Episode 273: David Mamet

5 Questions With Dan Schawbel

My guest today is 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.

The 5 questions I ask in this episode:

1. 1. Can you share some of the early influences that shaped your interest in writing and drama?
2. What motivated your transition from studying acting to becoming a playwright and how did this shift impact your creative process?
3. How was being fired from dozens of movies a blessing in disguise and what did you learn from the experiences?
4. What are the biggest challenges of making a film and how did you overcome them?
5. What’s your best piece of career advice?

Video interview: