EP70: Doug Ellin: The Mind Behind Entourage Talks Creativity and Criticism

<p>Who&apos;s sitting behind the camera on your favorite shows? The Internet is obsessed with actors, but there&apos;s a wealth of information, imagination and valuable insight locked in the creative minds responsible for your latest binge-watch.</p><p>Doug Ellin is an American screenwriter and film and TV director best known for creating the HBO series <em>Entourage</em>. Ellin also served as executive producer, director, head writer and supporting actor for the series, and wrote, directed and produced its 2015 film adaptation.</p><p>On this episode of the Perfectly Mentored Podcast, Doug and Jason jam on the evolution of Entourage into an incredible hit show, how the reaction to art changes as society does, and the impact of streaming services and social media on a screenwriter&apos;s work.</p><p><strong>Topics Covered:</strong></p><ul> <li>Who is Doug Ellin? [00:15]<br/></li> <li>How did you get started in film and TV? [00:56]<br/></li> <li>Did you like the idea of <em>Entourage</em> from the beginning? [03:02]<br/></li> <li>Does perfectionism play a part in writing a hit show? [05:32]<br/></li> <li>How did you assemble the <em>Entourage</em> cast? [07:15]<br/></li> <li>When did you know the show would be a hit? [11:06]<br/></li> <li>You said writing <em>Entourage</em> was like torture - why? [11:54]<br/></li> <li>Do you watch the finished show? [12:47]<br/></li> <li>Would <em>Entourage</em> ever get made if it were pitched today? [13:47]<br/></li> <li>What are your thoughts on the way culture is changing and what currently offends people? [17:20]<br/></li> <li>Were you nervous about the <em>Entourage</em> movie being made? [18:27]<br/></li> <li>Does criticism ever get to you, and do you read reviews? [19:53]<br/></li> <li>Is it easier to write jokes than to tell them? [20:56]<br/></li> <li>What inspired your focus on the characters as you wrote? [21:33]<br/></li> <li>How long was it before you got big stars to do cameos on the show and who was the most surprising? [22:56]<br/></li> <li>Who goes