Aaron Sorkin: From Addict to Academy Award Nominee

Before he wrote The Social Network, the West Wing, or A Few Good Men, Oscar nominated screenwriter Aaron Sorkin was a discount ticket salesman in Times Square who, through a series of lucky breaks, made it to Hollywood, and ultimately the Academy Awards race. Lesley Stahl reports.

[@HotPocketsBoy]

"a big deal screenwriter, producer & crackhead..." LMAO wtf. who wrote that?

[@TalkingThrones]

Sorkin

[@westmcgee9320]

That’s hardcore.

[@HarrisonHollers]

AARON!!!!

[@brettpilkington9539]

Very allegorical

[@LeLaidbackLauncher]

I live how someone who is famed for his rapid, smart and fluid dialogue sometimes struggles with real life conversation

[@thebacons5943]

He’s one of those writers who is made great by his precision, and it’s hard to be precise without multiple drafts. Fantastic writer and seems like a cool guy.

[@sean2015]

That’s why I don’t like Aaron Sorkin’s films. The dialogue is too fast paced to be realistic or representative of real life. It sounds so rehearsed.

[@LeLaidbackLauncher]

@@sean2015 he's on record saying that he tries to make his dialogue sound like music, and that theatre always sounded like music to him

[@sean2015]

@@LeLaidbackLauncher I don’t agree with it, and I don’t like it. Also his stupid “walk and talk” method.

[@LeLaidbackLauncher]

@@sean2015 atleast it's original and entertaining. If people wanted only realistic media 95% of the entertainment industry would collapse instantly

[@jackvanderwall]

I admire his intellect, and I think he's a brilliant writer.

[@RealTime88]

Aaron Sorkin is the best writer in television. And I hate Sarah Palin too and her fucking unintelligent family.

[@DAngelo136]

If you notice, he is in love with dialogue; that's why his screenplays are so compelling. The interaction between characters through the medium of language. What you see is a play that happens to be televised or shot for a movie. He is brilliant.

[@adarshrajbhatt6557]

Precisely! Nailed it.

[@dahalofreeek]

Some of my favourite movie quotes ever are his. "I'm 6'5", 220 pounds and there's two of me" totally caught me off guard when I watched this movie, amazing.

[@MDMetalManiac]

'A TV Series about a Cable News Show' was ducking epic! Thank you for that!!!! Truly

[@jamie9alexander]

He's absolutely phenomenal with the written word.

[@jasonoloo5860]

Hate the way she keeps interrupting him

[@user-sb1ho7ro5z]

Actually after seeing enough Charlie rose I think she’s going great lol

[@MrDanbloom]

Loved seeing the pic of MR SORKIN graduating in 1983 .....around 3 minutes into story.... with mom and dad and sister..... interesting to see FACES of his mom and dad....! thanks for this heads up!

[@christopherbramwell8262]

Wow. Aaron Sorkin now has acclaim because he's dedicated to his passion of writing by "feeding" his passion through research it seems but also by two other things that are very obvious. He's a BIG THINKER. No surprise there. And, it seems to me that he has a creative mindset. No surprise there either. AND. Least of which is his perseverance. Until he could get an agent, he kept writing his thoughts on cocktail napkins! Why? Because whether it was cocktail napkins or index cards or 81/2 X 11 pieces of paper, he captured every thought "in the moment". Which freed up his mind to further think & be creative. He talked out loud to himself which shows that he had that drive. He just kept feeding his passion. Initially, he did get some great traction and built momentum. I say, great for Aaron Sorkin. Good interview piece by Leslie Stahl. I just wish the discussion was longer. Maybe he was an excellent student as a playwrite. Observing. It's been said that " when the student is ready the teacher will appear". Congratulations Aaron Sorkin. An inspirational piece too.

[@surferpam1]

Brilliant, brilliant man.

[@seangrezel7913]

I love how the interviewer says "screenwriter, producer, and crackhead". It's just so disrespectful, I can't even 😂

[@pushthetempo2]

Any writer will realise that he most likely choose to not include his Zuckerburgs asian girlfriend because the character needed a motivation for creating Facebook and working hard at it, and him being broken hearted and bitter was a good one.

[@KreativeKill]

according to Sorkin, he used Zuckerberg's actual blog post, so he was implying that it was a real event. But he should have put his asian girlfriend at the end at the very least.

[@corrupt_insomniac]

KreativeKill Nah, the movie is fine as it is. IMO the ending is perfect and symbolic. A man who gave so many people the capability of connecting, is now incapable of connecting with anyone.

[@normancarter5419]

Aaron Sorkin, a true genius and gentleman of our time, what a life of extreme ups and extreme downs he has had.

[@patriciawickholm3617]

In spite of Lesley Stahl, he is always a good interview!!

[@DAVIDInitiative]

Clicked on this for the Lewis Black screencap.

[@MI-jp4nq]

The madman would probably be a better interviewer.

[@christopherg5488]

me too

[@christopherg5488]

I'm offended because I knew it was Lewis Black

[@dlobelow760]

This man is someone I admire so much, I want to try and beat him at his own game. I'll never best him but I'll still try

[@KryzMasta]

Sorkin wasn't glamorizing intelligence. He was saying Palin is glamorizing stupidity. And she does. Including a large portion of the Republicans and all Tea Party members. They talk about "liberal elite" as a derogatory term, referring to smart and educated people. Like Rick Santorum calling Obama a snob for wanting to send everyone to college. As if education is a bad thing. Remember Joe the Plummer? Main Street? The Heartland of America being the REAL America? Regular folk? Straight talk?

[@jasperzeitz6121]

Well, this comment aged like a fine wine.

[@SighNoMoore]

Fair point, but half what Sorkin is saying is that it is terrifying someone as dim as her got so close to holding one of the most powerful offices in the world without someone saying she was criminally under qualified. You're right, you get good stupid people and evil clever people, but intelligence isn't just a consideration when you're talking about this sort of responsibility, it's a basic prerequisite.

[@normancarter5419]

SighNoMoore: Who is dumber and more dangerous - Sarah Palin or Baby Fascist Hitler Donald Trump?

[@willmpet]

Mr. Sorkin has helped to Make America Smart Again. I agree completely with his attitude of disliking the approval of acting and being stupid and ignorant, and the importance of using intelligence!

[@chadum96]

Me: I'm envious of Sorkin and his incredible writing skills. I wish I could be him. Sorkin: I was addicted to crack Me: Well...maybe not

[@sciencenotreligion5607]

I suspected he was on drugs watching him in an interview after he left the West Wing. At first I couldn't figure out what it was about him that seemed slightly off.

[@bethanybdavidson]

Science not religion that and the fact that he was able to churn out prolific levels of written work over four years. The amount of stuff he put out for WW was inhuman.

[@dlobelow760]

I used to be addicted to meth and I've been clean for about 3-4 years. Trust, I'm still jelly over this man.

[@christopherbramwell8262]

He eventually overcame that horrible addiction. Maybe, for one, he realized that he had too much to lose.

[@normancarter5419]

Newsroom (Sloan!), The West Wing, A Few Good Men, Charlie Wilson's War, Moneyball, The Social Network, Molly's Game, and more - Aaron Sorkin and John Grisham and Jeffrey Archer (Kane and Abel, and The Prodigal Daughter) are arguably 3 of the best writers of the 20th and 21st century

[@TheMadmanAndre]

And The Newsroom is proving to be Sorkin's best TV Series to date.

[@ardelld1]

I love Newsroom...but better than West Wing?

[@evanliveshere]

@@ardelld1 Newsroom has its issues. It's lovable for sure; not his best.

[@Miamicop100]

Aaron has boosted my intrest in writing my own ideas. I love is engagement, writing down the info on napkins^^ it is like me pening it down in my notes on my phone.

[@christopherbramwell8262]

Keep going!

[@montypythonfanatic1]

A Day In The Life Of Aaron Sorkin: 1. Wake up 2. Do some crack 3. Write a screenplay while on crack 4. Win awards 5. And repeat

[@montypythonfanatic1]

Didn't say it was wrong dude in fact I admire the fact that he could produce such great tv shows and movie scripts while under such influence. Wouldn't do it myself but damn.

[@montypythonfanatic1]

So much respect haha

[@AnneLiesveld]

***** I guess anyone else would be called a "addict" he is called a creative free spirit! But then again we aren't living in the era where Martin Sheen lived that forced people to live with maturity and make certain choices like NOT do drugs

[@AnneLiesveld]

Dante Von Sydow why would you respect someone who uses their Hollywood flaunt to get away with what is wrong in so many others' minds?

[@michaelwtapp]

6. Take 7 showers throughout the day.

[@solangepolegar]

Studio 60 on the sunset strip and the Newsroom are also iconic. I don’t know why those aren’t more talked about....

[@tokemarton]

my favorite writer and my favorite comedien crossed paths?! OMG!

[@elheadkickio]

What a sharp guy. I'd love to know about his favorite books and authors, so I could read them as well.

[@jonloc8535]

If he was that upset about Sarah Palin, his head must've exploded when Trump came along

[@BeckettSong]

About 6:10 , Sorkin was on a "sobriety high". That term was used on Sorkin's "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip" by Jordan McDeere(President of NBS and played by Amanda Peet) talking directly to Danny Tripp(Bradley Whitford) whom was also a former drug addict. Tripp is the fictional character whom was hired alongside Matt Albie to run the show after Wes Mendell's termination.

[@Johnny-tk4uw]

I loved Studio 60 :3

[@daveinindy]

Whom is addicted to "whom"? (maybe Steven Baldi, that's whom)

[@BeckettSong]

To quote Jerry Seinfeld from within his sitcom, Sarah Palin needs "to go to Vienna or something". Seinfeld was talking to his friend George about the fact that he needs psychiatric help. LOL!

[@christopherbramwell8262]

@StevenBaldi/Seinfeld humorously said something like, "You don't need a once a week for an hour type for therapy. No. No. You need a team. Working around the clock. 7 days a week. For months on end. THAT'S what you need". That was HILARIOUS to me!

[@nutsackmania]

Sorkin's fav tune: The Pixies--Crackity Jones

[@IHateStaleCrackers]

Good for him,really.

[@screwthenet]

DAMMIT! I just started my dialogue with dammit. TAKE THAT YOU HACK!

[@bilalbihi3045]

A year later he created the Newsroom. A platform he could use to bash Sarah Palin.

[@ThatGirlWithTheCoffee]

I think tat was the "Tv series about a cable news show" that was referenced at the end of the clip

[@JohnBradydoesstuff]

Wow.... what an interesting guy.... man.....

[@JamieGibsonGuitar]

So whether she is competent to govern is irrelevant? Character certainly doesn't guarantee competence, I agree nor does intelligence, but Aaron says the word 'dumbness' in this interview. I would argue that also includes ignorance, and that almost certainly guarantees incompetence. So Sorkin is totally valid in saying that glamourising dumbness is wrong.

[@davecongalton2858]

Wonder why this is "Sunday Morning" and not "60 Minutes."

[@oferdesade]

i cant believe they didnt mention studio 60

[@RomTankin]

I was hoping someone else noticed that

[@jimmaculate3802]

"Through a series of lucky breaks," ya mean predicated on people seeing his work.

[@nateds7326]

“Winner.” “What?” “Academy award winner.”

[@TheRAWcarnage]

im related to him !

[@OliverMorales]

a Brilliant Mind!

[@samholder196]

This interviewer needs to listen more.

[@TooSeriously]

So.....why is Lewis Black in the thumbnail.....?

[@TooSeriously]

Ah...finally. 4:40 lol

[@jimbobjimminy]

STUDIO 60 IS AWESOME

[@Bacbi]

of course getting treatment is the right course of action but it's weird when u hear stories like his and then you have a certain segment of the population that gets imprisoned for life if they do the same.

[@andyman1391]

Quote "Became a genius at folding" Wow

[@HailSagan1]

I would generally agree with that sentiment, but if you're attempting to influence how people live their lives (as either a governor or a commentator, like Palin), intelligence is pertinent, or should be anyway.

[@BazIrvine]

"It's not THAT big" MZ.

[@denawhisler]

Amen! I also do not have any patience for the glamorization of dumbness!

[@2011blueman]

I know, Studio 60 was fantastic, classic Sorkin, and sadly it didn't do well on network tv.

[@actown8170]

It would be on Hulu for sure?!? So would Sports Night

[@VictorLameirao]

Hapless punks and Witless Bullies. Nice to know where it came from.

[@fireball0762]

we need a real president bartlet for the 21st century

[@noelhoffmann6057]

Bingo! Thank you Mr. Sorkin. She IS a witless bully.

[@christiemason6317]

Related to Matt Damon?

[@SuperWidemouth]

Interesting that he was in CMA.. hehe.

[@zendakk]

Reading the comments here, it's both hilarious and sad how you Americans use "liberal" and "conservative" as insults instead of summaries of worldviews. You sound like a bunch of 11-y-olds parrotting their parents. Why don't you address issues instead?

[@crunkrocka]

@myfacesp When a person with ignorance becomes a person with power, it ALWAYS leads to a negative.

[@MatthewS8590]

i cant stand this lady. she either interrupts him, asks really simple questions, laughs at her own witless comments, or then, at the very, end says sorkin is waiting to see if he's going to get the oscar for his screenplay about mark zuckerberg. first of all, theres no journalism in saying someone is simply waiting around to win an award. Secondly, HE JUST TOLD YOU IT WASN'T ABOUT MARK ZUCKERBERG. it wasn't a biopic, it was a movie about a deposition and the people who come up in it. Jesus!

[@chandni4083]

She's so annoying. Her tone urghhhh.get over yourself lady...

[@BillNyeGuy]

Some of you who are insulting him and the show aren't helping yourselves or your political stance. Talk about the shortcomings instead of blatant and vulgar dialect. Me I'm on the fence politically and in terms of sorkins work. As a person he seems to be more angry then warm or inviting and especially in the entertainment business that's not a great way to get people to notice your work.

[@fredverdenua]

So it’s for sure must come law that any person who even one to me try any drug not allowed do anything bigger then clean streets But you know what - when this law will start in 10 years world ll became absolutely clean place - because clean good people never put trash around them

[@DogAmongMen]

More stern than angry.

[@F3ND1MUS]

Youre that Nothing when people ask me what Im thinking about.

[@wojcikstefan]

5:21

[@Emaxycandy]

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[@bananian]

Well if you're going to be the Vice President, then intelligence kind of matters.

[@ajrnagy100]

@myfacesp Sorry but I have no problem judging politicians on intellect.

[@2010CAS]

crazy eyes, he just looks angry

[@braden17pro]

haha he asked was that a question because it wasn't. i really don't care for Lesley Stahl

[@royrowland5763]

Ah, the good old days, when Sarah Palin was considered an outlier for inarguable stupidity in a certain political party. Several MAGA years later...

[@ajnandgrace]

Lesley can you let them answer your question before you actually ask them another....

[@vesaversion298]

He has ridden a few good men.

[@kensuke0]

So what do you propose? Glamorize the average joe? Or not glamorize anything at all? Don't hold anything at a pedestal? Don't make anything an example? Pretty narrow thinking there, bud. We should glamorize intelligence but only when it has non-destructive intentions. Intelligence is the acquisition of information you get from the world, that's how you learn what works and what doesn't work. What makes you successful and what doesn't make you successful.

[@juanok2775]

isnt that a requirement in Hollywood

[@samanthanickson6478]

aaron sorkin looks like emile hirsch in 40 years

[@davecmeyer]

My God is everyone's God even yours whether you believe or not. But, I can see right now that you are a very unhappy person and have lost your way. I will pray harder for you, that you find away to love yourself and find peace in God's grace.

[@thebookwasbetter3650]

Read the book that the FB movie is based on. Shahl touches on this but sort of giggles it off. My goodness, there are some big differences between the movie and truth. I dont see how this writer can write about a real person and then fabricate facts.

[@adyanbickaroo1868]

Harley quinn 😊

[@rillihi697]

Walk those NY streets today Mr. Democrat

[@DragonPrincessAoife]

All his scripts are.

[@dudedudedude94]

SARAH PALIN? WHY IS THIS A COMMENT ON THIS VIDEO?! LOL

[@minecraft6051]

She is aboslutley terrified of his intelect and only bashes him in the narration not in tge actual interview

[@DavidBaruffi]

No, you should be judged by both.

[@asupertramp948]

What?! A crackhead?! That's unreal.

[@Arajjin]

There was lot of lies in the movie

[@josemiguelcastiblancogomez7723]

Thats why is a movie, genius! ;)

[@BeYob]

Mark Zuckerberg (er) ...lol

[@JacklostYedmore]

justin bieber

[@SpritzMcSoda]

She is so obnoxious. Sensationalist network TV personalities are so gut-wrenchingly awful. Sorkin deserved better questions than 'Don't you think you hurt poor Zuckerburg's feelings?' Untenable.

[@joeya5147]

I wonder what he thinks of Trump lol

[@Johnny-tk4uw]

Watch the pilot of one of the best shows ever Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip

[@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath]

If Sorkin doesn't have any patience for the glamorization of dumbness why did he appear on Today?

[@jackryan9183]

Maybe because it's not "Today".

[@rdelavarre]

he's ok but his dialogue does not portray people as the communicate in the real world. It is too smooth, too staged, as if the actors know what they are ready to say before they say it. Andf of course Sorkin has to put in his authoritarian self rightious left wing tilt. He doesnt impress me at all. A fake

[@rdelavarre]

he's ok but his dialogue does not portray people as they communicate in the real world. It is too smooth, too staged, as if the actors know what they are ready to say before they say it. Andf of course Sorkin has to put in his authoritarian self righteous left wing tilt. He doesn't impress me at all. A fake

[@northernbrother1258]

See kids, you can do drugs and be successful!

[@coolinism]

Haha but best not to lol

[@moviecowboy2012]

Hes a very gifted writer but hating on Sarah palin was totally uncalled for. he didn't even make a good argument...and his voice has a slight, subtle feminine quality to it

[@photondance]

Yeah, crack's not a "once in a while" kind of thing. Spot on about the glamourization of dumbness, by the way.

[@davecmeyer]

He has no credibility with me since his assinine opinion of Sarah. She is intelligent, accomplished, faithful, and loving in all aspects of her life. Any any of you who use vile language to describe her are Godless, immoral and dispicable people.

[@bluecollarlit]

Why do you have two first names?