From time to time, Oscar winner, writer, director Christopher McQuarrie takes to Twitter to answer questions from his fans and followers. Under the hashtag #McQandA, McQuarrie fields queries on his movies, characters, and career.
Here are a few highlights to enjoy as you prepare to meet him at this year’s London Screenwriters’ Festival.
chris warren - @clw2230 @chrismcquarrie Are you still or are you ever involved with a Starblazers movie? #McQandA
@chrismcquarrie @clw2230 I have been and I am. #McQandA
chris warren @clw2230 @chrismcquarrie wow! You just made my day!!!
A.J. Al Thani – @AJAlThani #McQandA How do you get into your zone? @chrismcquarrie
@chrismcquarrie I run out of money. #McQandA
Pazuzu-Lord of Wind - @RandyOfAFTimes @chrismcquarrie Do you prefer to go directly from one project to another or have down time between? #McQandA
@chrismcquarrie @RandyOfAFTimes sleep when you’re dead. #McQandA
रam सolanki - @jun6lee @chrismcquarrie which of your works would you consider best suited for a Bollywood remake? #McQandA
@chrismcquarrie @jun6lee Suspects, for sure. Musical. #McQandA
Randy Cline – @randy_cline @chrismcquarrie what do you miss most about new Jersey? #mcqanda
@chrismcquarrie @randy_cline Conte’s Pizza, Princeton. #McQandA
Jeff Burnett - @burnettski92 @chrismcquarrie #McQandA Is it hard to accept off-script moments like usual suspects laughing in the line-up? Or do you embrace spontaneity?
@chrismcquarrie @burnettski92 Whatever makes it better. #McQandA
Trevor Dylan – @_TrevorDylan @chrismcquarrie When you wrote the Usual Suspects. You had to have known it was an Oscar winner (first one there gets the gold).
@chrismcquarrie @_TrevorDylan no, but I believed Spacey would win when he took the job. #McQandA
Daniel McFadin – @danielmcfadin @chrismcquarrie Movie you wish you could see for the first time again? #McQandA
@chrismcquarrie @danielmcfadin Pelham 123 #McQandA
Matt Shirley – @MattorShirley @chrismcquarrie what great authors also made great screenwriters? #McQandA
@chrismcquarrie @MattorShirley James Dickey (Delierance) #McQandA
@chrismcquarrie Screenwriting tip: Sit up straight.
T.J. Orlandi - @TheRealTdotJdot @chrismcquarrie when you wrote the screenplay for U.S., did you start with Verbal being Keyser Soze and then build everything around that?
@chrismcquarrie @TheRealTdotJdot who said Verbal is Keyser Soze? #McQandA
@chrismcquarrie @TheRealTdotJdot (but I did start with the ending). #McQandA
genaro – @onetwogee @chrismcquarrie What screenplay gave you the most problems developing?
@chrismcquarrie @onetwogee Rogue Nation and Edge are tied. #McQandA
Ernesto – @SplicedX @chrismcquarrie What’s the best Halloween season movie you recommend and/or your most favorite? #McQandA
@chrismcquarrie @SplicedX Burnt Offerings #McQandA
Héctor Mallet – @Hector_Mallet @chrismcquarrie What would you do with an army of Tom Cruises? #McQandA
@chrismcquarrie @Hector_Mallet destroy Isis. #McQandA
Adam Pranica - @CutForTime @chrismcquarrie Does Cruise’s willingness to do anything make you hold back dangerous ideas, b/c you know he’d do them? #McQandA
@chrismcquarrie @CutForTime opposite. I want to see him blink. He hasn’t yet. #McQandA
Trevor Dylan - @_TrevorDylan @chrismcquarrie How does one go about getting representation for screenwriting? Your work is inspiring stuff. MI:RN was stunning. #McQandA
@chrismcquarrie @_TrevorDylan you don’t. Make movies. Representation will come when they need YOU. #McQandA
@chrismcquarrie Screenwriting tip: Never write on spec what you can write for a deferred payment and some emotional blackmail.
MO – @mowriterdxb @chrismcquarrie when did u know u wanted to direct? What triggered it?
@chrismcquarrie I saw one movie so clearly in my head I had to do it myself. I never made it.
@chrismcquarrie Screenwriting tip: No one gives a shit.
@chrismcquarrie A lot of people seem to think my last screenwriting tip is a cynical cry and not a note about that useless plot point you’re clinging to.
ethanhunt – @supermanprajwal @chrismcquarrie what is your fav scene out of any movie that defines a character more than the rest of the movie’s arc?
@chrismcquarrie Two good ones: Paul Newman and his polaroid camera in The Verdict, Dean Martin removing his hat in Some Came Running
You can ask Christopher McQuarrie your own questions at this year’s London Screenwriters’ Festival. And he will answer them, hopefully in more than 140 characters. The evolving list of sessions can be found HERE.
[eventbrite]
Posted by a member of the London Screenwriters’ Festival team.
