Craig Mazin on 'The Last of Us'

Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air

The Ringer

Society & Culture

4.8 • 3.5K Ratings

🗓️ 5 February 2023

⏱️ 70 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Larry is joined by Emmy Award-winning writer and director Craig Mazin to talk about his newest venture 'The Last of Us' on HBO. They begin their conversation by breaking down the synopsis of both the series and the popular video game it's based on while also touching on Craig's relationship with the two. Next, they discuss the obstacles and advantages of making comedies, the flexibility of comedic actors, and how to create an adaptation of a video game that already has a rabid fanbase intimately familiar with the source material (8:10). Craig then talks about his experiences making a show about a fungal pandemic while living through a viral one and how he was able to express complex emotional themes within the chaos of a zombie infested post-apocalyptic plotline (21:23). This leads into a conversation about humanity's relationship to sickness, its dependence on religion, and the future of shows based on video game franchises (37:19). Craig and Larry end the pod by discussing Mazin's entry into the world of screenwriting, exploring some of the most frequently asked questions by aspiring writers, and assessing the state of the Writer's Guild (47:11). Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Craig Mazin Associate Producer: Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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0:00.0	When you're lost in the darkness, look for the pod.
0:03.2	Specifically, the Prestige TV podcast on the Ringer podcast network, where we're breaking down every new episode of HBO's The Last of Us.
0:10.2	On Sunday nights, grab your battery and join Van Lathen and Charles Holmes for an instant reaction to the latest episode.
0:15.6	Then head back to the QZ on Tuesdays for a deep dive with Joanna Robinson and Mallory Ruben.
0:20.4	From character arcs to video game adaptation choices, story themes to needle drops will parse every inch of this court of steps coded universe.
0:27.4	Watch out for mouth tendrils and follow along and Spotify or wherever you get your podcast.
0:36.4	This episode is brought to you by SAP Concur.
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1:01.4	Visit concur.co.uk to learn more.
1:12.4	Alright, welcome back everybody. It's a pleasure to have a little palibine on the show.
1:18.4	We're actually on the writer's guild board together years and years ago.
1:25.4	Fighting for these writers and Hollywood.
1:28.4	Fighting for them.
1:30.4	We'll bring that up in 2004.
1:35.4	Yeah, it was a long time ago.
1:37.4	Yeah, right up to before that strike, everything.
1:41.4	But I've been a fan of Sky for so long.
1:44.4	Everything from the hangover movies, Gary movies, Chernobyl.
1:48.4	Look at that. Look at that range.
	...

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