The Daily · Podcast summary
Aaron Sorkin Still Believes in American Institutions, Even If No One Else Does
Aaron Sorkin discusses his latest film, "The Social Reckoning," and his enduring belief in American institutions, despite the current climate of distrust.
Listen on the show ↗Key takeaways
- ✍️Aaron Sorkin clarifies that his primary goal as a writer is to captivate the audience, not to directly make the world a better place, though he takes pride in the positive impact his work has had.03:11
- 🎬Sorkin explains that "The Social Reckoning" is not a direct sequel to "The Social Network" but rather another film about Facebook, driven by the compelling story of whistleblower Frances Haugen.06:10
- 🇺🇸Sorkin maintains his deep-seated belief in American institutions, viewing elections as the primary means for citizens to effect change and expressing a longing for inspiring leadership.06:11
- 🎭Sorkin views Mark Zuckerberg as an anti-hero, not a villain, in his films, portraying characters with good intentions who believe they are doing the right thing.12:51
- ⚖️Making "The Social Reckoning" involved extensive legal vetting due to its non-fiction nature and living subjects, with Sony Pictures hiring an outside law firm to ensure factual accuracy.19:09
- 🤖Sorkin expresses optimism about AI, believing that the human element in storytelling will always be paramount and that audiences will continue to value human-created art.33:29
Chapters
- 0:41Introduction: Aaron Sorkin's Enduring Optimism
- 3:28The Writer's Role: Storytelling Over Politics
- 9:03The Social Reckoning: A Follow-Up, Not a Sequel
- 20:40Mark Zuckerberg: Anti-Hero, Not Villain
- 32:05The Challenges of Non-Fiction and Optimistic Endings
- 58:55The Writer's Craft: Sobriety, Inspiration, and the Human Element
- 1:33:26A Few Good Men and the Trump Era
- 1:39:00The Power of Institutions and the Search for Leadership
The digest
Lulu Garcia-Navarro sits down with acclaimed writer and director Aaron Sorkin to discuss his new film, "The Social Reckoning," a follow-up to "The Social Network," and his long-standing career of dramatizing American politics and institutions. Sorkin shares his creative process, his views on the role of storytelling, and his unwavering optimism for the country.
The Role of the Writer: Storytelling Over Political Agendas
Garcia-Navarro opens by asking Sorkin about his role as a writer in shaping political discourse, referencing Andrew Breitbart's assertion that "politics is downstream from culture." Sorkin firmly states that his primary agenda is not political but rather to captivate the audience for the duration of his films. "I write to in some way captivate you for the two hours that I've asked for your attention while you're in the theater," he explains. He takes pride in hearing from people who entered public service after watching "The West Wing," but clarifies that his goal is not to make the world a better place directly. "I write to make the world a better place? No, let's be really clear. I write to in some way captivate you for the two hours that I've asked for your attention while you're in the theater." He emphasizes that his focus is on crafting compelling narratives, particularly those involving government, news, and journalists, as these areas naturally lend themselves to the kind of stories he enjoys telling. He describes his writing as "idealistic and romantically" portraying heroes without capes, making greatness seem achievable.
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 7-minute article, 7 more sections, and every new episode from The Daily and the creators you follow.
- "The Social Reckoning": A Follow-Up, Not a Sequel
- Mark Zuckerberg: Anti-Hero, Not Villain
- The Challenges of Non-Fiction and the Optimistic Ending
- The Enduring Influence of Family and the Fight for Free Speech
- The Writer's Craft: Sobriety, Inspiration, and the Human Element
- A Few Good Men and the Trump Era
- The Power of Institutions and the Search for Leadership
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