Rabe convinced Kessler that writing was in fact
"something that one could actually pursue as a
career," Kessler says. "Through his encouragement
and guidance, the idea of becoming a writer
or Todd Kessler, language is like music.
became more real to me."
When Kessler was a boy growing up in
To continue honing his-writing skills, Kessler
West Bloomfield, his parents made each of
took
a screenwriting seminar with director Spike
their children learn to play two instruments,
Lee.
Kessler believes this taught him to how to listen,
Lee, whose films have included Malcolm X and
and later how to appreciate the way in which
Do
The Right Thing, has not always had the most
words, like musical notes, can tumble, sing, scream
cordial
relationship with the Jewish community.
or weep.
Kessler found himself "the one
"[Learning music] gave me an ear for
white
Jewish guy" in Lee's class, and
dialogue," he says. "Language is a type
is
aware
that many Jews might pos-
of music, but in a different rhythm,
sess
negative
feelings about the
and based on the words people choose.
director.
I like creating voices, trying to make
"But he's very different on a more
them real.
personal
side," Kessler says. "He's
"One of the great things about New
open,
has
a great sense of humor,
York is that you're on the.street all the
was
nothing
but extremely nice and
time," he says. "So I take pieces of dia-
In fact, he was the one
inc,.
encouracr
b
logue — arguments, falling in love —
who
really
launched
my career."
and I use them."
Lee invited Kessler to help out on
Kessler, 28, does a great deal of listen-
his film Cockers, then at the end of
ing to the "music" of the New York
the summer seminar, he offered his
streets in his work as writer/producer
former student a full-time job.
for the Home Box Office series The
Kessler declined. "I was really
Sopranos, the story of a New Jersey
itching
to be writing," he says.
Mafia family headed by the angst-rid-
He
had
set his sights on NYPD
den, obsessively controlling, yet surpris-
the
TV
series about New York
Blue,
ingly endearing Tony Soprano, played
police.
Kessler
says he considered
by James Gandolfini. The series begins
the
program
"some
of the best writ-
its third season March 4.
ing
on
TV."
As if a Mafia boss didn't have enough
He wrote an unsolicited script,
to deal with already, there's his wife,
then
sent it off — not to the pro-
Carmella (Edie Falco). One day she
gram
producers but to an agency,
wants a baby, the next day she's hoping
because
agents "are the gatekeepers
to have an affair. There's his nephew,
to the whole world of TV."
Christopher (Michael Imperioli), hot-
They liked his writing and he got a
headed and ambitious but look, the guy
job.
has problems of his own (like that feisty
"I started writing for a program
girlfriend), right?
The Visitor, which ran for half
called
And Tony's Uncle Junior (Dominic
a
season,"
Kessler says. While work-
Chianese) might seem like a nice guy as
The
Visitor, he met a col-
ing
on
far as Mafia members go, but who is
league
who
later moved on to the
really in control, Junior or Tony?
primetime show Providence, then
Tony's psychiatrist, Dr. Melfi
invited Kessler to join.the writing
(Lorraine Bracco) has romantic fan-
team
there.
tasies about her client, while Tony's best
Kessler
accepted, but became rest-
pal turned out to be a snitch (What
"Providence had become
less
because
happened to him? Let's just say he went
much
more
sentimental
than I had
overboard — literally).
thought
it
would."
Why even Tony's own mother, Livia
Just about the same time, HBO
(played by Nancy Marchand, who
was
premiering a new show called
passed away last year) once ordered a
In addition to being
The
Sopranos.
hit on her own son.
one
of
the
most
highly respected
The Sopranos has a collection of
Writing dialogue for a bunch of mobsters, Todd Kessler; formerly of West
dramas
on
television,
it had plenty
admirers ranging from critics (it was
Bloomfield, is a writer/producer on HBO's "The Sopranos."
of
killing
and
swearing
and threat-
nominated for a slew of Emmy Awards
ening
—
just
the
sort
of
thing you
last year, and swept the 2000 Screen
might
need
after
a
heavy
dose
of
sentimentalism.
studied
dramatic
literature
and
playwriting.
By
the
Actors Guild Awards) to Internet addicts around
Kessler wanted in.
time Kessler was a senior, he had written and
the world. HBO has its Sopranos Web site, as do
David Chase wanted Kessler. Chase, the senior
directed a play, a "one-act romantic comedy satire
plenty of fans, where you can learn everything from
producer
of The Sopranos — he's announced he'll
about dating services in New York."
biographies of cast members to "Mobspeak," in
leave
after
this season — was familiar with the
The
American
College
Theater
awarded
Kessler
case Tony or Christopher utter a phrase you don't
young
writer's
work. He asked Kessler to come up
an
honorable
mention
for
his
directorial
debut.
He
know.
trial script. Eventually, this was
Sopranos
with
a
had
also
made
a
friend,
author
and
playwright
For example, "Golden Age" is the days before
turned
into
an
actual
show, called "The D-Girl."
(Hurleyburley,'Casualties
of
War).
David
Rabe
RICO, the 1970 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt

ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
Special to the Jewish News

F

qr,

3/2
2001

60

Organizations Act, instituted to help federal agents
clamp down on organized crime; "clip" means to
whack," or put out a contract on someone; "spring
cleaning" is getting rid of evidence.
Kessler's original dream was to be a basketball
player. Then he attended Cranbrook in Bloomfield
Hills. He loved the writing and loved the school,
where, he said, he had "a terrific experience." But
he wondered whether anyone really made money
and a career out of writing.
He continued at Harvard University, where he

"

