About
"My mantra is this: I am engaged in the noblest, most honorable profession that the human mind has ever conceived. I am a storyteller."
In these selections from his interview, Harlan Ellison (1934-2018) recalls some of his earliest television assignments. He discusses writing for Ripcord, The Twilight Zone, and The Flying Nun, and talks about his pseudonym, Cordwainer Bird. He speaks of working with the Writers Guild of America, shares how he writes scripts, and tells the tale of walking off his first directing job. Ellison also touches on his review of the 2013 film Saving Mr. Banks, comments on his mantra, and explains what his epitaph will be. Nat Segaloff conducted the interview in a joint venture with the Writers Guild Foundation on February 13, 2014 in Sherman Oaks, CA.
Highlights
Harlan Ellison the story unit on The Twilight Zone
Harlan Ellison on walking off his first directing job
On his pseudonym, Cordwainer Bird
On writers not getting respect in Hollywood
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his first two television assignments
Chapter 2
On the story unit on The Twilight Zone
Chapter 3
On playing pool with Omar Sharif, Peter Falk, and Leo Durocher
Chapter 4
On writing for Ripcord
Chapter 5
On writing an episode of The Flying Nun
Chapter 6
On walking off his first directing job
Chapter 7
On meeting Dorothy Parker
Chapter 8
On his pseudonym, Cordwainer Bird
Chapter 9
On how he learned to write a script
Chapter 10
On his mantra
Chapter 11
On why people hire him
Chapter 12
On working with the Writers Guild of America
Chapter 13
On writers not getting respect in Hollywood
Chapter 14
On his recent YouTube movie commentary
Chapter 15
On his epitaph
Shows
Flying Nun, The
Harlan Ellison on writing an episode of The Flying Nun
Twilight Zone, The
Harlan Ellison the story unit on The Twilight Zone
Harlan Ellison on walking off his first directing job
Professions
Genres
Comedy Series
Harlan Ellison on writing an episode of The Flying Nun
Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
Harlan Ellison the story unit on The Twilight Zone
People
Edward Asner
Harlan Ellison on walking off his first directing job
Peter Falk
Harlan Ellison on playing pool with Omar Sharif, Peter Falk, and Leo Durocher
Sally Field
Harlan Ellison on writing an episode of The Flying Nun
Dorothy Parker
Harlan Ellison on meeting Dorothy Parker