Interview (Written): Billy Ray
Writer-director-producer talks about Amazon series “The Last Tycoon”
Writer-director-producer talks about Amazon series “The Last Tycoon”
Billy Ray is an Academy Award nominated screenwriter for the movie Captain Phillips. Other screenwriting credits include State of Play and The Hunger Games. His writing-directing credits include Shattered Glass and Breach. His latest: The Amazon series “The Last Tycoon” which he created, wrote several episodes, and directed some as well.
IMDb plot summary: Centers on Hollywood’s first wunderkind studio executive in the 1930s, Monroe Stahr, and the power struggle between he and his mentor, the current head of the studio Pat Brady.
Some excerpts from his interview with Violeta Nicola:
What were your thoughts when you found out that the pilot was picked up by Amazon?
Sheer joy — this project has been the most fun I’ve ever had, the greatest working experience of my life, bar none. I felt so privileged that we’d get to keep telling this story.
What character was the most difficult to bring to life through writing?
It took me a few tries to get Monroe right. I always felt I had the correct rhythms for his dialogue, but for some reason I found myself resisting the PRIVATE side of Monroe, the side he wouldn’t show in public. Once I got more comfortable revealing that part of him — thanks largely to some strong pushing from my fellow show-runner Chris Keyser, the character became more dimensionalized.
From your perspective , what is the most important quote from the show ?
There are several. “I’m not talented enough to be unprepared. Are you?” “There IS no other business.” “I love you, Monroe. Everybody does. I wish that were enough for you.”
Here is a trailer for “The Last Tycoon”:
I met Billy in 2013 in Las Vegas where he and I were among the mentors for the very first Black List Feature Writers Lab. His work habits are admirable: Drops off kids at school, at his desk by 8 or 9AM, and he writes all day until dinner. He supplied one of my very favorite writing quotes:
“At the top of my computer in big, bold letters, it says, ‘What is the simple emotional journey?’ I look at that all the time.”
For the rest of the interview with Billy, go here.
Twitter: @BillyRay5229.