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"Dolemite Is My Name" Screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski
In the first episode of MovieMaker Interviews, "Dolemite Is My Name" screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski tell us how they went from college roommates to masters of the biopic. They walk us through their writing process, from research to cards to first draft, then get into specifics about "Ed Wood," "The People vs. Larry Flynt," "Man on the Moon," "Big Eyes," "The People vs. O.J. Simpson," and finally "Dolemite Is My Name." Jokes are told. Mel Brooks calls. And we learn the "Dolemite" line that came indirectly from Dave Chappelle.
Here are some highlights, with timestamps:
1:12: Interview begins.
1:48: Scott and Larry praise the genre films of Herschell Gordon Lewis.
2:35: Shout out to Los Angeles' Nuart and New Beverly theaters.
3:22: How Larry started gaming Scott from the first day they met.
4:19: Scott explains his and Larry's obsession with "indie genre cult movies."
8:20: Who types, and who sits on the couch.
12:06: Scott and Larry explain the importance of funny voices in their process.
13:50: Rights.
14:13: Diving into "Ed Wood."
14:50: Meeting Larry Flynt.
15:30: Working with Margaret Keane on "Big Eyes."
15:58: Being journalists to research Andy Kaufman for "Man on the Moon."
17:30: How "People v. OJ Simpson" was unique
21:30: How Dave Chappelle contributed a scene to "Dolemite Is My Name"
24:57: Mel Brooks calls
27:30: A fantastic Village People story
30:18: Scott and Larry's advice to screenwriters
34:30: The crossover between Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" and "Dolemite Is My Name"
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