Last time we spoke with Eric Newman (Ep 162), we discussed his work on ‘Dawn of the Dead,’ ‘Children of Men,’ ‘In Time,’ ‘RoboCop,’ and ‘Hemlock Grove.’ This time, we break down his fascination with the world of ‘Narcos.’

The new series stars Diego Luna and Scoot McNairy. It focuses on “The rise of the Guadalajara Cartel as an American DEA agent learns the danger of targeting narcos in Mexico.”

In this interview, Newman discusses bad guys and very bad guys, self-preservation versus self-elevation in character, why his favorite character is Pacho Herrera, and why you should be empathetic to monsters.

If you enjoyed this interview, look for the print version on Creative Screenwriting’s website, and join millions of viewers for the new YouTube video essay series, Creative Principles, which dissects new films, series, and more: bit.ly/2FARJz5