226 | Challengers/Queer Writer Justin Kuritzkes: Asking The Right Questions While Writing
Dec 12, 2024
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Justin Kuritzkes, a screenwriter known for the films Challengers and Queer, dives into his inspiring journey in the podcast. He reveals how his newfound passion for tennis sparked the idea behind Challengers, exploring the complicated relationships beyond the game. The conversation touches on crafting engaging character dynamics and the importance of collaboration in storytelling. Kuritzkes also discusses the challenges and joys of transforming personal interests into professional narratives, emphasizing the intricacies of character development.
Justin Kuritzkes discusses how witnessing a controversial tennis match sparked his interest in creating complex narratives around communication and emotional stakes in sports.
The importance of meticulously aligning the A-story and B-story in screenwriting is highlighted, ensuring that all emotional beats resonate cohesively within the narrative.
Deep dives
The Journey of 'Challengers'
The writer Justin Kuritskis narrates the inception of the film 'Challengers', highlighting how the idea originated after witnessing a controversial moment during a tennis match between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. This event sparked his imagination, leading him to explore the dynamics of communication under pressure in competitive sports. As he researched tennis, Kuritskis transformed from a casual observer to a dedicated fan, shaping his perspective and storytelling approach. He aimed to encapsulate the emotional stakes of tennis, creating a narrative that intertwines deeply personal conflicts with the sport's high-pressure environment.
Aligning Tone in Writing
In the podcast, the discussion emphasizes the importance of aligning the A-story and B-story thematically and tonally, as shared by the producer Jeff Graham through his mentoring experience. He explores how he worked on a script that combined familial tension with a romantic subplot, emphasizing that both narratives must resonate harmoniously. This principle was echoed in Justin's writing process, where he focused not only on plot but also on ensuring that every emotional beat aimed to evoke genuine responses from the audience. Such alignment proves crucial in creating a cohesive story that feels both nuanced and relatable.
Character Development and Conflict
Kuritskis shares insights into developing complex characters, particularly through the lens of the love triangle central to 'Challengers'. He highlights a significant concept from director Luca Guadagnino, advocating that all corners of a love triangle intimately touch, thereby enhancing the narrative’s tension. This necessitated a careful crafting of scenes to ensure character interactions felt organic and earned within the broader story arc. By focusing on the characters' relational dynamics, he aimed to illuminate how their choices often stemmed from misguided intentions, adding layers of depth to the emotional conflicts.
The Writing Process and Overcoming Challenges
The conversation delves into Kuritskis's writing process, revealing that it varies depending on the project yet often begins with a clear vision followed by organic character development. He reflects on how he learned to adapt to sporadic writing conditions, such as working in hotel rooms or on set, signifying the necessity of perseverance as a writer. Despite enduring challenges, Kuritskis emphasizes the rewarding feeling of seeing a story come together, intertwined with the characters surprising him during the writing process. He concludes with wisdom about maintaining courage amidst uncertainty in writing, advocating for resilience over a structured path.
Justin Kuritzkes is having a good year. Two of his scripts, Challengers and Queer, were brought to life by world-renowned director Luca Guadagnino. Despite being about wildly different worlds, both scripts center complicated characters swirling in complicated romantic dynamics. Challengers, our focus of today's conversation, was born out of Justin's newfound interest in tennis, and a fascination with what might be happening off the court between players in an intimate sport. His script instantly attracted Zendaya’s attention, so it’s safe to say he did something right!
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