Podcast Summary
Disrupting the ordinary to create something extraordinary: Deep love for what you do and willingness to disrupt the status quo can lead to remarkable outcomes, as demonstrated by Alan Scott's acquisition and adaptation of 'The Queen's Gambit' into a popular Netflix series.
Importance of disrupting the status quo and taking risks to achieve success. Alan Scott, a veteran writer with decades of experience in the film and TV industry, shares his story of acquiring the rights to "The Queen's Gambit" and turning it into a popular Netflix series. He emphasizes the significance of having a deep love for what you do and being willing to disrupt the ordinary to create something extraordinary. The success of "The Queen's Gambit," which has been seen by over 63 million people, is a testament to the power of disrupting the conventional and embracing new ways of approaching storytelling. Additionally, Scott highlights the importance of collaboration and the contributions of key individuals, such as Walter Tevis, Scott Frank, and Anya Taylor-Joy, in bringing the project to life. Overall, this conversation underscores the idea that disruptive thinking and taking calculated risks can lead to remarkable outcomes.
A tale of empowerment and passion for chess: The Queen's Gambit is a captivating series that goes beyond the chess board, offering a compelling narrative of empowerment and passion for the game, with authentic and carefully planned chess scenes.
"The Queen's Gambit" is more than just a chess story. It's a tale of empowerment for a young girl who's been through hardships and discovered her passion and talent in chess. The creators of the series carefully crafted each chess game to have its own emotional and dramatic highlights, making it engaging for both chess enthusiasts and novices. Despite initial concerns about the lead angle of chess, the series was well-received by both chess masters and critics, who appreciated the accuracy and depth of the chess scenes. Each move and game in the series was carefully planned and based on real games, ensuring authenticity. The series went beyond the chess board, offering a compelling narrative that resonated with audiences.
Overcoming prejudice and perseverance in filmmaking: Through 30 years of determination, a filmmaker's past efforts and assessments proved valuable in bringing a unique chess story to life as a successful Netflix series.
Overcoming prejudice and perseverance are key elements in bringing a unique and ambitious project to life. The filmmaker, Alan, shares his 30-year journey in making a movie based on a chess story, which faced numerous rejections due to the genre's stigma. Despite working with renowned directors and coming close to production, the project was continually shelved. However, Alan's determination paid off when he met Scott Frank, who expanded the story into a series for Netflix. Throughout this long process, Alan's past efforts and assessments proved valuable, and his trust in Scott led to the creation of a successful and acclaimed production.
Creative Process and Partnerships in 'The Queen's Gambit': Rob Marshall discusses adapting emotional moments, strategic partnerships, and the importance of embracing new opportunities in 'The Queen's Gambit' production.
The creative process behind "The Queen's Gambit" involved thoughtful decisions, such as altering emotional moments for greater impact, and strategic partnerships, like working with Netflix due to previous successes. The discussion also highlighted the value of unique experiences and the importance of embracing new opportunities, as seen in Rob's involvement with Facebook's supporter program. The contrast between projects like "The Queen's Gambit," "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," and "Shallow Grave" showcased the diversity of Rob's work and the importance of stepping out of comfort zones. Overall, the conversation emphasized the significance of collaboration, adaptation, and growth in creative projects.
Believing in the power of a good story: Perseverance and faith in a compelling story can lead to success despite setbacks and rejection.
Even when faced with rejection and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, perseverance and believing in the power of a good story can lead to success. The speaker shares his experience of being involved in the making of "Shallow Grave" but stepping away from the next project, "Trainspotting," only to regret it later. He also recalls his encounters with notable figures like Nolan Bushnell and Andrew Carnegie, and the lessons he learned from them. Despite numerous setbacks in his career, he never doubted that the story of "The Queen's Gambit" would eventually be brought to life, as it had the emotional depth and power to captivate audiences. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration with writers and the value of creating emotional connections with audiences through film.
Freedom and opportunities for complex storytelling on streaming platforms: The longer format of streaming series allows for deeper exploration of characters and storylines, leading to increased viewer engagement and potential for new audiences to be inspired.
Working on a streaming platform like Netflix provides creators with more freedom and opportunities to develop complex stories and characters compared to traditional television or film. This is evident in the production of "The Queen's Gambit," where the longer format allowed for the exploration of Beth Harmon's backstory and the addition of powerful flashbacks. Additionally, the cliffhanger endings in each episode keep viewers engaged and coming back for more. However, the potential downside of creating a sequel or prequel to a successful series can outweigh the benefits, as the pressure to live up to the original can be overwhelming. Ultimately, the drive to create compelling stories that resonate with audiences is the primary motivation for creators. The impact of "The Queen's Gambit" on inspiring a new generation of chess players is a testament to the power of storytelling and the collaborative efforts of the entire production team.
The Importance of Writers and Other Creatives in Film and TV: Writers and other creatives, like costume designers, contribute significantly to a film or show's success. The auteur theory's emphasis on the director's role is not always accurate, and streaming platforms offer opportunities and challenges for writers to create complex narratives.
The role of a director in a film or show's success is often overemphasized by the media, and the importance of other creatives, such as writers and costume designers, should not be overlooked. For instance, the play "Man for All Seasons" was credited to Fred Zinneman, but it was actually written by Robert Bolt. The auteur theory, which emphasizes the director's creative control, does not always apply to every director, as some, like Nick Roeg, allow other creatives to take the lead. Another significant change in the film industry is the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix. While it presents challenges, such as stretching small stories over multiple episodes, it also offers opportunities for writers to develop more detailed and complex narratives. The pandemic has further disrupted the industry, but it may have also benefited shows like "The Queen's Gambit" by increasing viewership as people stay at home.
Effective marketing, social media buzz, and high-quality content fueling streaming success: Effective trailers, social media word of mouth, and high-quality shows are driving success in the streaming era.
The rapid success of shows like "The Queen's Gambit" on Netflix can be attributed to well-done trailers, word of mouth from social media, and the high quality of the content itself. The trailers capture viewers' attention and give them a sense of enjoyment before the show even starts. Social media then helps spread the word, as people recommend shows to their networks and inspire others to try them out. The success of "The Queen's Gambit" has even led to real-life references to the show, such as a chessboard being painted on the ceiling of Grand Central Station. Overall, the combination of effective marketing, social media buzz, and high-quality content is a powerful recipe for success in the streaming era. Additionally, Scott Graham shared that he is currently working on several projects, including a screenplay for a video game, two musicals, and a biography, among other things. One of the musicals is based on a J.M. Barrie play about a butler and maid who become the leaders of a deserted island, while another is about the second World War and the courage of Britain to enter the war. Graham's commitment to creating diverse and engaging projects is a testament to his talent and passion for storytelling.
Focus on the project, not just deals and money: Aspiring screenwriters should prioritize their projects and learn about handling finances, but not at the expense of creativity.
In the world of film, both the creative and commercial aspects are essential. Alan Bevis, a successful screenwriter, emphasized that while deals and money are important, the focus should primarily be on the project and its value. He shared an anecdote about a movie idea he had, which was later adapted by Steven Spielberg, but he didn't mind because good ideas can have parallel developments. Bevis also advised aspiring writers to learn about handling money but to focus mainly on their projects. He suggested reading scripts of favorite movies to become a screenwriter. Regarding the business side, Bevis acknowledged its significance but warned against prioritizing it over the creative aspect. He believes that if a project is good, it will find an audience and be valued, regardless of representation or initial financial gains.
Embarrassing moments and regrets in career and life: Ageism and divisive politics are issues worth addressing, and taking care of employees and embracing uncertainty can lead to unexpected joys.
Saying yes to every opportunity isn't always the best advice, and ageism and divisive politics are significant issues that need addressing. Alan shared his most embarrassing moment during a lecture when he couldn't remember what to say next, and his biggest regret was spending too long in Hollywood due to its transactional nature and ageism he experienced. He admired Netflix for taking care of its employees and appreciated their support during his COVID illness. Alan's wish was to change the divisive politics in America, which he encountered during a recent visit. He expressed his excitement about working on a children's book project with Cat Stevens, and he defined disruptive as having initially had reservations about this podcast interview but enjoying the conversation instead.
Sharing passions leads to fulfilling experiences: Following passions can lead to successful projects and meaningful connections, even with occasional challenges.
Passion and enjoyment for one's work can lead to fulfilling experiences and connections. Arlen, the co-writer and co-creator of "The Queen's Gambit," shared his enthusiasm for his successful project and his love for talking to people who share similar passions. Though there have been occasional challenges, such as an unexpected interview with Pablo Escobar's son, the rewards far outweigh the risks. For those who haven't yet seen "The Queen's Gambit" on Netflix, it's highly recommended. Arlen keeps a low profile and doesn't use social media often, but the show's success speaks for itself. When asked about other favorite shows, he mentioned "Normal People" and shared that he tends to watch late at night on his iPad, sometimes sacrificing sleep for entertainment. Overall, the conversation highlighted the importance of following one's passions and the joy that can come from sharing those experiences with others.
