> Talent and work ethic both is hard to come by in writing. If someone comes in who has a history of spoofs and comedies and gives a really solid pitch and spec script, they're much less likely to roll their eyes at his resume than the average moviegoer.
> Hollywood is forgiving of working writers who write schlock for money if it's competent schlock. Writing is a more working class profession in the industry (and less nepotistic) than acting because it's less glamorous. People come into the industry having to take whatever job they can to pay the rent and build a name.
> Plus, his spoofs and comedies were pretty successful so that doesn't hurt.
Basically, Mazin spent decades building up a name as a reliable writer who delivered what was asked of him. He built a considerable amount of reputation in Hollywood, so that gave him a foot in the door when he wanted to do Chernobyl, something near and dear to his heart and not just a job.
sehnsuchtlich t1_j9i2k45 wrote
Reply to Can someone explain the career of Craig Mazin to me? by Tandybaum
I covered this a bit in a previous comment, I'll quote it here:
> Talent and work ethic both is hard to come by in writing. If someone comes in who has a history of spoofs and comedies and gives a really solid pitch and spec script, they're much less likely to roll their eyes at his resume than the average moviegoer.
> Hollywood is forgiving of working writers who write schlock for money if it's competent schlock. Writing is a more working class profession in the industry (and less nepotistic) than acting because it's less glamorous. People come into the industry having to take whatever job they can to pay the rent and build a name.
> Plus, his spoofs and comedies were pretty successful so that doesn't hurt.
Basically, Mazin spent decades building up a name as a reliable writer who delivered what was asked of him. He built a considerable amount of reputation in Hollywood, so that gave him a foot in the door when he wanted to do Chernobyl, something near and dear to his heart and not just a job.