Believe it or not, but I've probably mentioned this on my profile. Just to see Craig Mazin's evolution as a screenwriter and a filmmaker is nothing short of remarkable.
Chris Stuckmann mentioned something that stuck with me when he reviewed Chernobyl on his YouTube channel: don't put yourself in a box. If you look at Mazin's trajectory, he started out by writing tons of spoof movies (some of the Scary Movie films, Identity Thief, Superhero Movie). From there, he decided to tackle a "docudrama" based on the Chernobyl nuclear explosion in 1986 for HBO. Afterwards, he co-wrote the adaptation of The Last of Us Part I videogame with Neil Druckmann (the original co-creator of the game alongside Bruce Straley). He also finished the film adaptation of the Borderlands videogame and decided to work on the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie.
My point in all this is that it's important to not only have versatility in general, but to be courageous enough and try something different not just as a screenwriter, but in life. No matter what the critics say.
What about you? Did you find some similar inspiration when it comes to being a storyteller?
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Craig Mazin is definitely an inspiring screenwriter, Marcel Nault Jr. He's one of my favorite screenwriters (maybe my favorite). "Chernobyl" is my favorite miniseries by far. I mainly write Horror and Thriller, but I'm experienced in writing different genres. I keep writing samples on hand so I can apply for jobs in other genres.
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I am a bit of a fanboy. His talent is unmistakable. His advice is always well thought out. His mind is enviable.
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Great post here, Marcel. I love Taylor Sheridan's story, going from actor to writer and now director and showrunner.
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This is sage advice. Craig’s story is totally inspirational. So is Lin Miranda Manuel’s, Dan! Thanks to you both for sharing.
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Is this a reference to Lin-Manuel Miranda, author of Hamilton, or some other person?
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You're so right, Marcel! The bravest thing someone can do, especially in this industry, is put themselves out there and try. Craig is an incredible writer and producer who leads with passion and pursues projects and opportunities that excite him, regardless of genre. He's a great role model to have.
Did you enjoy last night's finale? I thought it was beautifully done and I can't wait for season 2!
Ashley Renee Smith: I've seen bits and pieces on YouTube most of the time. From what I've seen, it's almost identical to the game. I was surprised... pleasantly surprised that they did the game justice. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay, brilliantly casted. The cinematography is immaculate. The narrative was even expanded in this series, which is an advantage going into this as someone who has never seen or played the game.
However, as you might know, The Last of Us Part II wasn't appreciated by everyone when it came out in 2020. Most people were b****ing on social media about what happened (which I won't spoil by the way) in the game. There were important leaks as well. Narratively speaking, it's not as good as Part I in my opinion. It's a bit inconsistent and I didn't care for most of the supporting characters besides Joel, Ellie and Tommy, to some extent, but I thought it was masterfully acted. Neil Druckmann risked everything for this sequel and it shows. I'm getting off on a tangent here, but let's hope that Craig and Neil find a way to... dampen the negative impact and restructure Part II's story, if they decide to adapt it for the next season.
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There are aspects that are VERY close to the game and some that are identical. But there are also storylines and characters that they really took their time to dive deeper into. I definitely recommend checking it out. Some of the episodes stand out so strongly on their own that they almost feel like masterful short films. As a Craig fan, I also recommend listening to their behind-the-scenes podcast. Craig and Neil spend real time talking about their process and why they made specific adjustments to the story. It's very interesting!
I'm in the small minority of people that actually enjoyed the second game. I didn't love it as much as the first, but I also didn't expect to. It's almost impossible to catch lightning in a bottle twice. That being said, I appreciated what they tried to do in the second game to expand on their larger themes. It's a darker story that really pushes the limits of empathy and understanding, especially in regard to what humanity is capable of in the name of love. I understand some people's arguments against aspects of the story, but overall I was very impressed by what they managed to pull off. It's also a much longer game than the first one and I've heard that they'll be approaching it as two seasons for the show, so we can expect a season 2 and 3. I'm very excited to see what changes Craig makes in its adaptation!
I'm well aware of the podcast and I have listened to a few episodes. That's the thing with me, I don't mind spoilers. It only makes me want to know more.
Speaking of podcasts, Craig also collaborated on the Chernobyl Podcast that I listen to regularly, even to this day, and Screennotes with John August. Like I said, that inspired me to know more about screenwriting.