I did a minor in theatre (well, the closest my college had). I focused a lot on Mamet. It's easy to take his approach overboard. Mamet is a playwright, and pla

I did a minor in theatre (well, the closest my college had). I focused a lot on Mamet. It's easy to take his approach overboard. Mamet is a playwright, and plays are a different medium than film. In fact, his book "On Directing Film," covers it: theatre is about the present moment between characters, film is about the juxtaposition of images. Mamet has spent most of his life writing rather than directing, and look at his credits to see some of the great storytelling he is capable of. Unfortunately, putting a writer behind a lens is like expecting a great developer to be a great product manager. Very different skills.