David Mamet

Pulitzer Prize-winner ('Glengarry Glen Ross') David Mamet is one of a handful of American playwrights whose work has found almost as much success on the screen as it has on the stage. Noted for his spare, gritty dialogue, that reflects the hardened attitudes of his native Chicago, his stories often revolve around domineering male characters and their macho posturing, prompting both discussion and controversy from his audience. Well known for the rhythmic nature of his dialogue, he often uses a metronome during rehearsals to perfect the actors' delivery. Actor favourites include William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin and Joe Mantegna, who also headlined his stage productions, and his wife Rebecca Pidgeon. Another quirk - he shuns modern computers, preferring to bang out his screenplays on an old-fashioned typewriter. "People may or may not say what they mean... but they always say something designed to get what they want." - David Mamet