James L. Brooks Inaugurates Oakie Masters Series

On May 2

Oscar and Emmy award winning writer/director/producer James L. Brooks launched the initial Jack Oakie and Victoria Horne Oakie Master Lecture Series on May 2 before a packed Norris Theatre audience.  

During the program, moderated by Writing chair Jack Epps, Jr., Brooks screened material from his television series, Taxi, discussed his strategy for working with actors, emphasized the value of open-minded collaboration on his projects, and noted how he loved the pace of creating a show every eight days and working through the night with the writers.  

When asked about advice for young writers, Brooks said, “Just appreciate that you can be a writer.  Enjoy your freedom of thought.”  He also answered audience questions where he expressed his admiration for the film, Superbad and its “incredible monologues.  Anything that works that well, even if it is improvised, counts as writing in my book.”  

He also noted that the Simpsons movie had over 100 distinct drafts before being shot.  

In introducing the new series, Dean Daley noted that “Both James Brooks and Jack Oakie’s work spanned film and television, and encompassed everything from screwball slapstick to savage satire...it’s fitting to celebrate them in tandem.”   

Associated Person:

Elizabeth M. Daley