UCLA's Screenwriting Professor Richard
Walter Tells All
(And He Loves
Arizona!)
When did you know you first
wanted to be a screenwriter?
Richard: When I studied at the USC film school
with the legendary Irwin R. Blacker in the late '60s. Blacker was a
grumpy, gruff guy, with frail social skills, but a hugely inspiring
teacher. Taking his class I realized first of all that I had the
stamina actually to write a full feature length script.
What was your first
screenplay?
Richard: The first script was the one I wrote
in the aforementioned class with Prof. Blacker at USC. It was
called OFAY, a story of race and redemption, set in Harlem in the
summer of 1965, involving a naive white social worker and a
street-wise Afro youth.
Did it get sold? If not, when did
you sell your first piece?
Richard: The script did not sell, but it won
me much attention and representation, also a staff position as a
writer at Universal. I had my own parking place with my name on
it, directly next to Paul Newman's! I had lots of commissioned
assignments thereafter, at various studios. My first sale of
original material was to Warner Bros. and involved the film rights
and also the adaptation assignment of my own first novel, BARRY AND
THE PERSUASIONS, which after all these years I turned into a
musical for the stage and recently workshopped it at UCLA in our
sister department, Theater, which has a wonderful musical theater
program and also a singing program.
What's the most important trait
you see with professional screenwriters as compared to writers who
want to get into the business?
Richard: Stamina. Patience. A lot of talent
and a little bit of discipline will not take you nearly as far as
the opposite combo.
What's your favorite current
film?
Richard: I haven't seen any theatrical film in
many years that can touch the last two episodes of the third season
of Madmen.
Have you ever been to AZ? If so,
what's your favorite spot?
Richard: Been to AZ bunches of times. Taught
seminars in Mesa, Scottsdale, and elsewhere. Had a meeting with
the mad and brilliant Tom Laughlin of BILLY JACK fame or notoriety.
I love above all, perhaps, the Frank Lloyd Wright hotel --
the Biltmore? -- in Phoenix. Strike that. Ain't nothing that can
touch the Grand Canyon, which I've visited multiple times. I love
the high country around Flagstaff.
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