Written Interview: Will Beall
An interview with novelist-screenwriter Will Beall (Gangster Squad) at WGA.org with Dylan Callaghan:
There’s no “normal” when it comes to screenwriters’ personal histories, but Will Beall’s, the first-time scribe behind the new film Gangster Squad, is definitely different. From the mid-‘90s, he spent nearly a decade living the starkly unvarnished life of a beat cop and homicide detective in South Central Los Angeles. He’s only been screenwriting since his debut novel based on his time as a gangland cop, was optioned by platinum-plated producer Scott Rudin a few short years ago. So when it comes to talking about the screenwriting process, Beall is as unpretentious as the stretch of asphalt he used to patrol.
When asked to expound on his writing craft, he grunts a dry, incredulous cackle and says, “I don’t have any fucking craft.”
Here is an excerpt from the interview:
I want to quickly touch on the timely issue of gun violence. First, as an ex-cop, novelist, and screenwriter, do you feel there’s any correlation between movie violence and real-life violence?
No, none.
There are people out there blaming gun violence and these massacres on movies and video games. You feel that there’s no correlation.
None. I mean, look, I don’t blame people for looking for answers when these things happen. I’ve seen thousands of action movies from the time I was probably eight, and it’s never made me want to kill anyone.
You’ve been witness to real murder, violence, and death, correct?
Yeah, more than most people.
Tell me about the difference between seeing stuff like that in the street versus watching it in a movie.
Well, in a movie it’s make-believe. Especially in a movie like Gangster Squad, it’s not a spoiler for me to tell you that the good guys win, and everything turns out the way it’s supposed to. Everything turns out okay. The bad guy gets his in the end, and…
Justice is done.
Yeah, justice is done, just like in a romantic comedy you know that they’re going to end up together. The action and the car chases and the shootouts and the fist fights are fun. In real-life, violence is shitty, it’s tragic and terrible… They’re completely different.
For the rest of the interview, go here.
Comment Archive