Martin Sherman
Infusing Life Into
Art
“
T
he most difficult part in writing is to bring the ideas out and how to make it into a film or script or play or novel... it’s about understanding how to churn it into a living dramatic entity.” The level of expertise was evident when the eminent American dramatist and screen writer Martin Sherman spoke with ease during the lecture session ‘Master Class on Screenplay’ in Mascot Hotel, at 20th International Film Festival of Kerala. With his 20 stage plays being produced in over 55 countries during his lifetime, Sherman imparted valuable thoughts and opinions on contemporary writing techniques. Martin Sherman is famous for infusing his life experience, wisdom and vision into his works. He is an openly gay, Jew, and many of his works dramatize ‘outsiders’ dealing with the discrimination and marginalization of minorities like gay, female, foreign, disabled, and different in
religion, class or colour. His Pulitzer Prizenominated play Bent, produced in 1978, explores the persecution of homosexuals during holocaust, a highly sensitive and controversial theme to touch at that time. Bent was also a Tony nominee for Best Play in 1980 and won the Dramatists Guild’s Hull-Warriner Award. The play alone was produced in 35 countries. “Writing and working previously with theatre is helpful for writers as they will get to know how to talk, when to talk, what to talk and what not to talk with directors and others in set”, says Sherman. His other notable works include Next Year in Jerusalem (1968), The Night Before Paris (1969), Things Went Badly in Westphalia (1971), Alive and Kicking (1997), Aristo (2008) and re-write of the book from the musical The Boy From Oz, with the latter one earning him his second Tony nomination in 2004. In 2005,
Sherman received a nomination for Best Original Screenplay at British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) for the TV movie Mrs. Henderson Presents. “Most of the powerful screen-writers in America are now working with TV series as it is the only place they can be in full control. It is possibly the most exciting film making place right now”, commented Sherman. Sherman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the only born to RussianJewish immigrants, and had lived and worked in London since 1980. Despite his status as an expatriate, his proficient wiring expertise never failed to garner success and recognition in both British and American stage. “If you make a film, it’s always there. If not now, someday, even after our death, it will be appreciated.” Jayasree C |