Charlie Kaufman’s 2023 WGAW Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement Acceptance Speech

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  • Опубліковано 5 бер 2023
  • Academy Award-nominated actress Jessie Buckley presents the Writers Guild of America West’s 2023 Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement to acclaimed writer, director, producer, and author Charlie Kaufman.
    The Guild’s lifetime achievement award is presented to members who have “advanced the literature of motion pictures and made outstanding contributions to the profession of the screenwriter.”
    Kaufman’s 1999 groundbreaking screenplay Being John Malkovich was nominated for a Writers Guild Award, an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award and won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay. In 2002 Kaufman wrote Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and the meta comedy Adaptation, which earned Kaufman his second Writers Guild Award and second Academy Award. 2004’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind won Kaufman both a Writers Guild Award and the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
    Kaufman was honored at the 2023 Writers Guild Awards west coast show, held on Sunday, March 5, 2023 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles and hosted by writer and Abbott Elementary actress Janelle James.
    The Writers Guild Awards honor outstanding writing in film, television, streaming, news (broadcast and digital), radio/audio, and promotional categories. For more information about the 2023 Writers Guild Awards and a list of the winners, visit awards.wga.org.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 111

  • @dlgshortfilm
    @dlgshortfilm Рік тому +119

    An artist pleading to artist to remember who you are, what you are called to do, and where your true value lies. His words are a gift.

  • @rhysmartin6967
    @rhysmartin6967 Рік тому +222

    Sounds like prepping for a strike. Love this man and his work.

    • @anthony7311
      @anthony7311 Рік тому +10

      Called it

    • @xam.yo.3943
      @xam.yo.3943 11 місяців тому

      waos

    • @vivusinfinitus
      @vivusinfinitus 10 місяців тому +2

      The prophet has spoken

    • @Jonixmusic64
      @Jonixmusic64 10 місяців тому +6

      Was going to say this, it’s my head canon that this speech was the catalyst for the strike

  • @NinaC
    @NinaC Рік тому +146

    What a great speech! “We are trained to do the bidding of people who are motivated not by curiosity, but by protecting their jobs.” SO GOOD!
    Writing IS essential. I love that he is saying that their work is truly to reflect the world. So many people sell out for easy cash (the endless remakes) just because executives know it will be easy money.
    Thanks Charlie Kaufman. Probably my favorite speech now

    • @davidjay_
      @davidjay_ Рік тому +8

      That quotation sums up corporate culture in America.

    • @JoeShapiro
      @JoeShapiro Рік тому +5

      Yes. And it’s The System. There is no evil genius at the helm. We have to change the system rather than just seeking out Bad Apples to put on a pike.

    • @lezzpaul3880
      @lezzpaul3880 Рік тому +2

      Analyzing numbers and calculating feasibility is an important job, but many people have forgotten that it's just as important to imagine and create without knowing exactly what will come out of it. We wouldn't even have some math and science without the creatives!

    • @betosm3
      @betosm3 Рік тому

      ​@@lezzpaul3880 matemática surgiu para que reis fossem enterrados sob pirâmides.

  • @mykmcgrane
    @mykmcgrane Рік тому +36

    This speech should have its own award. Brilliant, valid honesty.

  • @imolascorner-whereyogawrit4690
    @imolascorner-whereyogawrit4690 Рік тому +40

    I’ve always loved and admired Charlie Kaufman’s work, but now I absolutely adore the man! This speech had me in tears. What a great reminder of why and how writers are relevant. I shall rewatch it every time I lose faith in the power of our work. Thank you Charlie!!

  • @RareCinephile
    @RareCinephile Рік тому +35

    I’m Thinking Of Ending Things is honestly my favorite film of the decade so far. Such a master at writing.

    • @angelinecatteeuw
      @angelinecatteeuw Рік тому +4

      Yes! As a visual artist (painter) I have even found myself comparing the work to some form of cubism or lyrical abstract painting, all tied up in a storyline. I absolutely adored it and it has proceeded to spark so many ideas for me 🔥 An absolute inspiration!

  • @hvitekristesdod
    @hvitekristesdod 10 місяців тому +4

    This man is my cinematic, literary, artistic, spiritual hero. I own all his films. I sometimes feel like we have very similar brains. Slept on Antkind but loving it at the moment. Looking forward to Orion and the Dark. Keep doing anything you want Mr Kaufman and I’ll keep supporting you!!!

  • @VeeBungo
    @VeeBungo Рік тому +42

    Really needed this, just yesterday I was hemming and hawing about how I was scared to sell my hard work off to an executive and let it be torn to shreds without consultation.
    It was SOUL CRUSHING
    But this made me feel a little better about pouring so much time and effort into my writing.

  • @jazzman7320
    @jazzman7320 Рік тому +45

    A perfect speech. It seems obvious when he says it - nothing of value can light up our screens if it wasn’t written well and with passionate intent to begin with.
    Exactly what is the writing process secondary to, marketing?

  • @MariSongBeat
    @MariSongBeat Рік тому +23

    Amazing speech, so many beautiful combinations of words. And I am glad that Hollywood still has writers who write for audience, not for producers, is so important

  • @GDletterwriter
    @GDletterwriter Рік тому +10

    Go Charlie! Thank you for being an individual of meaning.

  • @johnmackthebeliever
    @johnmackthebeliever Рік тому +8

    How BEAUTIFUL, how BRAVE, how TRUE. It’s a privilege to be a writer...

  • @drewmcgill5290
    @drewmcgill5290 Рік тому +21

    Comrade Kaufman! Hell yeah! ✊

  • @soumyadipdey426
    @soumyadipdey426 Рік тому +10

    I'll revisit this speech from time to time until I make it someday and I'll say... This is the speech which kept me going, kept me motivated, gave me the warmth and good thoughts I needed at the most desperate times. Thanks Mr. Kauffman.

  • @ErickArpeggi
    @ErickArpeggi Рік тому +8

    I love you Charlie, i love your work. Thank you for changing my life.

  • @tina-mariespringham9569
    @tina-mariespringham9569 Рік тому +4

    This inspired me in a way, unlike anything ever has! Thank you Mr. Kaufman! Thank you WGA!

  • @patozols7747
    @patozols7747 Рік тому +9

    Incredible speech by a true genius.

  • @tobythefabguy9264
    @tobythefabguy9264 Рік тому +2

    This was the most Kaufmanesque speech ever. Love it.

  • @NOTO-_-
    @NOTO-_- Рік тому

    Thank you, Charlie

  • @sadhbh4652
    @sadhbh4652 Рік тому

    Beautiful. Up the writers!!

  • @BrainSaladProductions
    @BrainSaladProductions Рік тому +11

    Fantastic speech and very, very true! Without the stories, without people caring about them, nothing is possible

  • @cinemanomad1165
    @cinemanomad1165 Рік тому +2

    Charlie Kaufman is my hero ! I really needed to hear that.

  • @ThomSonnyYeah
    @ThomSonnyYeah Рік тому

    Such important messages put so simply

  • @rae-everything
    @rae-everything Рік тому

    Wonderful!

  • @lucindanewcomb8769
    @lucindanewcomb8769 Рік тому +4

    Ohh boy. That speech got me all contorted up into emotional knots. Congratulations. And thank you.

  • @bruce1947
    @bruce1947 Рік тому +2

    my god, do i love this man. a truly great true artist.

  • @friendlypup5650
    @friendlypup5650 Рік тому

    Very fantastic and underappreciated screenwriter

  • @tinotendandudzo4786
    @tinotendandudzo4786 Рік тому

    Powerful!

  • @letstalkcriterion
    @letstalkcriterion Рік тому +3

    His mind is amazing.

  • @BinocularRivalry
    @BinocularRivalry Рік тому +8

    So weird. He looks in the best shape I've ever seen. How does he look 25 years younger than he used to?!

    • @Nabil-yh1dz
      @Nabil-yh1dz Рік тому +1

      Lmao true

    • @rorschach36
      @rorschach36 Рік тому +5

      Maybe he's starting to feel good about himself. Kaufman has always been a complex man who's never cared about looks but rather words.

    • @BinocularRivalry
      @BinocularRivalry Рік тому +1

      I should add that this doesn't matter, it just struck me as surprising. The speech was incredible. He's one of the GOATs, in my book.

  • @Duck_Sevendust
    @Duck_Sevendust Рік тому +1

    Can yall upload thomas schnauz speech please? He wrote and directed a fantastic episode of television with plan and execution

  • @dash8518
    @dash8518 Рік тому +1

    Amazing

  • @gregbrittain2
    @gregbrittain2 Рік тому +14

    4:00 Speech begins after intro.

    • @AliAli-vc4yi
      @AliAli-vc4yi Рік тому +2

      I think she ruined the intro!

    • @gregbrittain2
      @gregbrittain2 Рік тому +3

      @@AliAli-vc4yi Ms. Buckley’s introduction was thoughtful and well-delivered, but some may want to skip right to Kaufman’s speech.

  • @Jessbarr
    @Jessbarr Рік тому +1

    Bravo

  • @shiona59
    @shiona59 Рік тому

    Legend!

  • @Soulr
    @Soulr Рік тому +21

    This was so fucking inspiring

    • @crossdreamzXZ
      @crossdreamzXZ Рік тому +2

      As a writer this speech actually made me teary eyed. Yo I love your videos! They've inspired me more than you can believe!

  • @clumsydad7158
    @clumsydad7158 Рік тому

    cool, great quality vid

  • @blk2wite
    @blk2wite Рік тому +1

    just Wow. Needed to be said.

  • @ale_p411
    @ale_p411 Рік тому +1

    please post the speech of Thomas Schnauz

  • @bey3910
    @bey3910 Рік тому

    I love this man

  • @Tragz
    @Tragz Рік тому

    Legend.

  • @harrysvu
    @harrysvu Рік тому

    Best screenwriter of this generation

  • @Coronadoman
    @Coronadoman Рік тому +2

    A speech such as this is launched at different cohorts: colleagues; competitors; next generation Writers. And also the 'etceteras' who cannot look away, because the Truth is In There: it is possible to expect that at least some of them will see themselves, here, and think on what is being said, to them. We can imagine that at least some of "them" are troubled, maybe even riveted to what is being said, to them.
    I've often thought about $100 million, and what you might launch into existence. How many strongly, effectively written screenplays might that glean us, and the next us? It's a large sum, but not an impossible one.

  • @marblekid
    @marblekid Рік тому +1

    That is beautiful beautiful beautiful

  • @gchudasamadarshit9111
    @gchudasamadarshit9111 Рік тому +3

    He is one of the greatest screenwriter ever

  • @thetracydawsonshow
    @thetracydawsonshow Рік тому +4

    BRA-F*CKING-VO. Pay the writer. Respect the writer.

  • @IAEMThatIAEM
    @IAEMThatIAEM 8 місяців тому

    malkovich malkovich
    eternal sunshine is great
    my life was eternally impacted born in1990 by the being iohn malkovich TRAILER THAT PLAYED ON TV over and over

  • @bravetherainbow
    @bravetherainbow Рік тому +1

    Charlie Kaufman is so based

  • @hellodavey1902
    @hellodavey1902 Рік тому +2

    An actual speech.

  • @lasse.853
    @lasse.853 Рік тому

    legend

  • @HuskyProductions585
    @HuskyProductions585 Рік тому +2

    The G.O.A.T.

  • @victorhuizar2279
    @victorhuizar2279 Рік тому

    A true genious.

  • @combatdoc
    @combatdoc Рік тому +1

    (kneels in worship)

  • @bravetherainbow
    @bravetherainbow Рік тому +3

    I love how the one film he references is "Triumph of the Will"
    Oh and "Minions"

  • @jk-fy8on
    @jk-fy8on 8 місяців тому

    I would love to see film adoptation of Antkind

  • @jeffandersen7397
    @jeffandersen7397 Рік тому +2

    i think i've recommended Adaptation to over 100 people.

  • @kidsareoverrated
    @kidsareoverrated Рік тому

    Good lord I love this

  • @ai.ai.captain
    @ai.ai.captain 4 місяці тому

    Secondary 🙏🏻

  • @guytor418
    @guytor418 Рік тому

    Wow

  • @pantherman16
    @pantherman16 Рік тому +2

    I can remember watching a film that was popular at a particular time. Not one of Charlie Kaufman's. But this film borrowed thematically, visually, and tonally from Kaufman. It was Kaufman-esque. It was a good film. Entertaining. Stimulating. Visually interesting. A bit mind-boggling. It wasn't a GREAT film. It was then I became aware of how rich a talent Charlie Kaufman was. And in the hands of anyone else, Kaufman-esque will not work as well. No one should dare to try to copy Charlie Kaufman. They should just let him inspire your own style. There will only ever be one Charlie Kaufman.

  • @user-hg3by5fp3p
    @user-hg3by5fp3p 7 місяців тому

    Я, человек своей культуры, могу не уловить каких-то слов и контекствов, могу не понять и даже не согласиться с какими-то мыслями, выросшими в цветочном горшке с другой почвой.
    Но за любым словом, за любой мыслью и формой всегда видно искренность. Искренность не имеет контекста. Искренность не нуждается в объяснении.
    Если фильм искренен, то он искренен в любой точке мира. И по уровню искренности работы Чарли Кауфмана несомненно занимают самые лидирующие места. Именно поэтому он и является моим самым любимейшим автором нашего времени.
    Долгих лет жизни!

  • @mqure1983
    @mqure1983 Рік тому +1

    Looking like Seth green

  • @timeshipproductions907
    @timeshipproductions907 Рік тому +1

    Time to picket!

  • @GoGoGirl22100
    @GoGoGirl22100 Рік тому

    OKAAAAYYYY

  • @joeysands8893
    @joeysands8893 Рік тому +2

    Can we somehow clone Charlie Kaufman? One to make media and one to run for president?

  • @hotdog782
    @hotdog782 Рік тому

    “art means nothing if it simply decorates the dinner table of the power which holds it hostage” 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

  • @roberthall9423
    @roberthall9423 Рік тому

    They say that when Hollywood execs think no one’s looking they quietly tell each other, “The writers are the most important people in Hollywood but shhh…don’t tell them that”.

  • @Dacre1000
    @Dacre1000 Рік тому +3

    Nice speech (Americans do love their speeches...), but my cynical side fears that most of the people applauding there will do exactly the opposite of what they were cheering for next day...

  • @np4365
    @np4365 Рік тому

    Great speech, pleased and inspired the crowd for sure…however I’m sure his past self also wouldn’t have listened to his future self as wisdom is acquired over the years by experiencing.
    I’m a writer too and I would suggest that my fellow new writers only take away the fact that “be truthful to your story” is the greatest tip from the speech and at the same time pls don’t develop “not a give a fuck to the suits” attitude already, coz film being a collaborative medium, it may do more harm then good in your initial years of pitching.
    Happy Writing

  • @johnnyw525
    @johnnyw525 Рік тому +1

    4:30 Speech starts here (apologies to Jessie, but it's just fluff)

  • @ale_p411
    @ale_p411 Рік тому

    please post the best tv drama episode, thx

  • @lumineye08
    @lumineye08 Рік тому

    'kin' A

  • @artlesscalamity348
    @artlesscalamity348 Рік тому +15

    “Charlie Kaufman can never be replicated”
    [ChatGPT bursts through the wall]
    Seriously though, anyone who works in or even VALUES any creative industry needs to be activated right now to fight against the emergent takeover of AI. Not only is it going to put us all out of business, it’s gradually going to completely devalue human expression and creativity in culture and society. People have no idea what’s coming and we need to be acting now, not after the fact.

    • @Mykbibby
      @Mykbibby Рік тому +2

      @@dr.merchant to them, that will be a feature, not a bug

    • @marioo5462
      @marioo5462 Рік тому +1

      I like that Kaufman's reserved some opinion on this as well in his first draft of Synecdoche. Caden finds that his poignant meeting with Madeline 2 is replaced with an AI that perfectly replicated Madeline's idea of a perfect and emotional film.

  • @nickyallt8718
    @nickyallt8718 Рік тому +1

    All cheering and clapping, and Charlie is a great, but they'll all do the opposite the next day. Just a fact.

  • @PorchBandit
    @PorchBandit Рік тому

    I'm being asked for an awful lot of sympathy from a man in an Armani suit. Not saying he's wrong but the stuff about being held hostage by elites is nuts when you're watching something that tries to embody excess and decadence. I also always get these funny feelings that unions can sit and call on those lower on the rungs make them feel like their $100 increase is worthwhile all the while their own elites benefit the most. Is this writers strike helping everyone proportionately? will those struggling to break into the market benefit? Is this going to open up jobs for the perhaps less experience, sucessful (despite talent) and lucky? or will it perpetuate the gatekeeping we oft fail to acknowledge. I really do wish the unions were more forward to the general public, I still get this funky feeling most writers will barely notice a change while the more elite will benefit exponentially. All that said I 100% support the strike, I just worry when a man in an expensive suit tells me how hard it is to see others in even more expensive suits, regardless of how talented he is, and I do believe he's talented and intelligent.

    • @PorchBandit
      @PorchBandit Рік тому

      He also seems to talk about opinion as if it's truth and likens the opposite to Nazism. I surely don't support nazism, what a wonderful and charismatic way to convince me that I am indeed righteous....it's odd to see in the same speech about fighting for what is deserved, somebody criticize and perhaps demonize the only right people have that preserves the job that's being fought for. Fiction cannot lie unless it lies about itself and perhaps within itself. So it seems a rather ridiculous and unrelated thing to bring up. It seems to ask for the right for creative freedom and the fair compensation when that's not present and indeed when all creative freedom is retained and then insinuates that all writer have a duty to curb creative freedom in the service of truth telling...in fiction. Sadly as we've all be trained, it seems so has Mr. Kaufman been so.

    • @timeshipproductions907
      @timeshipproductions907 Рік тому

      Glad to see u oppose nazism lol

  • @ericfeldmanla
    @ericfeldmanla Рік тому +1

    Everyone in the room hoping Charlie Kaufman inspires people not to pitch big box office scripts so they can

  • @KMcDevitt
    @KMcDevitt Рік тому

    I’m sorry but isn’t a “laurel” another word for “award”? They gave my man Charlie the Award Award??

    • @rebeccabrillhart3114
      @rebeccabrillhart3114 Рік тому

      Laurel is a a tree/shrub, and a branch of a laurel historically was awarded as an accolade to champions, et al; so now laurel has also taken on the general connotation of "prize" or "accolades" (e.g. as in "Resting on one's laurels," it is also usually plural when used this way), and then by symbolic extension "trophy" then "award." Nonetheless, it still most literally means a type of shrub/tree, so in this context the Laurel Award would be a specifying description of the specific type of award trophy, as in "the prize was a laurel wreath". So, to longwindedly answer your question in this specific context, kinda but not really, no. Shortwindedly, "Laurel" serves as an adjective to the noun "award.
      "

    • @Dacre1000
      @Dacre1000 Рік тому

      Laurel is a distinction, not an award.

  • @ai.ai.captain
    @ai.ai.captain 4 місяці тому

    Jim Carey is us 😢 I belong to the house n not to window dressing.

  • @UsmanHaiderWahla
    @UsmanHaiderWahla Рік тому +1

    Nice words Kaufman but impractical for us artists. Almost all artists wish they could work for just the world but the world we live in is not the one where every artist is fed and fulfilled by purely creating art for everyone. You only gain the autonomy to do what you want once you have become big and famous, and you don't become big and famous unless you do the bidding of the corporate heads who wield their power mercilessly over all artists.

  • @ccwoodlands1565
    @ccwoodlands1565 Рік тому +1

    Charlie…sitting in the audience thinking…Gawd, get me out of here.

  • @bookiester
    @bookiester Рік тому +2

    She didn't watch Human Nature.

  • @lukelee3
    @lukelee3 Рік тому

    One of the best screenplay writers, but not the best director.

  • @visotoo3129
    @visotoo3129 Рік тому +10

    "Our work is to reflect the world, saying what is true in the face of so much lying". Too bad Hollywood is looking at itself in the mirror when it says this, instead of at the fans who don't attend movies as often anymore, as they know better...

  • @ccwoodlands1565
    @ccwoodlands1565 Рік тому +1

    That’s naïve and arrogant: “Executives not motivated by curiosity but by protecting their jobs”. Of course they are! It’s Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Food, air, water, shelter.

  • @1jckinnick
    @1jckinnick Рік тому

    Sounds like he lost another FX show