James Elden's Playwright's Spotlight

Discovery, Deliberation, Decision, and Driving Action - Playwright's Spotlight with Matt Williams


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90 minutes of brilliant insight. The amount of real estate this episode with Matt Williams covers couldn't be covered in a set of Time Life books. Matt provides so much knowledge, it was hard to know when to stop and move on to the next question. In this chat we cover learning playwriting from dramaturgical books opposed to those focused on actual playwriting, driving action vs inciting incidents, achieving simplicity through elimination, embodying character through action, bad feedback and notes, the trap of directing your own work, and when to pull the plug when someone else is in the driver's seat. We also discuss how to make your play director proof, developing a writing routine, trusting actors and directors, putting vibrance on the page, the point of view character and the protagonist, beginning and ending a scene and so much more. I'd be hard-pressed to believe any playwright won't walk away with a treasure trove of goodness from what Matt brings to the table. As always, ENJOY!

Matt Williams has worked in theater, film and television as a writer, director, and producer. In pursuit of his passion to see children succeed, Williams recently formed the Laughing Angels Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children around the world by creating stories that celebrate the human spirit. He also serves on the board at the Cherry Lane Theatre, a resident non-profit theatre founded by his wife, Angelina Fiordellisi. Playwriting credits include Fear, Actually, We’re F*cked, Bruce Lee Is Dead and I’m Not Feeling Too Good Either, Jason and the Nun, and Between Daylight and Boonville.

To view the video format of this episode, visit the link below -
https://youtu.be/6xwnYokPgV0

Links to sites and resources mentioned in this episode -

New Play Exchange -
https://newplayexchange.org/users/37356/matt-williams

Samuel French -
https://www.concordtheatricals.com/a/4946/matt-williams

Cherry Lane Theatre -
https://www.cherrylanetheatre.org

Websites and socials for James Elden, Punk Monkey Productions and Playwright's Spotlight

Punk Monkey Productions -
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com

PLAY Noir -
www.playnoir.com

PLAY Noir Anthology –
www.punkmonkeyproductions.com/contact.html

James Elden -
Twitter - @jameseldensauer
IG - @alakardrake
FB - fb.com/jameseldensauer

Punk Monkey Productions and PLAY Noir - 
Twitter - @punkmonkeyprods
                  - @playnoirla 
IG - @punkmonkeyprods
       - @playnoir_la 

FB - fb.com/playnoir
        - fb.com/punkmonkeyproductions

Playwright's Spotlight -
Twitter - @wrightlightpod 
IG - @playwrights_spotlight

Playwriting services through Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival
www.losangelescollegiateplaywrightsfestival.com/services.html

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James Elden's Playwright's SpotlightBy James Elden

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