Screenwriter CALLIE KHOURI: Tricks of the Trade

Callie Khouri's seminal, Oscar-winning screenplay for "Thelma & Louise", released in 1991, gave voice to a profound cultural moment and became one of the most provocative cinematic landmarks of the '90s. It was the Kentucky native's first attempt at a screenplay. In this enlightening interview, Khouri describes how spending years doing music video production in the '80s inspired her not only to write, but to write with a purpose. A passionate activist with a resume that includes "Something to Talk About" and her adaptation of "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood", which she also directed, Khouri discusses in detail the pressure of living up to such early acclaim, what it's like to be a woman in the industry, and how the state of the world around you fuels and shapes your creative mindset. Also a frequent script doctor and former Writers Guild of America board member, Khouri delves into the ongoing issues facing the WGA, its membership, and its much-maligned arbitration process.

This video is an excerpt from the full interview, available on DVD at TheDialogueSeries.com .

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• callie
• khouri
• film
• lesson
• script
• movie
• screenwriter
• screenplay
• tutorial
• dialogue
• conversation
• discussion

[aaanne80]

It's nice to hear that the pro's have this problem too.

[johnmonk66]

she is so right, writers find so many excuses not to write because for some unknown reason we fear it

[guyNbluejeans]

Good advice. I shared my screenplay idea with my boss at work and he loves it and has been the wind in my sail with respect to getting my lazy, broken, persecution- complex butt off the dime and start writing the thing.

Tomorrow I'll be going full steam ahead with it!

[tammiegoal]

There are so many times I have had writers block she is right.

[7miledopeboy]

thats crazy cause thats the problem i have. icall it being fucking lazy

[biminibleu]

"missing your own clever ideas." write daily.