Uncovering the Untold Secrets: Miguel Flatow Reveals What Drives His Storytelling Genius
Ever wondered what it takes for a screenplay to land on the highly coveted Black List? Well, buckle up, because Miguel Flatow’s journey with his script Viva, Mexico! offers a fascinating glimpse into the creative mind behind 2022’s standout screenplay. Growing up in the serene town of Tepoztlan, surrounded by mountains and waterfalls—a writer’s paradise if there ever was one—Miguel’s story is woven with rich cultural threads and cinematic influences from his father, a classical music composer who introduced him to films like 2001: A Space Odyssey. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the quietest places breed the loudest voices in cinema. If you’re curious how early influences and personal landscapes shape a screenwriter’s craft, this chat is a must-read. LEARN MORE
My conversation with 2022 Black List writer for his script Viva, Mexico!
Miguel Flatow wrote the original screenplay Viva Mexico! which landed on the 2022 Black List. I had the opportunity to chat with Miguel about his creative background, writing a Black List script, and the craft of screenwriting.
Scott Myers: You were born and raised in Mexico, yes?
Miguel Flatow: Yeah. I’m in Mexico right now.
Scott: Where?
Miguel: I’m in this small, rural town called the Tepoztlan, which is an hour south of Mexico City. It’s very beautiful. I step out of my room and see a waterfall and big mountains all around. It’s a nice, little, quiet place. Good for writing. No distractions.
Scott: Is that your home?
Miguel: Yeah. This is where I live. I go back and forth to L.A. I’m there in February for another two months. I go to Mexico City often.
Scott: Because Mexico’s got a long tradition of cinema… When you were growing up how much of a role did movies play in your childhood?
Miguel: When I look back on things, and kind of retrace my steps, I realized I saw a lot of movies with my father. My father is a classical music composer. He showed me a lot of good stuff when I was young. His favorite movie was 2001: A Space Odyssey, so I saw that about ten times by the time I was thirteen.
Also the classic black and white Tarzan movie, Out of Africa, he kind of loved all that. He had a good indie sensibility for movies. I just watched a ton of stuff with him. You don’t realize what’s happening at the time because you’re so young, but looking back, I can see how his influence and sensibility were slipping in.
I thought I was going to be a novelist for the longest time. That was my main objective even when I was starting college, and then I started moving toward film. I double majored in film and literature and I write with music and quite visually so it was a natural transition.
Scott: That was at Kenyon where you went to college.
Miguel: Yeah, it was my first or second time going to the US. I basically went straight to Kenyon without ever going to the US before, so that was…
