It's a rough and tumble game whenever power is involved - people's ambitions, their desires, their competitive spirit will often push them to play outside the rules. It's dramatic, it's interesting, and I think it's something we can all identify with to a degree. Beau Willimon ambitioncompetitivedegree share on social
We all experience power struggles in our lives - at the workplace, with our friends, in our love lives. In a way, we're all politicians. Beau Willimon experiencefriendlive Change image and share on social
The media doesn't create narratives, really. They're not that powerful. What they do is they tap into narratives that are already bubbling amongst their viewership or readership. Beau Willimon bubblecreatemedium Change image and share on social
Writing plays supplied for me everything that painting didn't, which is the ability to tell stories in real time, in a real space, in three dimensions, in flesh and blood. I realized I had been trying to cram all this narrative into my paintings, but ultimately painting was a static medium. So it just opened up this whole new door. Beau Willimon abilitybloodcram share on social
The press don't wake up in the morning simply to be a mouthpiece for pols - they're out to uncover and expose news. That often is at odds with what politicians are setting out to do - it's both symbiotic and antagonistic. They need each other, they work in concert with one another, they work against one another. Beau Willimon antagonisticconcertexpose share on social
Film is much more visual, a scene is typically a lot shorter, you're dealing with a lot more characters, a lot more locations, and you're able to rely on things that you just can never do on the stage. Beau Willimon characterdealfilm share on social
Like any young person who gets into a political campaign, I joined out of a highfalutin' desire to change the world. But you start to see the sort of tactics people use. You start to see politics not only in the macro but in the micro of the campaign itself. Some people get turned off by this side of it. Other people are drawn to it. Beau Willimon campaignchangedesire share on social
My jobs on campaigns were pretty low on the totem pole - I was an advance man. Beau Willimon advancecampaignjob Change image and share on social
The way I see politics is, I don't think it's cynical to accept the fact politicians are human beings, that they're flawed, and they represent the best and the worst of us. Beau Willimon acceptbadbeing Change image and share on social
Tales of power and ambition and intrigue and betrayal and desire - when you're telling those in a big way, you automatically want to go to Shakespeare. Beau Willimon ambitionautomaticallybetrayal Change image and share on social