What Taxi Driver Teaches Us About Storytelling

Ever wonder how they wrote one of the greatest character studies of all time, Taxi Driver? Hear from Paul Schrader and Martin Scorsese as they discuss the creation of the anti-hero Travis Bickle, how to create story from the perfect metaphor, and more insight into the writing process!
Chapters:
00:00 Preface
00:29 1. The Inspiration
01:49 2. Creating Stories Through Metaphor
04:48 3. Creating Travis Bickle
09:26 4. You Talkin' To Me?
10:18 5. Script Format
10:52 6. Study Yourself
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Taxi Driver is a 1976 American neo-noir psychological thriller drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, written by Paul Schrader, and starring Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle, Leonard Harris, and Albert Brooks. Set in a decaying and morally bankrupt New York City following the Vietnam War, the film tells the story of Travis Bickle, a lonely taxi driver who descends into insanity as he plots to assassinate both the presidential candidate for whom the woman he is infatuated with works, and the pimp of an underage prostitute he befriends.
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Learn from real screenwriters... and then learn how that translates into your own writing process. Behind the Curtain takes the best pieces of advice and insight from professional screenwriters and deliver them to you in an easily watchable format. We're focused on creating a community of passionate screenwriters who are eager to grow together through learning from the best.
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#screenwriting #taxidriver #martinscorsese

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Stuck in your head with your story? Become a part of a community of writers and break out of your rut: www.behindthecurtainfilm.com/

[@spudspuddy]

gay frogs is a real thing, it was a scientific study of the effects on rivers and wildlife after the birth control pill was invented and the town's urine is flushed into rivers filling them with high doses of female hormones...these hormones have been found deliberated injected into today's meat supplies and the rise in homosexuality is most likely the result of this deliberate action

[@nickpastorino5370]

"Art isn't about movies or what you're seeing; it's about knowing yourself."-Paul Schrader

[@JaydevRaol]

🙌

[@sofiasurreal.]

Beautifully put.

[@kmetcalfe]

"It's a mistake to think you need a character to be likable. Instead, just make them fascinating." - Paul Schrader

[@artcamp7]

This short video contains just about everything you every need to know about how to write. pretty remarkable

[@BehindtheCurtain]

That's the best review I could ever get.

[@Justin_Cunningham]

One of my favorite scripts of all time!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

it's such an interesting character study

[@sifatshams1113]

Anyone who loves Taxi Driver should also read Dostoevsky's Notes From Underground. Not only is the protagonist scarily relatable (for misanthropes like myself) but also far less homicidal than Travis.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

I recently read it! I'm a fan of Dostoevsky, but hadn't gotten a chance to read Notes From Underground. Then I heard that Taxi Driver was based on it, and that made me even more interested.

[@ahmedshabbir8345]

Actually Travis (or entire Taxi Driver) is based on Notes from Underground. Scorsese has said this himself in many interviews.

[@richardsantanna5398]

He was also a lot more mad than Travis. The way he talked -it was like he had given up a long time ago.

[@ryanegger4425]

get out of your crib and get a gf or a friend, nothing cool ab disliking humans, shits corny af

[@TrueNeutralEvGenius]

@@richardsantanna5398 They are not mad, conformist fool.

[@gabrieldotterweich7388]

Wow, those quotes you chose for the "Study Yourself" chapter were very appropriate and inspiring.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Good to hear 💪🏻

[@DaichiS4815162342]

I love the screenwriting lectures that Schrader did. His writing process is very unique!

[@klunderjr.1046]

Man... I waited for this one.. 🙏🏾

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thanks for watching! It's a good one.

[@Nightcrawler77]

The greatest movie of all time

[@ufcclips15]

I don't think so. I mean it's really, really good, it's pure cinema but not a movie including things to be the best of all times

[@lonewalkerproductions]

Yup

[@punkaintdead4977]

Yes

[@Micolashcage1]

@@ufcclips15 ok. give an alternative, then

[@cars.796]

@@Micolashcage1 APOCALYPSE NOW . THE GODFATHER 2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY.......... are you delusional?

[@clingclanglarry3327]

Absolutely amazing essay! You can really feel how personal it was for Schrader. His ultimate remedy is to write it on ink and paper. Please do a essay on Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters. It's so underrated and I'd love to hear more about it!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Exactly! Writing as self therapy can produce the most meaningful stories

[@JaydevRaol]

This really helped me understanding the film even more. Thanks for this. As always Quality Stuff! 👍

[@Jesus.the.Christ]

Not even two minutes in and you can tell that De Niro used Shrader's timing in building Bickle's way of talking.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Ah, didn't even pick up on that!

[@ravecrab]

Travis Bickle is one of the most psychologically rich characters in cinematic history. If you ever want to understand why kids take guns into schools and shoot their classmates, watch this film.

[@joea9152]

For me it’s more of a how than a why. As much as we can try to pin down a persons reasons to commit random violence, we can never know why because they don’t know either. What we and they do know is that their actions will get them attention, and what else is a lonely and isolated person in need of?

[@TrueNeutralEvGenius]

​@@joea9152 "random". It's not random. And don't tell they don't know, when it's you who don't know. You are not a psychological virtuoso, fool. Many of those isolated nonconformists know what and why they are doing. Not everyone tho, but you are generalizing and making projections just like another stupid mediocrity and conformisn, which you obviously are.

[@merlinjames5954]

11:06 Paul Schrader is a manga fan?????

[@BehindtheCurtain]

I caught that too!

[@jmalmsten]

I too reacted to that random inclusion. But before we start talking about Shrader the Otaku. It could also just mean that he's come across the term many times from people asking him about how to write films. Maybe even specifically adaptations and influences from japanese comic books. So he included it in this remark to lump it into the point he was making. But. It is curious that he did say Manga and did not use the more international term Graphic Novel. So he knows about it. He has opinions about it. Now I am intrigued to hear what he thinks about it. Is he really a fan? Or is he more a grudging old man like Miyazaki who is disappointed in where the promising industry has gone? Or does he just feel the distinctions of mediums of storytelling is fruitless and we should just concentrate on telling insightful stories about interesting people going through their struggles in fascinating ways? :)

[@JackHC0]

His wife is Japanese. He made Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters. Makes sense that he appreciates manga.

[@jmalmsten]

@@JackHC0 That is a "tiny" detail I managed to miss in my reasoning... Now I want to hear his take on Evangelion. :P

[@mjolninja9358]

@@jmalmsten 9

[@glassjaw2007]

This was a wonderful compilation of interview with a great master!

[@navide7522]

Full of great points and also great edit

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Much appreciated

[@faresmejdi5216]

great effort and work distilling the interviews! thank you for the video !

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thanks for watching! Glad it was valuable to you

[@doctorsueno1048]

This is spectacular, really outstaning selection of clips!!!

[@film_magician]

9:57 great editing in this video :)

[@BehindtheCurtain]

It was an accident at first and then it lined up perfectly!

[@film_magician]

@@BehindtheCurtain hah love it.

[@dylanthrillmour866]

The group mentioned the possibility doing a sequel in the 2000s. Part of that interests me, what would Travis be like in a post 9/11, social media age world. Would he survive? Is he an outlier of the filthy 70s New York in a cleaned up tourist town? Would more people relate to his isolation and misanthropy & would that make him less isolated by result? It’d ruin the original, considering the endings ambiguity.

[@shriviyasr3848]

5:48 ,the theatre board has the best screenwriting advice

[@shrimboy7492]

Just watched this movie for the feel of what it was like in NY in the 70's.

[@peterb2325]

Yeah it was like that I was there

[@timothyhunter4724]

It's a bit exaggerated, but not unrealistic.

[@duewhit310]

Thats not the point of it. At all.

[@serenitycinema5809]

Such a good movie and a really insightful commentary on art in this video!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thanks for watching!

[@Ryann10SA]

Just added this video to my favourites list.

[@DM-lv7tl]

this is incredible

[@mvdsanden]

Great lessons! Many thanks!

[@user-hc1vg5md3z]

wow that's really brilliant. thanks for putting this togethher

[@alexh4319]

One of the greatest film scripts of all time.

[@cheesysofa92]

I love this video, super helpful

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Great to hear!

[@cine.te.philia3632]

ONE OF THE BEST SCREENPLAY!

[@TrueNeutralEvGenius]

Well done compilation, mah boy.

[@TheLazyReviewer]

Unbeliveable that Schrader started writing a diary about his mental state on his day to day, not knowing that he will be writing one of the best scripts to one of the all time greats. Greats stories usually have some of the unexpected beginnings to it

[@OctowaveOfficial]

Taxi driver has one of the best soundtracks ever

[@mohamedashian604]

Gotta love Bernard herrmann

[@Indieguitarist2007]

Bernard Herrmann in my opinion along with Morricone, is the greatest film composer of all time.

[@MissInformationAcademy]

insightful

[@odoacredacalcutta5085]

how come I found this channell only now. This is exactly what I want to know about the movies I love. How they they spawned from their makers mind

[@TheMegaMammoth]

This is really good I need to make a vid like this

[@batgurrl]

Excellent analysis for a masterpiece of cinema. Thanks. You talking to me?

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Thanks for watching!

[@victors.k.p.5282]

The Scorsese cut at around 06.18 is hysterical. And when he keeps going on and doing the finger wagging killed me. Perfect. And amazing essay, as always. Have you thought of doing a full-on Kubrick one? (The Shining, Eyes Wide Shut - though I suppose he might not have had the time to do any interviews for that one). Or Blade Runner, In Bruges, Twin Peaks?

[@victors.k.p.5282]

The last set of cuts is great, too.

[@sleptking1707]

Really didn’t like this movie, complete rip off of joker.

[@jacktee4030]

TRUE

[@alexh4319]

lol, nice trolling job there.

[@LuisSierra42]

I'm sick of the big studios ripping off honest independent work like Joker

[@NineInchNailer]

After reading your comment I started laughing and yelled "Fuck you, dude!" at the same time...just so you know!

[@bmsSumner]

LMAO big facts

[@henocsilva562]

After delivering pizza and doing postmates for years i watched this movie and had never related to a movie so much..

[@lawrence-yx1ew]

Theres something very lonely about driving people around. I did lyft for about a year. I hated it but now that I have another job I find myself missing the simplicity of it. Driving around with my mind. I hardly ever talked and no one hardly ever talked to me.

[@henocsilva562]

@@lawrence-yx1ew what got to me was how short all my interactions became. Even if we wanted to sit and talk to each other we couldnt because there was this feeling of "having something to do" that would pull us away.. For me my job, them their food..

[@educatetheleft]

4:48 is that the taxi driver soundtrack playing in reverse in the background?

[@ytubeanon]

Paul Schrader sounds like the most informative person I've heard about scriptwriting

[@3Prayt]

Yesss

[@oriheller2852]

He wrote it while holding a gun next to him... That's how.

[@brianban110]

One my favorite movies ever

[@emanuelgarcia7542]

Is there anyway I can get in contact with the Director. I want to ask him what gave him the idea to portray this sort of character in his movie. Has he ever came across a man like William in real life or better you ask him and tell him a big fan is highly interested in watching all his movies after watching the movie card counter

[@guillermocastello03]

I can't believe i'm early for this :''

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Nice! Thanks for clicking that notification

[@lanolinlight]

JOKER doesn't measure up because it was designed for a literal-minded generation that greets any metaphor more subtle than, say, the Joker's laugh, with confusion and hostility. They want "darkness" with no shadows. They want all the answers up front--answers to the least important questions. Schrader's work was personal; JOKER was a Hollywood player's shallow, calculated attempt at grafting its psychological intensity to a comic book property.

[@travisbickle01]

well said

[@rayancedrichaddad1197]

Taxi Driver (1976) is my Favorite Film from Martin Scorsese. And the Paul Schrader's process to write the Film is really inspiring. One of the Best Film of All time.

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Absolutely

[@anibalcesarnishizk2205]

Who knows whether Henry Hill saw Scorsese's crew shoot the movie without knowing his name was going to be mentioned in the movie Goodfellas directed by Scorsese.

[@Afro1234321]

Can we get the sources of the interviews?

[@BehindtheCurtain]

I linked to a playlist of most of the interviews! There was maybe one or two that weren't on KZbin and are from Fresh Air.

[@phantomfire8228]

6:46

[@thesagar2068]

Can I get some more explanation on metaphors and problems that paul is talking about.. ??

[@mondantarigan5579]

Halo man!

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Welcome!

[@peterstuckel]

0:22 I read Palpatine, omg, too much star wars...

[@namanshah8354]

At least they should have given credits to Paul for joker

[@johnnyapples33d0E]

wot's the background jazz music, anyone?

[@shrimpflea]

Composed for the film by Bernard Herrmann

[@patrickflaherty6586]

The great Bernard Herrmann,,! Who also wrote The Great musical score for the original Cape Fear also used in De Niro's later Cape Fear movie

[@johnnyapples33d0E]

@@shrimpflea thank u

[@johnnyapples33d0E]

@@patrickflaherty6586 thank u

[@johnnyapples33d0E]

@@shrimpflea just had it ij my head that such choomz weren't hermdogg, but yeah i guess makes sense. W ot a legemd

[@travisbickle01]

Greatest movie of all time

[@jonfee5081]

7:00 did Martin Scorsese just describes his character on a comic book character?

[@DanBharry]

Batman movies are now cinema

[@jonfee5081]

@@DanBharry yeah I know Batman is the reason why I love dc more than marvel.Batman movies are not about the money it is about sending a message

[@suhibalazeeh7559]

0:10-0:50-3:00-8:00-8:40-10:00-10:50

[@charleswinokoor6023]

The most jarring and powerful scene was when Travis interrupted a young black guy using a gun to rob a Puerto Rican bodega owner.and while doing so shot the robber to death in self defense. When Travis tells the store owner he doesn’t have a gun license the guy tells him to just take off. Then the bodega owner grabs a metal bar and proceeds to beat the dead guy while cursing him and calling him maricon. He’s also pissed off that he keeps getting robbed. There was no phony baloney artistic irony about it. It had to have been the most realistic scene in the movie.

[@Aleezy18]

You talking to me?.... you talking to ME?

[@adityasingh5159]

Oh god imagine scorscese making Batman wow

[@tp8271]

It’s based off of the underground man

[@BehindtheCurtain]

Notes from Underground

[@house684]

'They'?

[@ransakreject5221]

Did Scorsese just almost compliment Batman?

[@transporterIII]

problem-metaphor ubiquitous in scripture

[@SP-cp3qu]

n1

[@muffinsdawg]

That’s it. I’m writing my movie. Remember my name guys

[@BehindtheCurtain]

LET'S GOOOOOO. Check in with our discord if you have any questions or need motivation from other writers!

[@Mateoarredondo]

First? Oh fuck I got beat

[@TrueNeutralEvGenius]

That's ironic and tragicomedic when writer himself don't understand the final product which they created. "He goes to a girl which is better than him..." - what a complete bs. She never was better than him. And it was perfectly implied over the film and dialogues and magnificent final. He rejects her in the end, not vise versa.

[@GingerGamingandStuff]

Nothing is more pure than Martin Scorsese whispering ”Batman!”

[@emanuelgarcia7542]

Is there anyway I can get in contact with the Director. I want to ask him what gave him the idea to portray this sort of character in his movie. Has he ever came across a man like William in real life or better you ask him and tell him a big fan is highly interested in watching all his movies after watching the movie card counter

[@emanuelgarcia7542]

The reason I’m asking is because I am that guy. The loner who hides and a few people have found me mysterious. I’m reaching out because I’ve been lost. I have questions

[@leeleeman4678]

@@emanuelgarcia7542 cringe

[@emanuelgarcia7542]

@@leeleeman4678 Ik it sounds fake ,but even I couldn’t believe my life when it all started going wrong