DP/30: The Last of Us, Craig Mazin

From RocketMan to Scary Movie(s) to The Hangover(s) in comedy to the dramas Chernobyl and now, The Last of Us, Craig Mazin is a 25-year-veteran of the business, as honest about himself as he is in his screenplays. He took a moment to chat with David Poland.

Shot April 2023 via Zoom

[daveisoutside]

There was a time when I listened to these two voices more than any, w DP's interviews and Craig on Scriptnotes. Stoked for this interview

[film_magician]

Craig must have had a big day cause I just watched him do another interview (just before this video) and he's in the same room, same shirt. Lol love him. this is great

[tyo]

A meeting of two pros in their fields, thank you.

[exhaustpipes]

Hope you'll do another for season 2, maybe with Neil Druckmann too

[benjamindover]

I like what he said about critics.. suggesting they have a viewpoint that is too far removed from the actual audience perspective. I remember listening to a studio script reader complaining about all the things they're so tired of seeing, that make them put the script down. Some gatekeepers don't seem to understand that the movies are not being made to impress them. They're made for an audience that does embrace tropes and cliches as the language of film.

[Rififi-rj]

Need an interview with Jesse Armstrong and Mark Mylod

[folaolakunbi]

re: writers strike... When you're wrong, you're wrong

[apictureoffunction]

Craig is definitely a huge fan of the game, he has Ellie's knife tattoed on his arm

[laurenbendik]

He is such a down-to-earth guy, I can see why he and Pedro get along well. It’s interesting how they both are uncomfortable with praise. And maybe both are super self-aware; mazin says he left comedy bc he felt he was aging out of the culture of it. I’d argue there is still an audience for older comedy. I enjoyed 80 for Brady and Kominsky Method, and I’m sure lots of older ppl do. Or maybe its just a jewish thing 😆. I relate to larry david.

[harinarayanan]

This channel moving exclusively to zoom interviews has killed the quality of the interviews. Something different about being in the same room as the guest. Hasn't had a quality interview in 3 years.