Screenwriter Stephen Gaghan of 'Traffic' Fame Took Some Rough Turns On The Road To Success

The Writers' Hangout

Rewind: How do they do it? How do successful writers become successful? They must all lead charmed lives. One imagines a successful writer who works hard, gets up at 4 a.m., goes to the gym, then slides behind the laptop for four hours. Afternoons, they take their doodle around the block of their tony neighborhood, then put in another two solid hours of editing. Have a healthy dinner with friends, then go to bed for a brilliant night's sleep. Well, dear writers, as we know on The Writer's Hangout, it doesn't always go well when we tell you a story about a screenwriter.

Hang out with Sandy and Terry, who tell you the fascinating story of screenwriter and director Stephen Gaghan, known for writing the screenplay for Soderbergh's film TRAFFIC, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and Syriana, which he wrote and directed.

Research for this episode included:

The Newsweek article Sheik, Rattle and Roll by Newsweek Staff

https://www.newsweek.com/sheik-rattle-and-roll-115527

The New York Times article Gritty Portrayal Of the Abyss From a Survivor; The Screenwriter for 'Traffic' Says He Drew on His Past By Rick Lyman

https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/05/movies/gritty-portrayal-abyss-survivor-screenwriter-for-traffic-says-he-drew-his-past.html

The Los Angeles Times article Stephen Gaghan, one-time Hollywood wunderkind, returns after a long absence with ‘Gold’ by Steven Zeitchik

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-stephen-gaghan-gold-20161114-story.html

IMDB and Wikipedia
The PAGE International Screenwriting Awards sponsors the WRITERS' HANGOUT.
Executive Producer Kristin Overn
Producer/Host Sandy Adomaitis
Co-host Terry Sampson
Music by Ethan Stoller
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