AMERICAN HISTORY X screenwriter David McKenna on going from waiter to produced writer

We chat with AMERICAN HISTORY X, S.W.A.T. and EMBATTLED screenwriter/producer David McKenna about his progression from waiter to represented, sold and produced screenwriter, writing fight and action sequences, the need for real, emotional and character driven stories in film and much more.
Original Podcast (Ep 165 / audio version): www.scriptsand...
Follow David on Instagram: / davidmckennascreenwriter
The conversation continues on a new episode of the Script & Scribes unScripted aftershow w/ David McKenna on Patreon: / scriptsandscribes
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[@MrKylePopovich]

Great interview!! Thanks for spending the time to do this, from both parties 🎉🙏

[@CosmoZap]

What an amazing interview! Thank you for all your insights! I really enjoyed it!

[@ScriptsandScribes]

Thanks Curt!

[@MrKylePopovich]

07:07 upbringing 10:12 moved to LA to be a screenwriter (after Syd Fields) 11:00 support yourself (dayjob) so you can write 12:40 got an agent (after selling self to a producer) 13:00 couldn't sell 3 screenplays... 13:06 so he wrote a 4th, American History X 17:16 it's hard (if 120pgs was easy, everyone would do it) 18:52 on Embattled (new $10M budgeted film) 19:45 William Syndrome (son, and incorporation) 27:22 it's rare financiers greenlight a bad script... 29:33 on Get Carter ("one of my worst movies") 29:59 on Get Carter (Production Story) 33:30 1st Time people "stick to the script" you signed on... 48:03 on E-Ring (NBC show which lost to... LOST) 48:39 on Getting Ratings up, Writers Room and Hard Work 48:58 on Video Game writing (the Scarface Video game) 49:43 on TV Shows vs Movie writing 53:16 on the three scripts before American History X 53:45 on American History X 54:39 casting an intelligent skinhead (lots of passes) 55:05 who's Edward Norton? Go see Primal Fear... 55:38 keep with it and you'll get better, as with AHX 1:12:44 on $20M-30 Million Dollar movies 1:22:12 life lessons from David McKenna 1:22:19 on Growing up Without a Dad/Father 1:25:41 goodbyes

[@seancorrigan7448]

"American History X" is one of the greatest films of all time. A timeless masterpiece. Edward Norton should have won the Oscar that year. Thank you for this.

[@simonecampobasso]

Thanks a lot for this content! I'm just reading MEMO, this interview inspiring me a lot! Keep it up!

[@ScriptsandScribes]

Thanks for watching! Keep writing! :)

[@kidpizz]

McKenna is spot on. New movies are empty and simply calling art content is a sign of how disposable the new film and TV shows are

[@harshitjaiswal2120]

man i just saw blow 2001 , he wrote it with nick Cassavetes awesome movie

[@PoodlestarGenerica]

You should add subject timestamps.

[@ScriptsandScribes]

Thanks for the suggestion! Yes, this is something that we've considered and plan on doing in the near future.