Crissa wrote:Well, K, remember that he's running his mouth to the writers who work in those committees and he did try to tell them not to write to the penguins' desires, as that made bad writing.
He's running his mouth to writers working for him.... for the show he created.... and that he has many credits for writing and directing on. Basically, he's blaming them for not writing his show better when he was one of the people responsible for good writing. Maybe the only one.
Look at his filmography. I don't think the writing of such direct to video tripe as
Red Belt means you get to tell anyone what makes a good story, even if he did do
Ronin in the late 90s.
Here's his writing credits:
# "The Unit" (66 episodes, 2006-2009)
- Whiplash (2009) TV episode (creator)
- Best Laid Plans (2009) TV episode (creator)
- Flesh & Blood (2009) TV episode (creator)
- Hill 60 (2009) TV episode (creator)
- Hero (2009) TV episode (creator)
(61 more)
# Redbelt (2008) (written by)
# Edmond (2005) (play) (screenplay)
# Spartan (2004) (written by)
# Heist (2001/I) (written by)
... aka "Professional" - Japan (English title)
# Hannibal (2001) (screenplay)
# State and Main (2000) (written by)
# Lakeboat (2000) (play) (uncredited) (written by)
# The Winslow Boy (1999) (screenplay)
# Lansky (1999) (TV) (written by)
# Ronin (1998) (screenplay) (as Richard Weisz)
# Wag the Dog (1997) (screenplay)
# The Spanish Prisoner (1997) (written by)
# The Edge (1997) (written by)
# American Buffalo (1996) (play) (screenplay)
# Oleanna (1994) (play) (screenplay)
# Texan (1994) (TV) (written by)
# Vanya on 42nd Street (1994) (play translation)
# A Life in the Theater (1993) (TV) (play) (teleplay)
# Hoffa (1992) (written by)
# Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) (play) (screenplay)
# The Water Engine (1992) (TV) (play) (written by)
# Homicide (1991) (written by)
# Uncle Vanya (1991) (TV) (writer)
# We're No Angels (1989) (written by)
# "The Play on One" (1 episode, 1989)
- The Shawl (1989) TV episode (writer)
# Things Change (1988) (written by)
# House of Games (1987) (screenplay) (story)
# The Untouchables (1987) (written by)
# "Hill Street Blues" (1 episode, 1987)
- A Wasted Weekend (1987) TV episode (writer)
# About Last Night... (1986) (play "Sexual Perversity in Chicago")
# The Verdict (1982) (screenplay)
# The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) (screenplay)
# A Life in the Theater (1979) (TV) (play)
So there are three good films there, and about 200 hours of crap no one cares about.
Now look at the credits for a less douchy screenwriter: Alex Kurtzman
# "Fringe" (42 episodes, 2008-2010)
- Episode #2.22 (2010) TV episode (creator)
- Episode #2.21 (2010) TV episode (creator)
- Overture (2010) TV episode (creator)
- Episode #2.19 (2010) TV episode (creator)
- Episode #2.18 (2010) TV episode (creator)
(37 more)
# Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009) (written by)
... aka "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (IMAX DMR version)" - Hong Kong (English title) (IMAX version)
... aka "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - The IMAX Experience" - USA (IMAX version)
... aka "Transformer: Revenge" - Japan (English title)
# Star Trek (2009) (written by)
... aka "Star Trek (IMAX DMR version)" - Hong Kong (English title) (IMAX version)
... aka "Star Trek: The Future Begins" - Malaysia (English title)
... aka "Star Trek: The IMAX Experience" - USA (IMAX version)
# Transformers (2007) (screenplay) (story)
... aka "Transformers: The IMAX Experience" - USA (IMAX version)
# Mission: Impossible III (2006) (written by)
... aka "M:i:III" - International (English title) (promotional abbreviation), UK (promotional abbreviation), USA (promotional abbreviation)
# The Legend of Zorro (2005) (screenplay) (story)
... aka "Z" - USA (poster title)
# The Island (2005) (screenplay)
# The Secret Service (2004) (TV) (writer)
# "Alias" (10 episodes, 2001-2003)
- Succession (2003) TV episode (writer) (as Alex Kurtzman-Counter)
- A Free Agent (2003) TV episode (writer) (as Alex Kurtzman-Counter)
- Double Agent (2003) TV episode (writer) (as Alex Kurtzman-Counter)
- The Abduction (2002) TV episode (writer) (as Alex Kurtzman-Counter)
- Salvation (2002) TV episode (writer) (as Alex Kurtzman-Counter)
(5 more)
# "Jack of All Trades" (3 episodes, 2000)
- The Morning After (2000) TV episode (written by)
- Raging Bully (2000) TV episode (written by)
- The Floundering Father (2000) TV episode (written by)
# "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" (14 episodes, 1997-1999)
- We'll Always Have Cyprus (1999) TV episode (teleplay)
- For Those of You Just Joining Us... (1999) TV episode (writer)
- Resurrection (1998) TV episode (writer)
- Faith (1998) TV episode (writer)
- Reunions (1998) TV episode (writer)
(9 more)
Now, I'll be the first to admit that the second Transformer's movie has a plot that sounds like it was written by a drunken four-year old, but the bulk of these credits are films and shows that basically printed money.
If Alex Kurtzman wants to give pointers on screenwriting, I'll listen despite the fact some of his movies are questionable; Mamet is famous for being a douche and writing a cliche' kind a dialogue, as far as I can tell.
The Unit has 69 episodes, and he's credited with writing 61 of them. He literally should have said "you guys don't make me look good enough."