Rod Serling: On the value of “know thyself”

GITS reader David A sent me a link to an amazing set of videos, a sit-down conversation with TV and screenwriter Rod Serling. Most well-known for the long-running TV anthology series “The Twilight Zone” (148 episodes, 1959–1964), has over 70 writing credits including the screenplays for movies such as Seven Days in May and the original Planet of the Apes.

Since last week, I have been featuring Serling’s thoughts on writing each day with short (1–2 minute) interview excerpts. Today Serling answers a question about therapy and its value in understanding characters:

“I think self-knowledge is one of the beautiful and marvelous and creative aids that we [writers] have — ‘Know thyself.’ Because you can look at yourself in the mirror and get a whole list of all the human attributes and human frailties that are extant.”

Thanks to David for finding these fantastic videos.

[Originally posted on February 14, 2010]