How an Episode of Succession is Written

A new Behind the Curtain video explores how the writing team operates behind the hit HBO series Succession.

As the Succession series finale looms this Sunday evening, I thought it would be a good idea to feature the writers who have spun four season’s worth of brilliance onto script pages. Here is a recent Behind the Curtain video featuring showrunner Jesse Armstrong and other series writers delving into their writing process.

Chapters: 
00:00 Preface 
00:24 1. How It Started 
01:29 2. Writers Room 
03:26 3. Characters 
07:55 4. Writing Comedy 
10:58 5. Dialogue 
12:11 6. Research 
14:30 7. Jesse Armstrong’s Writing Advice

Here is the quote that ends the video: Jesse’s advice to writers:

It’s easy to have the impulse to write and it’s easy to enjoy that floaty feeling of one day, I’m going to do something. And as soon as you start writing it, if you’re a normal human being and probably also if you’re a good writer, your reaction will be, “This is terrible.”

So to get from that feeling of, “I might have something to say” to writing that terrible draft that you hate, anything that will get you through that.

Whether that’s like having a date in the diary that we’re going to shoot this little teaser for YouTube, or if you’ve got a friend who you trust or a creative writing group, something you do with pals, or something online … but anything to make you finish.

Then do the next one.

Here’s a bonus video with Jesse Armstrong:

Succession is a remarkable series. I loathe all of the characters … but love to watch them. I will miss it intensely when it’s gone.

For more Behind the Curtain videos, go here.

For 100s more interviews with screenwriters and filmmakers, go here.