Next Saturday it would have been 100 days since I last heard from MM. When I reflected on this last week, I realized he had never been completely silent for that long.
Today I received the sad news our dear friend passed away.
I had the honor and the privilege of corresponding with MM behind the scenes regarding the re-publication of his 101 Best Of on The Story Department. In the few communications we had, he struck me as a passionate, generous man with a big heart, completely consistent with his online persona.
I missed his regular blog posts after 2009 and when I asked his permission to republish the Best Of as Mystery Man on Monday, he didn’t just agree; he offered to write a whole new article every month.
He only managed to write two.
Mystery Man’s writing could have hardly been labeled as ‘musings’. They were thorough analyses, merciless rants or declarations of unconditional love. He showed a razor sharp vision, a disregard for ego but above all: a big, warm passion for the craft.
I’m humbled that the last new article Mystery Man published on the web, was here on the Story Department. His very last tweet on 4 March was a link to that article.
You can still see his last tweets on the front page of his web site www.mysteryman.org, which he only launched late last year. All his original blog posts still reside at Blogspot.
In honor of MM, and as agreed with him, I will continue to publish his Best Of articles here every Monday.
Meanwhile, more than I have ever anticipated any publication before, I look forward to reading MM’s free screenwriting book.
Let’s all make that book the new standard in our industry and finally start that much needed Screenwriting Revolution! When this happens MM will be smiling, while smoking a big fat Havana.
“Hehehe…”
Karel
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UPDATE:
Scott Myers is paying tribute to Mystery Man this weekend.
REMEMBERING MM:
Mamet Speak: A Blog talk with Josh James
Mystery Man’s 7 Scripts You Gotta Read on mypdfscripts.com
Karel Segers wrote his first produced screenplay at age 17. Today he is a story analyst with experience in acquisition, development and production. He has trained students worldwide, and worked with half a dozen Academy Award nominees. Karel speaks more European languages than he has fingers on his left hand, which he is still trying to find a use for in his hometown of Sydney, Australia. The languages, not the fingers.
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My deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends MM left behind.
I’m one of the many readers here who found joy in reading his 101 Best Of. I was also very much looking forward to the publication of Screenwriting Revolution….
I will miss him.
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)
My condolences. He has left his mark and his story will continue because of people like you karel. Thank you. My prayers are with his family and friends left behind. May he rest in peace.
so very sorry to hear this. i wondered many times why his tweets had stopped so abruptly.
my deepest condolences to his family. he is greatly missed.
NOOOOO! Cinema has lost a great scholar. I first had discourses with him in 2007 and I learned a HELL OF A LOT. I know he helped me become the writer I am now.
I will be remembering him on my blog.
A legend has been lost.
Oh boy…it seemed like as if the earth just shook up.
He was one helluva inspiration. And..what a guide, what a buddy.
I wasn’t aware that he was ‘absent’ for a while; he felt as alive as ever, and well…the moment you start reading his words, you know – he shall for ever be living.
Sure…smoking that Havana!
I very much, so very much look forward to the book – Screenwriting Revolution.
This reaks of utter bullshit, like most of “Mystery Man”‘s musings.
Just some context for those readers who might be shocked by the previous comment:
http://mysterymanonfilm.blogspot.com/2009/08/script-review-balls-out.html