite. I’ve never been hung up on perfection the first time around. I leave that to the geniuses. I’d rather write with fiery exuberance rather than cold logic. That can come later.
UPDATE: Just to clarify – because it’s often unclear, I know – I’m not being sarcastic in the slightest with this post. Also, please note that AICN has posted not one but five pages of Q&A with Stallone at that site. I have read them all and it was well worth it.
UPDATE 2: Because I can’t resist – more highlights.
On things happening for a reason and the casting of Talia Shire:
I think things happen for a reason or it’s a wonderful ‘disaster’ that turns out for the best. For example, the first four women chosen for ROCKY were Cher, Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon and Carrie Snodgress, who all passed. This left the door literally open for Talia Shire, who walked in at 8PM just days before filming and secured the part, which in my mind was the most important casting in the film. So sometimes initial failure is good and leads to an unexpected outcome.
On the fleeting nature of life and the expendability of heroes:
When Kennedy was shot, as a young man I surmised the world as we knew it would cease to exist and the earth would basically stop turning. But I found out through simple living and deduction that everything and everyone is expendable, not gods, not eternal, not a life force. Therefore when one realizes we’re here basically on borrowed time, that expendability applies to each and every thing, we are really grains of sand. So I made it my sworn duty to pack as much life as I can into my allotment and only wish others would do the same.
On action films as mythology:
Action films; past, present and future are really a device for maintaining modern mythology. In reality, evil quite often triumphs over good and its effects have devastating longevity. So I believe the action film supplies an outlet for optimism and the unwavering belief that heroes, under great physical threat, rise and vanquish the oppressors. I believe it’s a necessity that these sorts of modern day street fables continue to provide an example that perseverance and bravery prevail.
On Rocky Balboa and perseverance:
I truly believe that life is about absorbing punishment while still moving forward.
On giving it your all:
Therefore I struggled for 7 years to have ROCKY BALBOA made because that was the final note I wanted to go out on. I wanted to do it with dignity. The philosophy I adopted at the beginning of that film I now approach every movie with, as though it were the last. And when you think that this could be your final statement, you pull everything you have inside and you play it out for the world to see. So when your lying on your deathbed you can say ‘I gave it all.’ Now that may come off as overly dramatic, but if you approach anything as though it’s going to be the final chapter, you really pour your heart into it.
Do you see what I mean? This is a very intelligent and wise man.
I’m with you on this.
I’ve always admired Sylvester Stallone. He really is a good writer, when he puts his mind to it. And, he is an intelligent man. It’s funny how people perceive him to be dumb/not-so-intelligent, because those are the roles he plays.