You look at the absolute scorn that gets poured on a fallen celebrity, whether it's Tom Cruise or Lindsay Lohan or Marlon Brando, or Elvis when he got fat. They're not allowed the dignity of ordinary failure. And I think that plays into people's notions about Los Angeles, too. It's not allowed to be a regular city with problems.
Matthew SpecktorI think being central to the culture is overrated. Who really gives a damn if something is popular? Jay-Z isn't actually any better than James Joyce even though more people understand him.
Matthew SpecktorI've always found too that somewhere in whatever you've just written lies the seed of what you're going to write next.
Matthew SpecktorOne of the weird things about L.A. is that there's always a set of negative perceptions that attaches itself to this city.
Matthew Specktor