Bias and prejudice make me angry...more than anything. Rod Serling More Quotes by Rod Serling More Quotes From Rod Serling The most important thing about the first sale is for the very first time in your life something written has value and proven value because somebody has given you money for the words that you've written, and that's terribly important, it's a tremendous boon to the ego, to your sense of self-reliance, to your feeling about your own talent. Rod Serling ego self feelings I don't feel, God dictated that I should write. Rod Serling should writing feels I remember the first sale I made was a hundred and fifty dollars for a radio script, and, as poor as I was, I didn't cash the check for three months. I kept showing it to people. Rod Serling cash fifty people I've never planned ahead.I just sort of go through life checking the menu of three meals that day. I never worry about tomorrow. It's only since I've gotten older that I've begun to wonder about time running out. Is it sufficient unto itself that I don't plan? Because maybe next Thursday won't come one day. And then, I'm concerned about that. But that's not uniquely the writer's concern, that's the concern of every middle-aged man who looks in the mirror. Rod Serling mirrors running men There's a marvelous and unique man named Frank Gilroy. He's the only writer I know who absolutely, pointedly refuses to do any changes that he doesn't feel are absolutely essential and totally in keeping with his own view and perspective. But not too many writers are that independent and that strong-willed. Rod Serling independent strong unique I would guess that Ray Bradbury would be equally resentful of what they did with Illustrated Man, which, you know, took a central idea thesis of his and pissed all over it - made it into one of the worst movies ever made. Rod Serling rays men ideas I write much better in the nonconfines of the early morning than I do the clutter of the day. Rod Serling early-morning writing morning I guess Requiem for a Heavyweight as old as it is was as honest a piece as I've ever done. Rod Serling heavyweights pieces done An Ingmar Bergman film would probably owe a sizeable bulk of its import and its direction and its quality to the directorial end and to the director because it's uniquely a Bergman film. But that again is not the general - no, that's much more the exception than the rule. Rod Serling quality film directors Do I want to start my own production company? No, I doubt it. I'm too old for that. I don't want to start anything. Rod Serling company doubt want It's part of the business of really not caring about topping myself because I really don't care what's going to happen. I think just surviving is a major thing. I'd like to write something that my peers, my colleagues, my fellow writers would find a source of respect. Rod Serling caring writing thinking Infinitely more taboos, on television. Rod Serling taboo television The good agent probably is not the reader, he's just the guy who can put together a deal. Rod Serling agents guy together I don't have close relationships with agents. They're friends, but they're not confidants. Rod Serling close-relationship confidant agents I don't think it's man's function to write. I don't think it's a normal thing like teeth-brushing and going to the bathroom. It's a supered position on the animal. Rod Serling writing animal men I think the essence of the argument has always been, first of all, the Guild doesn't want writing on spec. And that's been a major problem over the years. But obviously, to the young writer that's unfair and it's discriminatory, and it can be very hurtful to one's career. Rod Serling writing years thinking Most shows, buying shows, have a standard fee for the first shot of the writer and if you have a very militant agent, I suppose he might jack it up four percent or something. But in essence, you sell for what is the going rate. Rod Serling buying essence might You can become much more independent, much more courageous with a bank account. And also, much more independent and self-reliant when you know you have money behind you. Rod Serling behind-you independent self Personally, my daughter's wedding gave me a tremendous pleasure. And the wedding was a radiant event and I enjoyed it. I was afraid I'd cry. I'm given to crying at odd times, and I was very much afraid of the emotionalism of that moment, but I didn't even come close to crying. Rod Serling cry events daughter Writers vary tremendously. Was it Tom Wolfe who stood up or was it [Ernest] Hemingway who had to stand up? I don't know. Rod Serling toms stood-up knows
