NICK KAZAN - Writer

NICK KAZAN - Writer

From Team Deakins by James Ellis Deakins, Roger Deakins

April 22, 2026 · 1h 4m · Season 2 · Episode 188

About this episode

In this episode, writer Nick Kazan discusses his experiences and insights on screenwriting and the production process.

SEASON 2 - EPISODE 188 - Nick Kazan - Writer In this episode of the Team Deakins Podcast, we speak with writer Nick Kazan (BICENTENNIAL MAN, MATILDA, DREAM LOVER). Nick has been writing professionally for decades, and we spend much of our conversation with him discussing what he finds to work and not work in a screenplay. Nick also shares his relationship to a script after it's entered production, and we discuss how changes made during production can enhance a scene. We also learn how he's balanced writing spec scripts with assignments, what his opinion of the three act structure is, what he needs to know before he begins writing, and when he recognizes his writing is working. Nick also shares how a Harold Pinter play inspired him to begin writing in the first place, and we learn how he's been chasing the experience of writing for the very first time ever since. Plus, Nick reveals why he didn't leverage his the reputation of his father (director Elia Kazan) to build his own career, and we ask Nick: "What makes a good writer?" - Recommended Viewing: SHAMPOO - This episode is sponsored by Aputure

People in this episode

Hosts: James Ellis Deakins, Roger Deakins

Guest: Nick Kazan

Topics covered

  • screenwriting
  • film production
  • writing process
  • three act structure
  • inspiration
  • spec scripts

Keywords

  • Nick Kazan
  • screenplay
  • writing
  • film
  • production
  • three act structure
  • spec scripts
  • Harold Pinter

Sponsors

Aputure

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: BICENTENNIAL MAN, MATILDA, DREAM LOVER, SHAMPOO

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