Episode 273: David Mamet on His Early Influences in Writing and Drama

For Episode 273 of the 5 Questions podcast, Dan Schawbel asks playwright and filmmaker, David Mamet. David won a Pulitzer Prize and received Tony nominations for his plays Glengarry Glen Ross and Speed-the-Plow. He wrote the screenplays for such films as The Verdict, The Untouchables, Ronin, and Wag the Dog. We talk about his early influences, and career challenges, during this episode.

Q1: 0:19 Can you share some of the early influences that shaped your interest in writing and drama?
Q2: 3:23 What motivated your transition from studying acting to becoming a playwright and how did this shift impact your creative process?
Q3: 4:42 How was being fired from dozens of movies a blessing in disguise and what did you learn from the experiences?
Q4: 7:33 What are the biggest challenges of making a film and how did you overcome them?
Q5: 9:08 What’s your best piece of career advice?

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