Brian Koppelman
Screenwriting advice in six seconds or less
Introduction
Brian Koppelman is an American writer, director, and producer, whose credits include Rounders, Ocean’s Thirteen, Runaway Jury, and Runner Runner. In addition to this, he hosts a weekly podcast, called The Moment, on ESPN radio, in which he interviews celebrities in various creative fields about “the moment” that changed the course of their careers.
Of all his accomplishments, Rounders is arguably his most recognizable. The film has a remarkable legacy; it helped to launch the poker boom of the early 2000s and has generated a cult following in the years since its release. More than that, Rounders serves as a testament to Koppelman’s approach to his craft. This screenplay was Koppelman’s first and was the direct result of his desire to put art out into the world, exemplifying his passion for writing, while the meticulous research that went into its development highlights his dedication and penchant for authenticity. As a whole, the film gives a good sense of who Koppelman is as a writer: a passionate creative mind who is unafraid to take risks.
What unifies every part of my journey is that I always lead with my curiosity, obsession, or fascination.
– Brian Koppelman
About the Authors
Dan Pilat
Dan is a Co-Founder and Managing Director at The Decision Lab. He is a bestselling author of Intention - a book he wrote with Wiley on the mindful application of behavioral science in organizations. Dan has a background in organizational decision making, with a BComm in Decision & Information Systems from McGill University. He has worked on enterprise-level behavioral architecture at TD Securities and BMO Capital Markets, where he advised management on the implementation of systems processing billions of dollars per week. Driven by an appetite for the latest in technology, Dan created a course on business intelligence and lectured at McGill University, and has applied behavioral science to topics such as augmented and virtual reality.
Dr. Sekoul Krastev
Sekoul is a Co-Founder and Managing Director at The Decision Lab. He is a bestselling author of Intention - a book he wrote with Wiley on the mindful application of behavioral science in organizations. A decision scientist with a PhD in Decision Neuroscience from McGill University, Sekoul's work has been featured in peer-reviewed journals and has been presented at conferences around the world. Sekoul previously advised management on innovation and engagement strategy at The Boston Consulting Group as well as on online media strategy at Google. He has a deep interest in the applications of behavioral science to new technology and has published on these topics in places such as the Huffington Post and Strategy & Business.
