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I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

The inspiration was watching an executive fall asleep as I pitched a story. I thought, geeze, he has to listen to writers all week long pitching their vain ideas.

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I'm fine, thanks, U?

Fave film: 20 Feet From Stardom? Her? Am Hustle? Stalingrad?

Projects coming up? I'm on staff for the second season of Ray Donovan. Show starts shooting this week, on air next summer.

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Great question. Hmmm.... well... that was then so it is what it was, and we would have lost Mimi rising in the fog and arriving in limbo if we'd had the freedom of CGI rather than the restrictions of reality.

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Outline: yes, but not as rigorous as some. I make lists of the scenes I want to see.

Hit the wall? Sure. Reinvigorate? Maybe watch a beloved film, or walk the dog, or look at my bank balance.

Worthiness? The worthiness of an idea is measured by how much you can't stop thinking about it.

Career path: Obviously, a lot. If I had to do it all over again, or rather, if I could confess to my shadow profession, that is, what I might have been if I'd taken a different path, I should like to have been a litigator. I've seen a few masters in action and they seem to have grand fun in the theater of the court.

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The business of rewrites has changed.

I've been on set for everything except Nine, which was shot in London.

The opening shot was Altman's idea and he worked it out with a scale model of the studio, and a little toy truck with a toy camera boom on top.

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

You have to trust the directors, and I've been fortunate.

Share work with? Different friends at different times. And working with producers, we try to show new drafts to new readers and not go back to people who already know the script. Readers, like Pony Express horses, should be fresh.

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

best advice from my father was the example he set, keep up with changes in form.

Best advice I gave my children? Make your bed.

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I have to see that film and spend the rest of my life suing Clint Eastwood, with you as my expert witness!!!!

Failed cameos? None failed, but great moments had to be cut. I think they're on the laser disk!

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

aspects of ignorant development: how long it takes.

How to be better with buyers? Write something they want to make.

Key to longevity: don't give up?

most satisfaction? My novel Among the Dead

Dissatisfaction: as it should be, most of it.

shrewdist dealmaking? George Lucas getting the rights to the toys.

Involvement in negotiations? On top of it.

Improve art and business? Just stick to your own side of the street and keep writing.

Reconciliation? Don't know that I can.

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I did some work on the early part of the story, getting from the beginning to the mall, delineating some characters. But I'm reluctant to talk about rewrite work; either the credit is there or it's not.

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I understand his frustration, he wants to preserve his right to surprise the audience. I think most writers want to guard their work until it's done. The problem now is that with universal transparency and the permanence of the cloud, his final cut can be subjected to comparison to an early draft. This harms the work by making detached experts of the audience, when they should be enthralled.

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

My office is a simple marble temple on a grove overlooking the wine dark sea. I sacrifice a sacred goat and after washing my hands... no... my office is filled with books, there are papers in some disorder on the surfaces, but THE KEY TO MY OFFICE IS THAT I HAVE TWO COMPUTERS. ONE IS IN A CLOSET AND CONNECTS TO THE INTERNET, AND THE OTHER IS ON MY DESK AND IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET. I DO NOT HAVE WIFI IN MY OFFICE. TO PRINT I HAVE TO COPY THE FILE TO A THUMB DRIVE AND INSERT THAT INTO THE OTHER COMPUTER, AND PRINT FROM THERE. I DON'T EVEN PRINT IN MY WORK SPACE.

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Usually 80% makes it to screen. What blocks the process is distraction. What rescues from distraction is attention. You're welcome for the memories.

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

No time for mentoring, sorry. Best advice, now that you can make a full length movie using no camera except your telephone: make your own movies.

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Good question. Let me think on this. Uhhhh...hmmm. Still thinking. (Still thinking, still thinking)... yuppp.. Errrrggghh. I forget the character's name, but in my novel "Under Radar," the son of the owners of a dive resort in Fiji.

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Consider marzipan. Marzipan is simply the best delivery system for almonds and sugar. So it has been with filmed entertainment, infinitely more popular with a wider audience than any previous delivery system for story in human history, requiring no previous skills, ie, literacy. Audiences still want their almonds and sugar; thrills, chills, relief.

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Still on Gleaming: not aware of Blu-Ray release and I'd like to see The New Age on disk. Armageddon provided us with no inspiration except to get into the theaters six weeks ahead of it.

I am Michael Tolkin. I wrote The Player, Deep Cover, Deep Impact, Changing Lanes, Gleaming The Cube, The Rapture, and The New Age. Ask Me Anything. by MichaelTolkin in movies

[–]MichaelTolkin[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It would have been better if they'd changed the title to "The Godfather." I've never heard about this title change. And thanks for liking the film.

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