How I Wrote Fight Club

Discuss your favorite film with me on our Discord server: / discord
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What is the meaning of Fight Club? Instead of giving you my theory, let's learn straight from the source! Listen to Chuck Palahniuk (author), Jim Uhls (screenwriter), David Fincher (director), and more talk about how they created this film and book!
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Fight Club is a 1999 film based on the 1996 novel by Chuck Palahniuk. It was directed by David Fincher and stars Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. Norton plays the unnamed narrator, who is discontent with his white-collar job. He forms a "fight club" with soap salesman Tyler Durden, and becomes embroiled in a relationship with him and a destitute woman, Marla Singer.
ABOUT BEHIND THE CURTAIN
This channel is a way for me to share the best nuggets of knowledge for filmmakers I find. It's an attempt to take a look inside the greatest films and TV shows and learn from the creators themselves how they do what they do.
LEARN MORE
The Dialogue: Jim Uhls Interview
• The Dialogue: Jim Uhls...
How to Write a Screenplay with Fight Club Screenwriter Jim Uhls | Indie Film Hustle
• How to Write a Screenp...
Joe Rogan - Chuck Palahniuk on Fight Club's Most Infamous Line
• Joe Rogan - Chuck Pala...
How They Wrote Fight Club
• How I Wrote Fight Club
#fightclub #filmmaking #screenwriting

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Talk about Fight Club and filmmaking on our official Discord server: discord.gg/xxTqXXd

[@erispe]

Will it appear on this channel?

[@BehindtheCurtain]

An excerpt of the interview will be on the channel, but to access the full hour interview you'll need to join the membership. If you join the newsletter, you'll get an email explaining what the Membership is. It's a lot of exclusive interviews, but it's also a LOT more. I'm creating something that I believe will be really really valuable for anyone interested in film and writing.

[@Sheridan2LT]

THIS WAS SO FUCKING COOL!! I wanted to hear the actual dude say what he meant.

[@Sheridan2LT]

@jon castro Nah he adapted a movie for the novel "Fight Club", called "Fight Club". Hm, what fucking ass movie could it be Jon Castro!?!?!?!? HM!?!?!?!?!?

[@Promotepeace]

Jim, this movie (your story), was profoundly influential to my generation. We grew up revering the bravery and industriousness of our grandparents, and this was the wake-up call that helped us regain the same fighting spirit that changed our amazing democracy during WWII. It reminded us that we can fight against mandated expectations, and that we can do it while looking good.

[@volcanosauce00]

Thank you for not making a “I’m gonna talk about Fight Club” joke. It’s so refreshing.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Almost every moderator in the interviews I listened to said this. Every one of them thought they were being original haha.

[@carrotcake6572]

Not as bad as “13 reasons why 13 reasons why is terrible”

[@davidbanterford3216]

haha.

[@gabrielbauer5595]

I like the talk about fight club joke :/

[@jeremydraper733]

Gabriel Bauer me too fr, like it starts as a nod to the movie cuz haha get it, you’re not supposed to talk about it, but also I’ve had people ask me what fight club is about and I refuse to explain it cuz I don’t wanna give anything away so I always just say I’m not supposed to talk about fight club you have to just watch it

[@tennesseeheckler3014]

"The things you own, end up owning you." That line stuck with me my whole life and prevented me from putting too much value on materialism. Fight Club is still so very relevant to this day. People love things, and use people; when it should be the other way around.

[@SomeGuyNamedTex]

💯😐👍

[@Laotzu.Goldbug]

Technology, rational thought, the fall of Man and materialism are all one in the same thing

[@vain.a2]

Things love people, and use things; when it should be the other way around.

[@DarkAngelEU]

I even have a friend who showed me Fight Club and now he's an old fart who has become that mantra. He's being owned by his job, the rat race, social climbing, AI finding an answer to the meaning of life? He used to moan about it, now he's just fitter happier more productive

[@lechar92]

same here

[@jimmybombastic3216]

“You met me at a very strange time in my life” is the central fucking theme to every relationship I’ve ever had.

[@mr.froschi6526]

Dude i read this at the exact moment it was said in the video...wtf

[@youtube_handled]

same man, I feel like I'm apologising for meeting people when I do

[@JorgeGomez-kt3oq]

You need two things for a relationship, chemistry and timing. Sadly, timing's a bitch

[@marting5130]

well arent you just so bombastic

[@xyaeiounn]

Get your shit together then

[@cyrilrodriguez4519]

"A great anecdote doesn't leave people speechless, it leaves them competing to tell a better version of the same thing." I love that

[@MarcillaSmith]

If you love it so much, why don't you compete to tell a better version of it?

[@davidm1926]

@@MarcillaSmith Because he married it.

[@Jacob-2796]

This is kinda ridiculous. It sounds like an insecure response to try and make it about yourself. Selflessness would lead you to appreciate and enjoy things without needing to beg for attention.

[@NextLineIsMine]

Pretty selfish of you to write a comment that garnered my attention@@Jacob-2796

[@Crick1952]

So Fight Club (at least the premise) is almost an autobiography... Woah...

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Chuck is a really really interesting person. He gives fantastic long-form interviews. I would definitely recommend them!

[@TheGeorgeD13]

Most great writing is autobiographical. Some are just more obvious than others.

[@mikethompson2745]

"write what you know"...

[@bhaskyOld]

Very scary

[@voteZDLR]

Yeah Chuck Palahniuk himself is a gay man, and I think the entire principle of having this story that's so from the perspective of men (there's literally only one female character) and their position or lack thereof in modern society, THAT I think probably was very autobiographical for him to write. But also I think he was just living in this world of consumerism so he wanted to write something that effectively communicated his disgust for commercialism and materialism and the whole 9 to 5 working, IKEA shopping, normal pleb lifestyle but the solution to this was to create a men's only club that started out as a form of therapy for them but it ended up becoming a terroristic cult basically because their charismatic leader (who was both the narrator and Tyler Durden at the same time) went from being a hypocrite (and he was always hypocritical, Tyler was, that's the main thing to remember, as he the perfect Adonis movie star Brad Pitt sits there and talks about the underwear model on the bus "This is what a real man looks like" with the nice abs etc. That might as well have been Brad Pitt) to a hypocrite that built an army off of his sheer charisma alone. A lot of people don't pick up on Tyler's hypocrisy, in fact it's bizarre to me how many Tyler Durden fans there are out there, he's an interesting character for sure, but Ramsay was an interesting character from Thrones in spite of being a psychopath. But yeah there's a website called "What Would Tyler Durden Do" (WWTDD) which is a knock off of WWJD "What Would Jesus Do".

[@aliciam6725]

“When people think you’re dying people really, really listen to you, instead of...”. “Instead of just waiting for their turn to speak...”, says Marla interrupting, not waiting for her turn to speak. Love Palahniuk. Love Fight Club. Currently reading Haunted. Highly recommend to Palahniuk appreciators.

[@retinaofthemindseye]

she's just completing his sentence not interrupting. if she'd said: "I need another cigarette", that would have been a different story.

[@topophil]

@@retinaofthemindseye It's still an interruption. It's arrogant to assume you know the end to the other person's sentence. Often times, you will be wrong. And in a scripted movie scene, there are no accidents. It was definitely intentional.

[@retinaofthemindseye]

@@topophil Have you ever heard of the phrase "completing each other's sentences"? It implies that the two characters are soul mates. Which they turn out to be. I'm sure the author would agree.

[@turtleanton6539]

Right

[@topophil]

@@retinaofthemindseye You don't have an argument as to how her interruption is not an interruption. It is still an interruption in a conversation about interruptions and nothing you say can change that.

[@KidPrimeA9]

“Our Great War is a spiritual war. Our Great Depression is our lives”

[@All6usto]

you can say that again...

[@Ptaku93]

time to prove yourself now, boys

[@fredericbeigbeder9119]

obvious Corona changes this at the moment

[@ToniGromann]

and Iraq and Afghanistan and the great recession and whatever comes after corona...

[@SRSR-pc8ti]

“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” - medium.com/personal-growth/the-most-important-skill-nobody-taught-you-9b162377ab77#2587

[@yoshikagekira6683]

Fight Club is just one of many movies that you have to see when you’re still an impressionable teenager

[@davolean729]

Well said it came out in a perfect time my life early twenties angry couldn't have loved it better timing I've watched it now and it's a little depressing for me LOL still a great movie

[@kartracer93]

watched it first in '08 when I was 15, perfect timing. It still does click tho.

[@supremeavx]

I was in high school when I saw it

[@danielbentley8103]

Why

[@hakon7269]

Im 18 and watched it last week. I didnt know what to expect but i can honestly say that i didnt like it that much. It was suprising to me, because I kind of thought it would resonate with most young men. The movie is beautifully shot and edited, but i didnt like the story or characters very much.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

8:31 - 9:03 what Edward Norton says here is the most important message, and something unfortunately some guys who don't get to the end of, which is the most important message of the film. To be mature is to realise Tyler's faults and move away. What Tyler's actions are is not correct, his grievances maybe correct, but his solutions are not, as they include juvinile lashing out, as the solution.

[@steelman774]

Exactly… though Tyler is flawed, he is needed for growth for he is the one to strip away the old regulatory restrictions wholesale and help to set out on a new path, even though many options are brought to light through his flawed self concept. Once he clears demolishes the old, one can start building from the rubble in the light of self realization past what Tyler wanted for self and into a healthy relationship with your own life and the world around us.

[@TheBloatLord]

That's like... Just.. your opinion man!

[@odoacredacalcutta5085]

that's what one of the main actors of the movie has to say about it to make it sound ok for everyone. fact is that the movie in fact isn't ok at all. it portraits nihilism as sexy as you've never seen before. and that's why everyone loves it, although you know it's wrong and you can't go publicly saying that you want to do what Tyler Durden says.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

@@odoacredacalcutta5085 I mean it's also the opinion of the writter of the book, the writer of the screenplay and the director's thoughts as well. But go off

[@mr.t.1237]

@@Alex-cw3rz so what is the solution? You can't discredit Tyler's approach without providing an alternative.

[@catsinq5726]

This is my favorite movie in the whole world. And I'm going to share the story of how I saw it. Being female, I never had an interest in it when it came out. I thought it would just be a celebration of the worst kind of violence. Several years after it came out I brought a drum over to a guy's house - he was going to re-skin it for me, and I'd never met him, but I had been told he did this kind of work. We chatted for a few minutes and somehow the movie came up and I said, "yeah, I have no interest in it." He said, "you've got to see it." I was like "yeah, sure, one day." And he said, "NO. RIGHT NOW." He literally dragged me into his house, shouted to his roommate that they had to put on the movie for me, and they just left me there in their living room watching this movie on VHS. I don't know what they were doing - just whatever they did during the day, I guess. The film BLEW ME AWAY. I walked out in a daze. Picked my drum up the next week, thanked the guy and never saw him again. But as a result, I became convinced that the way to get introduced to this movie was to see it when you had no idea what it was about, with no preamble, no explanation. I've introduced a lot of people to it that way. No complete strangers, like I was to that guy, nevertheless it's come as quite a surprise to many friends who had never seen it. It's my favorite move. I think it's literally cinematically perfect.

[@gagslovedotcom]

This is how I saw it too. The city friend staying at the country friend's house. At the time they didn't have cable or internet so they had a vast movie collection. About to settle in for the night when my friend's wife asked "Have you seen fight club?" I barely had a chance to reply 'no' when she handed me the VHS and said "well then you have to watch it... and I did.

[@jasonwinzenried1115]

I saw the last bit first randomly flipping channels and made my best friend watch it to gauge what my own reaction might have been. Would I have figured out the twist with his identity and if so, when? Would the end have been a shock for me? Based on how he took it, yeah it would have been :D

[@treytilley333]

@overwatch 2 hater it’s definitely a story lol

[@FakenameStevens]

I wouldn't have let him do that regardless

[@bear1050]

And this is how women get raped.

[@nillynush4899]

the movie is actually MORE relevant today.

[@alexispapageorgiou72]

And it'll become more and more relevant as time goes by ...

[@jonaskristiansen7225]

It will always be relevant in the modern world

[@brolicragelikebroly]

Forever relevant

[@noyce714]

Definition of a classic.

[@moonlitegram]

No its not. Maybe its relevant in its own way now, which is what great stories have a tendency to do. But it was very much a product of its time. Not to sound too condescending, but were you alive back then? It kind of sounds like you weren't, or maybe you were very young. That movie resonated immensely with my generation when it came out. So hearing someone claim its more relevant today makes me think you weren't around to experience it when it first came out.

[@AwokenEntertainment]

so interesting hearing that many parts of Fight Club were pulled from his real life..

[@EeeEee-bm5gx]

Everything there is 100% true, while also 100% made up.

[@xthunderclesx]

If you have read his novels and then you read his nonfiction collection you see that integrating life experiences and stories is kinda a chuck thing

[@anonymous_wednesday]

@@xthunderclesxits why his writing is often raw and uncomfortable. its also why i at least, tend to adore his writing

[@ImaginaryAmbition]

Great work in compiling and beautifully arranging this information

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Dude, just watched a bunch of your videos and they're hilarious. Great job.

[@groverkiinmuppetborn714]

how to lofi is fire

[@MrLerris911]

Meatloaf was amazing in Fight Club.

[@basti4923]

His name was Robert Paulsen

[@mike_p941]

Basti his name was Robert Paulsen

[@henryd9493]

Mike P His name was Robert Paulsen

[@Dat__Cat]

krakonkiller 901 His name was Robert Paulsen

[@LaGuerre19]

Great set of tits on that Robert Paulson.

[@Mr79Shahin]

This movie made me view the world differently, and it’s impact has stayed with me even till today

[@flawedperfexion7238]

Such a quotable movie. “ with a gun between your teeth, you speak only in vowels” brilliant!

[@expatrocious]

It’s common sense

[@albirtarsha5370]

It has that same deadpan tone as in the Matrix. Agent Smith: Tell me, Mr. Anderson, what good is a phone call when you are unable to speak?

[@ainnothin9854]

It's a stupid line

[@dealerovski82]

fight club is an original movie of the rarest kind.

[@Franciumflourine]

how are you defining original movie? they tell you in the clip it was an adaption.

[@dealerovski82]

@@Franciumflourine No definition in particular just a rare movie and not a superhero movie like we see so much of today.

[@mbartelsm]

@@dealerovski82 When it came out superhero movies weren't a thing like they are today. We barely get diversity in movies anymore

[@Elm98]

Miguel Bartelsman you guys realize there’s millions of movies lol, just look harder

[@leoskits5982]

Funny you mention that considering the movie is based on a book, not saying that is a bad thing or anything

[@jaypurcell3733]

Fight club was one of those movies that instantly clicked as some kind of truth in my mind. Tylers desires are in some way related to all of our desires as men

[@amdavad]

we're a generation of men raised by women

[@BehindtheCurtain]

It's true. However, it's not as simple as that. While Tyler is able to point out the problems, he isn't wise in his solutions. He represents a part of us that must be kept under control so that we don't digress into nihilistic cavemen.

[@amdavad]

we're a generation of men raised by women. Sometimes I wonder if a woman is the answer we really need. That's the complete quote. Hence to not digress into nihilistic cavemen living in complete chaos, a woman might help to settle down and start families, tribes, villages, cities and civilizations.

[@GuinessOriginal]

जे-रा हिप हॉप! // JRA RAPPER! Nah. The British had fight club in the 70s and 80s , it was called football hooliganism.

[@MrTL3wis]

@@amdavad That's _a_ quote, but it's not complete. It's also not the entire story distilled into a single sentence. There are multiple ideas being put forth.

[@steveclapper5424]

When I walk out of a theater and a movie was so immersive I really feel like I was on the journey are rare and this was one of them. I'll never forget my first seeing of it.

[@Lyndanet]

I remember most people who were in the theater were angry wanted their money back didn’t “get it” and left…

[@steveclapper5424]

@@Lyndanet not you I'm guessing.

[@leannezezeski-sass2773]

@Lyndanet seriously?! That’s crazy, I thought this was one of those movies that everyone generally loves

[@chiragdesai3068]

20 years and still the movie resonates with our lives.

[@moppyg3741]

His name was robert paulson

[@dosmastrify]

He died

[@fademusic1980]

Bitch tits bob

[@fademusic1980]

@Brad dіe Irriterend III I see the humor in your post but I hope you see the juxtaposition of the way he's referred to in the movie. While alive? he's bitch tits bob. In death he is Robert Paulson. There is a lot to unpack there and I don't have the space.

[@Nathan-gd7xq]

Her name is Sarah Paulson.

[@dannydevlin1893]

His name was Robert Paulson

[@X0verXDriveX]

Fight Club is pure genius.

[@RicardoMontania]

No it isn't

[@X0verXDriveX]

@@RicardoMontania My god, I can't argue with that comment. You're right, it sucks.

[@AtmasImpaler]

Loooool

[@X0verXDriveX]

@SharkTank You're smart, said your mother and no one else ever.

[@X0verXDriveX]

@SharkTank When an idiot calls you smart... Doesn't make you smart.

[@JanZamani]

fight club is one of those things you see that blow you away for a while then you carry on your boring life and kinda forget about it...

[@julianatalksfilms7112]

What I love about a lot of writers is their ability to transform real-life experiences into fictional stories. The saying "reality is stranger than fiction" really does ring true in the majority of cases.

[@wabc2336]

Yeah, I've seen people deny that the support groups are realistic, that the main character would go to them without having any diseases. But it's all based on reality

[@NaZtRdAmUs]

One of the most important things in Fight club is consumerism and how "the things you own end up owning you" I personally took this statement to heart myself, great upload you could have another million videos on Fight club its that deep.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Love that element of it!

[@MrTL3wis]

That's certainly an important component, but I'm not convinced it's the 'most important'.

[@NaZtRdAmUs]

@@MrTL3wis Keyword "One" of the most important not the "most"

[@memowilliam9889]

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote a short essay on that theme. I recall one of the images he used; it was the picture of a slave. For him to remain a slave the owner had to hang on to the other end of the chain.

[@cc5053]

@@memowilliam9889 I finally read Thoreau's "Walden" for the first time earlier this year. Very similar theme, and I'd be lying if I said Fight Club didn't pop into my head at least once while reading it.

[@Jejkobbb]

I could watch a thousand of these like it was nothing. Keep it up!!!!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

That's what I like to hear! Thanks, man!

[@abuferasabdullah]

Me too 🤙🏼

[@Dylan-jf5tu]

I really resonated with the idea of Nihilism being a sexy idea. Being an adolescent, nihilism is like our justification of the world, suddenly our world is vastly more complicated than pre-adolescence and a fun way of dealing with that is to not really buy into any one ideology but to just reject them all. Progressing into our twenties and thirties the reality of a mundane life can creep in especially through a steady 9 to 5 career and bills, mortgages etc. Suddenly we can no longer deal with the idea of 'meaningless' as it offers no value to the life we endure so it is this time we strive to maintain purpose and intent in an ever more arcane and absurd world.

[@RoninYeti]

I got to meet him at a theater during one of his talks years ago. During one of his short stories, older people and those with weak stomachs began puking and running out of the theater. You know you're a good writer when you can exhume the bile of your audience with mere words!

[@isrealYT]

Ronin Yeti Studio don’t subestimaste the power of spelling

[@sarahb4172]

What was it about?

[@RoninYeti]

@@sarahb4172 He read a few stories from one of the books he had released at the time (Fugitives & Refugees), and then ended the show with the infamous short stories from Guts. It seems to be his go-to stories when he wants to garner a strong reaction.

[@Despair505]

@@RoninYeti I was gonna ask if it was Guts haha

[@RoninYeti]

@@Despair505 You would be correct, lol

[@eelco8800]

Seeing this video, I had to rewatch the movie immediately.

[@diptarun]

I aspire to be a novelist, not a screenwriter. But these videos are teaching me a lot. Thank you. Keep it up!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

That's really good to hear, Diptarum. Good luck to your novel writing! I'm glad this can help in some way.

[@diptarun]

@Zwenk Wiel Yeah I know that. I was talking about this channel in the whole. Not particularly about this video.

[@diptarun]

@Naytron 9000 I don't understand.

[@ViralVeediuh]

The best novels make it to the screen

[@jayabratakarmakar]

Chaliye jao

[@MRSLAV]

Best stories come from experience

[@destinysfrog]

Its nice to have a well edited piece on the subject of writing a film (or book) without some 21 year old film school student barking his worthless opinions at me. Make more.

[@MrQueefs]

you sound obnoxious as fuck

[@MiKa-fu2wi]

YearninGoodTimes is a 21 year old film student.

[@WEF2030SLAVE]

Agreed!

[@Fabian-ro5en]

Those are the most annoying videos on youtube!. "critics" on why the Force Awakens is great and fucking Birdman is overrated or why Nolan is shit and Lego movie is awesome...

[@12foot04]

YearninGoodTimes: You’re 100% right. Some ppl may like those vids, but I too would love more pieces like this one. Also that being said I wouldn’t mind some videos with exceptional 21 year olds, but that is the exception.

[@arrinstoner]

If you haven't read the book do yourself a favor and pick it up. It's an easy read that you can get through with little time invested and you won't want to put it down. It's one of the most brilliant books in history. Movie is a great adaptation and Fincher was the perfect director. Thanks for the behind the scenes glimpse, very well made.

[@MattMcConaha]

If I remember correctly, Chuck Palahniuk thinks the movie is better than the book. But either way, I've read it and I've watched it, and I also recommend anybody who likes one to try the other.

[@rugierro]

There's a graphic novel sequel out now. By Palahniuk.

[@KidPrimeA9]

Saw the movie then read the book I love the book just as much the book 💯💯💯

[@sidarthur8706]

fight club had to be a film starring brad pitt and directed by david fincher

[@sk8erbyern]

@@MattMcConaha iirc Fight Club is the author's very first book. He is not a writer by craft as he says in the video, he was a freshly graduated journalist. Premise, script and story might be wonderful but a book requires more than that. How a writer chooses words to describe an empty room in the dark can make or break an event when it comes to writing.

[@Skittenmeow]

So good seeing Chuck Palahniuk describe his ideas. Why does he remind me of Ed Norton?!

[@GuinessOriginal]

Erin Meow cos ed Norton was well cast and is a good actor

[@FractalRaver]

This movie back to back with American History X showed me how freakin ridiculously amazing Norton’s acting range is, and totally mesmerized me. I haven’t seen many of his movies since but I wanna see that weed movie lol. But after that hands down he became my favorite actor at the time

[@anonb4632]

Seriously, read his books. He has written a lot more on how Fight Club came to him. And funnily enough he wrote a decent foreword to Stepford Wives too.

[@anonb4632]

@@FractalRaver Unfortunately, Norton is a bit of a dick to work with. He's turned in some great performances, but if you annoy enough people you lose out on work.

[@NME10E]

I found Fight Club the year my father passed away. He had a brain aneurysm and I found him lying on the floor as my mother screamed for me to come down stairs. I gave him CPR and his ribs broke under the frantic compressions of a 18 year old boy. I watched Fight Club and Office Space on repeat bouncing from feeling numb and rage filled. Fight Club helped me get through a rough time. Thanks Chuck.

[@seanmcculley]

One of my favorite movies. Watched it once, then watched it with commentary - which blew my mind -then watched it again. Now watch it at least once a year. Amazing. Great job stringing the quotes together, Nehemiah!

[@ArthurMoore]

Great job with the content! Keep going! 🔥👊

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thanks, Arthur! I've seen a few of your videos before and loved them.

[@StrifeLeeSimpson]

Amazing author, amazing screenwriter. Hearing this was so incredibly fascinating for me. What a perfect book and movie and the social commentary it has. So freakin' ahead of its time.

[@angelalvarezcine]

I recently rewatched this movie so it’s fresh in my mind. Great to see the thought process of the author in such an entertaining way!

[@erikheggum7454]

I read Fight Club when I was 17 or 18. It's his earlier, and probably best work. His minimalist and visceral style attracted a lot of men in the late 90's early 2000's. I remember perfectly fitting in with his writing aesthetics; “half-baked nihilism of a stoned high school student who has just discovered Nietzsche and Nine Inch Nails.” I always found that to be a dead ringer. I'm unsure if I re-read Fight Club it would have the similar affect it did when I was a youth. Is it a great stand alone work of fiction or was it just a zeitgeist of the misanthropic '90's popular culture? In any case I became disillusioned when he starting writing about incestuous gang-bangs and started pumping out stories that amount to the literary equivalent of masturbation in all its pornographic revulsion. I always remember this quote: "Two versions of Chuck Palahniuk’s legacy exist: that of a crucial gateway author who penned at least three great novels, and that of an overly ballyhooed shock scribe who lucked into a career when Hollywood adapted his first, and arguably best, work into a beloved dark comedy." I give him credit for being a gateway author who turned a generation of men onto the magic of literature, even if, in retrospect, it was misguided..

[@swain-Ix1tv]

beautifully written

[@moler646445]

" I think my mask of sanity is about to slip"

[@ladyvictoria2942]

This is one of my favorite movies. I read the book also. I appreciate you sharing these perspectives from the writers and artists.

[@RhayaderGoesToTown]

This is my favorite channel right now. Beyond all that's already been said, I'd like to point out that the music selection is excellent. It really adds to the story.

[@noumanintown]

This is quite possibly my all-time favourite movie and it was great to see Palahniuk's thought process. Liked all the clips used a lot.

[@belllerofont]

Amazing video, story is coherent and alive, despite such a plethora of sources. Well done, mate!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thanks, man!

[@natehobor5425]

this is my favourite movie of all time, I’ve seen it a million times and every time I notice something else. my band wrote and released a song about Tyler Durden, in fact 😂 thank you for this

[@GuinessOriginal]

nate hobor you should follow it up with a sequel called Kaiser Sausae

[@dramaskrybe]

How many top-notch actors out there can launch into an intelligent analysis of Nietzsche - and usefully apply it to their craft?

[@beatrizfernandes1506]

Norton also talks about Fight Club in his interview in Dax Sheperds' podcast Airmchair Expert. I highly recomend it; here's the link podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/edward-norton/id1345682353?i=1000455238984

[@anonb4632]

Kevin Kline in "A Fish Called Wanda". 😉

[@nielsnielsen9013]

Sadly he paints nietZche as a nihilist - wrongly, which is especially bad considering he immediately after offered nietZche critique and solution to nihilism.

[@Thundermonk99]

@@nielsnielsen9013 exactly. I was going “don’t you see the inherent contradiction here?” Nietzsche is vehemently anti-nihilist, he advocates for readers to create meaning and purpose in their lives.

[@rohanp1227]

@@Thundermonk99 I mean he's not a nihilist in the way the word is used (existential nihilism), but he was a moral nihilist, no?

[@MrOliverTube]

Life pushed a story and he was open to receive it....It´s one of THE best stories (and movies) ever...great job!!!!

[@KonradMetkalf]

You should totally do Scorsese's excellent Taxi Driver.

[@edgarbleikur1929]

Hear! Hear!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

I'm planning on it! Paul Schrader is a wise man.

[@GuinessOriginal]

Behind the Curtain also the usual suspects

[@heartsfear9216]

taxi driver is overrated.

[@lynnturman8157]

@@heartsfear9216 Just cause you don't get it doesn't mean it's overrated

[@MusicalPlayground717]

These videos are fucking awesome. Your choice of interviews and the structure in which you present them betrays a real insight to what people want and need to know about these stories, and that isn’t being addressed anywhere near as in-depth or as concisely elsewhere. Keep it up.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Hey, I appreciate this! From all of the podcasts and interviews, I usually end up with 45 minutes of clips. And then I slowly widdle it down to the most valuable bits that can create a narrative of its own. I'm glad you're enjoying it!

[@notjustforme8857]

How in the world is it possible that this channel doesn't have 5m subscribers minimum? Great format. No stupid interview questions but just a flow of answers :) Gonna have to catch up on the other stuff.

[@DarrenSemotiuk]

IMO I think this might be the best of your videos -- even though it goes less into the craft of writing in general but instead more specifically into the origins/meaning of the Fight Club story itself. I found it the most impactful (though they are all very good).

[@sketchening]

This channel is absolutely fantastic. Excited for the next one!

[@woundedbuttocks]

I would never get tired of watching videos done like you do them. If you keep this level of quality in your work, you will never have a disappointed audience. This channel is gonna take off!!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

That's good to hear! I'm always trying to improve the videos, so hopefully they only get better from here! Thanks for watching!

[@tentierdiamondaward]

This is a great compilation. Great work! Fight Club is, and will forever be, a classic. Both the book and the film. Got to love Chuck Palanhuik

[@remixandkaraoke]

interviewing the characters is a wonderful tip in character creation.! Thanks!

[@ubiquitousreverser]

I had heard some info on Palalinuk’s process and time of life when he wrote the book but this was really great to learn more of what he and the script writers were going for and the processes they use to get there. Thanks for putting this together. One of my all time favorite books & films. And soundtrack!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thanks for watching!

[@aftershock1186]

I love this channel! you are going places. keep it up, dude!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thanks, man!

[@Beatboxerskills]

holy shoot this is so well cut together. I just realised half way that its all different bits from different Interviews

[@ianmakarchyk2782]

This video is beautifully articulated and edited, bravo honestly

[@SpectraStarShooter]

Oh man, another knock out. Chuck Palahniuk is my favorite author, excellent choice in subject matter. Great job digging this stuff up, awesome presentation. I’ve gotta go watch this movie and read this book again. Keep up the quality work!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thank you! Chuck is such a fascinating person to listen to.

[@pinkguy8205]

Great video, thanks for making and sharing it! : )

[@mikegranger9538]

Great video! Really inspiring how the author relived his life through his creative masterpiece!

[@NoodleXXII]

KZbin algorithm led me to your videos. This is the first one I've watched, and I love it. I can't wait to watch more of your content. Thank you for the obvious work you put into these.

[@michaelc8192]

my favorite series on youtube. please do the dark knight

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Wow, that's an honor! It's on the list. I desperately want to do it. I love that film so freaking much and the Nolans are amazing!

[@alt_warn4211]

you're a big guy @@BehindtheCurtain

[@TheRanma212]

This channel is wonderful. Hope some celebrity hear about it and that you'll be able to do even more soon !

[@timbuckthe2nd642]

Goosebumps to how good this is. Well done, and a whole new respect given to chuck.

[@TavoraAMVsStudios]

This video is pure gold. Thank you for this man, incredibly useful!!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Hey everyone! Nehemiah here. I wanted to give a specific thank you to everyone that has supported the channel these last 2 months. It means the world to me. Y'all are awesome. A little life update: I'm moving to LA this week to further pursue my screenwriting career. It's exciting and scary. These videos are insanely valuable to me and I'm glad that so many others are learning from them as well. On the queue we have Mad Men, a Coen Brothers film, a Pixar movie, and Black Mirror! Stay tuned!

[@m0w3ry]

Dope channel. Been loving every second of it.

[@allthingsfascinating]

all the best. eat well. sleep well. don't worry too much. you'll figure it out.

[@aftershock1186]

good luck in LA! also black mirror is awesome!

[@donaldkoech6691]

Congrats!!

[@batgurrl]

Behind the Curtain best of luck in L.A. Stay well rested. Hope to god you don’t have any Barton Fink moments lol🌷☮️

[@StayFractalesque]

this was super dope, as a writer im always fascinated by others' process.. thanks for this

[@Chris_yes]

Very cool interview. Thank you for sharing

[@caspermaster-com]

Decided to watch it for the first time after this video, increddible. One of the best films I ever seen. Very relatable to the nihilism/frustration I think many men gets confronted with while becoming adults.

[@batgurrl]

Another illuminating video - keep up the great work. Love this channel.

[@Barrys-got-crabs]

Another fantastic deep dive. Thanks for all you're doing! Keep on trucking!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thank you!

[@kylehenryc]

great editorial. thanks for linking too.

[@turtleANDhare1]

Thank you for this great collection of commentary!!! It was very insightful

[@cinnamon9390]

You're amazing. You'll get shit from strangers at some point (probably?) but don't let it get you down. I love this series exactly the way it is

[@jeffsplace1284]

These have become my fav videos, i showed my girlfriend the one on the office and now she hooked. Please never stop doing these idc if i gotta fund them myself. Your truly doing Gods Work!!!!!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

This is really cool to hear! Thanks, man!

[@dawnrazornephilim]

Interesting take on writing, write the big scenes and then flesh it out. It would be interesting to try this method.

[@Slash27015]

This is so much more wholesome than I originally expected.

[@awogbob]

Loving the channel man! Love film expose stuff like this. Like every frame a painting but for writers.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

That's great to hear! I love Every Frame a Painting.

[@Fantasticmrsnake]

Another great video, fight club is a movie everyone should watch truly a classic. Also good luck in LA its always a good idea to follow your dreams even if you fail, the experience will stick with you and if you stick with it you'll succeed

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Exactly! Thanks for the encouragement.

[@babydemonlab]

Great video ! Im always no the look out for channels like this.

[@chrishefner3869]

Excellent collection, great idea. I would modify the people below suggesting to read the book. The audio book has Chuck read it himself, as does Choke. Hearing the authors intonations gives the material one more layer to appreciate.

[@SuperMunQ]

This was really good. You are making the right move pursuing this.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thank you!

[@sourabhk2373]

Absolutely shocked to see that this youtuber has so few subscribers. Man this is some real good content.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Appreciate that. We've been growing fast. Hoping to keep that going.

[@msjadeli]

Excellent segment. Chuck Palahniuk is one of the best authors of all time. Fight Club is just one of his many iconic novels.

[@CameInStrong]

No idea why this showed up on my feed but this was definitely interesting. Good video.

[@HeyManny69]

It's remarkable how well this movie has aged in the years since it came out, thematically and aesthetically.

[@Wonmanbanned]

It’s so relatable as a movie in multiple levels. The frustration of selling your soul for a corporate bumming, the toxification of anything manly, how mental illness/ depression affects us….it has aged like a fine wine.

[@groovatti]

Nicely done! My suggestions for upcoming episodes: The Matrix, Catch 22, Breakfast of Champions, Barfly and the TV show Northern Exposure.

[@kyletitterton]

This video is superbly put together. Thank you.

[@Pengroves]

Wow, well I'm happy I randomly stumbled across this channel. What a great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@lazywallstreetnews7234]

I somehow found this movie at some point in my early 20's when I felt directionless, still living at home, emasculated and completely lost in life. I grew up in a highly religious household that had very strict parents who didn't see the world any other way and essentially refused to think or talk about anything else. It got so bad I started using drugs and just got really zoned out for a few years because I felt so inhibited as a person. This movie got me through the toughest and loneliest times in my life and there's a phrase in the movie that's used quite a few times, "Do you know Tyler Durden?" and it just really stuck with me. I drove my parents crazy graffitti'ing my room with the phrase after I saw the movie; they thought I was nuts, but I was clear as day. It all suddenly became very clear to me, there are no rules. They don't exist, we made them up. And that was oddly liberating because it also meant I didn't have to follow any of them. The phrase "Do you know Tyler Durden?" became my mantra. I have it tattooed on my body, it really meant that much to me and helps keep me grounded whenever I see it. To me, it can have many meanings, but to me it means, who are you, really? When you pull away all the bullshit, the bank account, the job, the fancy car, the house, the clothes, the bullshit rules our society has in place that you had no choice in, but still have to follow... Who are you? What drives you? What do you stand for/against? Do you know YOUR Tyler Durden? That's the thing isn't it, Tyler Durden is different for everybody.

[@0800filmez]

That's great! Awesome content. I would love to see a special series on the best-short films!

[@imani828]

DUDE....i love your channel/work/videos - please never stop...

[@imani828]

Also, please make a video about House of cards...

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thanks, man. I appreciate it.

[@tarentino8o814]

I really enjoyed this video. This movie plays off of so many level's especially in the lives of a working man. I could watch this movie for hours, and I'm glad I got to watch this video giving some explanation. Thank you.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Yes I agree! It's not as simple as people make it out to be. Thanks for watching!

[@liamfisher90]

Recently stumbled across this channel and have to say, I love the videos! Hope this channel gains more support to enable more amazing content! Thank you for your work :)

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thank you, Liam! I'm curious, how did you find the channel?

[@liamfisher90]

Behind the Curtain I think it was just a recommended video on my home page. Always looking for creative insights like this on my favourite films/tv series. So glad I found this page!

[@imtravisbrown]

Just stumbled across your page. This is such a great format. Subbed!