Premise
When an up-and-coming screenwriter and a popular actor meet on
a film location in Japan, their rapport quickly leads to friendship.
Amazement ensues when the two discover they have more in common
than a mutual fondness for film trivia and an appreciation for
the well-turned phrase.
Cast of Characters
Stephen Susco '95. Energetic young screenwriter
with his first major motion picture, The Grudge, scheduled for
release in October. His wavy black hair is unruly enough to look
cool when he absent-mindedly runs a hand through it. With 26 screenplays
under his 31-year-old belt, Susco embodies the creative intensity
one imagines necessary to advance in today's idea-driven film
culture.
William Mapother '87. His list of credits includes
work on more than a half-dozen films with cousin Tom Cruise (nee
Mapother). Breakout roles in 2001's In The Bedroom and Swordfish
earn him critical acclaim. He's sporting a chemically lightened
shag haircut, remnant of a recent role as a surfer dude. Tomorrow,
on his agent's orders, he'll get a military-style buzz.
Opening Scene
At a coffee shop on Sunset in Los Angeles, screenwriter Susco
shares a little-known fact about his craft: One can make a successful
living writing screenplays without ever having one of them immortalized
on celluloid. Early in his career, Susco recounts, he was invited
to a reception at the lavish home of a screenwriter who was obviously
quite successful. Strangely, Susco had never seen a picture written
by the gentleman, who'd been in business for some 20 years. When
he inquired, he learned that the man had sold many screenplays,
but not one of them had been made into a film.
"One of the interesting paradoxes of writing for hire," Susco
says, "is knowing that once you've sold a screenplay, you don't
own it."
Susco also finds the domino-like effect of success interesting.
"The business can be very frustrating, but once you've got something
in production, people take notice. Right now, I've got three or
four other projects close to getting made."
Actor and fellow ND grad Mapother chimes in. "There are only
two basic rules for writers: 1. Screenplays are structure, and
2. Nobody knows anything."
Mapother explains the rationale, "Hollywood, as the saying goes,
is high school with money. It operates with a kind of herd mentality.
Nobody knows how a film will perform, so everyone remains noncommittal.
If a film isn't successful, an actor still remains a talented
actor. A writer can write another script. The producer is in the
most precarious position. There are lots of self-esteem issues
and anyone who can be held liable usually is. That's why people
avoid taking positions and say things like 'We should think about
it.'"
Flashback
Susco and Mapother are in Tokyo during the filming of The Grudge,
a horror film based on the Japanese thriller Ju-On. The
two, who quickly became friends, are watching a satellite telecast
of the Academy Awards. During the program, Mapother is commiserating
online with his younger sister, Amy '96, an actress in New York.
When Susco's name comes up, Amy asks if this is the same Stephen
Susco who graduated from Notre Dame. Mapother determines that
it is, and all three share a laugh. "I mean, what are the odds?"
Mapother asks.
When the two learned of their common bond, the mutual respect
continued to grow. "This is a very collaborative medium," Susco
says. "When I met William, he really wanted to talk about the
character. I can write stuff, but the actor is the one who brings
it to the next level. The best movies come from people who are
working in harmony." Mapother concurs, "People I connect with
really love their craft. . . . Stephen's sincerity is manifested
in his wanting to make the work the best it could be."
Scene Two
Although the two weren't on campus at the same time, both acknowledge
that their shared Notre Dame experience inspires kinship. "You
don't often meet people with whom you really connect," Mapother
says. "Stephen and I immediately struck a creative chord." And
more than that: When Susco became engaged to be married, Mapother
was one of the first people he told. Mapother, a second-generation
Domer, was doing stage acting in New York when he realized the
acting bug had really hit, and he moved to Los Angeles. In L.A.,
he taught high school English for three years while building his
acting resume. Smaller film roles led to larger ones and to television
guest spots on such dramas as Law and Order, CSI:
Miami and Touched by an Angel. Crew assignments
and parts in a number of films with his famous cousin added to
his repertoire.
Susco acted in some 25 student theatrical productions at ND and
directed two. His 16mm short film won a Student Academy Award
in the 1993 College Film and Television Awards. After graduation,
Susco decided on film school over law school. He then confronted
perhaps the most daunting task of his academic career: spending
football season on the USC campus.
At one point, Susco says, "I walked into French class and the
teacher was wearing a shirt that said 'ND Sucks. Go USC.'" The
gauntlet having been thrown, Susco draped himself in Fighting
Irish regalia. Susco says he began to rethink the wisdom of his
decision when ND soundly trounced USC that year and he had to
walk past the USC football team afterward to get home. He graduated
from USC with an MFA in 1998.
Scene Three
Commenting on the current rash of thinly plotted, technology-driven
films and reality TV shows that rely on shocking the viewer's
sensibilities for their impact, Susco shrugs. "When a studio makes
money on a very large bad movie, it gives them more money to make
more good films."
Mapother interjects: "It's important to recognize that reality
shows are not necessarily a leap in development. Shows like Cops
and Jerry Springer started the TV trend. But the concept is not
new. Think about carnivals: People would pay to see the bizarre,
the different. There has to be something outlandish."
Susco takes a measured approach: "Being a smart screenwriter
means you know what you're doing. You can be astute, know what
studios are looking for. For me, that means always working on
two projects at once: one that is my passion, and one that will
sell."
Final Scene: (For Now)
So what's next? "I'm building toward directing," Susco says.
Mapother would like to be involved in more character-driven films.
"I'd much rather perform opposite a human being than a gun or
a time bomb. You have more to work with." Mapother is at work
on a screenplay of his own and has run the idea by Susco, who
thinks it has potential.
For now, the two are making plans for the premier of The Grudge.
Susco's family is coming out for the October 22 event. "I'm really
looking forward to seeing how the audience reacts," he says. "Hey,"
Susco says to Mapother, "we're having a party at my house, and
you're invited."
Fomer South Bend resident Liz (Woyton) Warren is a freelance
writer based in Southern California.
(October 2004)
