The Wizardry of Words: Diving Into the Mastery of Aaron Sorkin
Oh, Aaron Sorkin. The mere mention of the name conjures up rapid-fire dialogues so sharp they could slice through a tin can. If Shakespeare were alive, he’d probably quote Sorkin. Known for his dizzying verbal gymnastics and the uncanny ability to make politics as palatable as your favorite sitcom, Sorkin has carved out a niche that is distinctly his own in the landscape of screenwriting.
The Early Days: Humble Beginnings of a Future Legend
Like all superhero origin stories, Aaron Sorkin’s beginnings were humble, marked with the unremarkable flair of mundanity. Born in New York City and raised in the suburban scenic sprawl of Scarsdale, Sorkin majored in Musical Theatre at Syracuse University. Yes, he was possibly prancing around in leotards before he decided to pen down the kind of dialogue that wins you an Oscar. After college, he found himself living in a tiny apartment, with a vintage typewriter and a teetering pile of cocktail napkins scribbled with ideas. And thus began the saga.
The Playwright Phase: Making it Big on Broadway
Before he became the darling of Hollywood, Sorkin was busy conquering the Great White Way. His breakthrough work, ‘A Few Good Men’, first was conceived on those very cocktail napkins he had in his apartment. The play was a hit, but more importantly, it opened the gates to Hollywood, allowing him to adapt his play for the big screen. The result? A courtroom drama that had Jack Nicholson screaming about handling truths and Tom Cruise, in a role that solidified him as more than just a pretty face with an aviator shades fetish.
Hollywood Calls: From Film to Television Triumphs
The success of ‘A Few Good Men’ paved the way for Sorkin to sprinkle his dialogue-driven magic in films like ‘The American President’ where politics suddenly seemed romantic, compelling, and Michael Douglas-worthy. But it was in television that Sorkin truly found his calling— crafting worlds where the dialogue often danced faster than the audience could keep up.
The quintessential example? ‘The West Wing’. This show didn’t just have viewers, it had disciples. Here were policy discussions, normally the equivalent of dietary fiber in their appeal, transformed into must-watch drama. Each episode delivered a Sorkinism, providing a dialogue du jour that peppered conversations in coffee shops and boardrooms alike.
The Sorkin Style: Walk and Talk
If Sorkin had a trademark move, it would be the ‘walk and talk’. Picture this: a camera tracking ahead as characters stride through corridors, their conversations as dynamic as their movements — a symphony of words and steps. This technique not only added a kinetic energy to scenes but also allowed for exposition to be dumped on viewers in the most elegant way possible. The result? You feel like you’re eavesdropping on the most intelligent conversation that’s ever taken place during a brisk walk.
Trials and Triumphs: The Peaks and Pitfalls
Sorkin’s career, however, was not devoid of drama of its own. After reaching the pinnacle with ‘The West Wing’, he faced a stumble with ‘Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip’, a show that promised brilliance but fizzled out after just one season. Yet, like a phoenix (with a typewriter), Sorkin soared back with ‘The Social Network’, scripting the rise of Facebook, and in the process, bagging an Academy Award. His screenplay laced with irony, insight, and Zuckerbergian quirks showed Sorkin had not lost his touch.
Following up, ‘Moneyball’ proved that even baseball statistics could sizzle under the Sorkin spotlight, and ‘Steve Jobs’ stripped down the biopic format into three distinct acts, each as polished as an Apple product launch.
Masterclass Legacy: Teaching the Craft
What’s a wizard without an apprentice? Sorkin’s MasterClass in screenwriting is possibly the closest mere mortals can get to downloading his brain. In his typical machine-gun style, he shares insights into structure, character development, and of course, dialogue — always the dialogue. Emerging screenwriters hang onto his every word, hoping some of that Sorkin sparkle rubs off on them.
So, there you have it—Aaron Sorkin, a man who transformed political jargon into an art form and made the walk and talk a rite of passage for actors. He turned screenwriting into something that’s not just seen but savored, a feat as commendable as it is compelling. Draw the curtains, the Sorkin show is something you won’t want to miss.
