Shattered Glass

Synopsis: Young hotshot journalist Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen) puts on a good show for his adoring editor, Michael Kelly (Hank Azaria), but admits deep insecurities to his fellow writer, Caitlin Avey (Chloë Sevigny). When Glass begins turning in outrageous stories, his popularity skyrockets, but rival journalist Charles Lane (Peter Sarsgaard) becomes suspicious as to their factual accuracy, and eventually discovers that Glass has been fabricating many of his sources.
Genre: Drama, History
Production: Lions Gate Films Inc.
  Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 11 wins & 27 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.2
Metacritic:
73
Rotten Tomatoes:
91%
PG-13
Year:
2003
94 min
$2,105,024
Website
2,069 Views


There are

so many show-offs in journalism.

So many braggarts and jerks.

They are always selling,

always working the room,

always trying to make themselves

look hotter than they actually are.

The good news is,

reporters like that make it easy

to distinguish yourself.

If you're

even a little bit humble,

a little self-effacing or solicitous,

you stand out.

So you bring a co-worker lunch

if he's buried under a deadline,

you remember birthdays.

It's true,

journalism is hard work,

everybody's under pressure, everybody's

grinding to get the issue out.

Nobody's getting any sleep, but you are

allowed to smile every once in a while.

I mean, even Woodward and Bernstein

went out for a burger now and then,

and they won a Pulitzer.

Some reporters think

it's political content

that makes a story

memorable.

I think it's the people

you find...

their quirks, their flaws,

what makes them funny,

what makes them human.

Journalism is just the art

of capturing behavior.

You have to know

who you're writing for.

And you have to know

what you're good at.

I record what people do,

I find out what moves them,

what scares them,

and I write that down.

That way, they are the ones

telling the story.

You know what? Those kind of pieces

can win Pulitzers too.

"Contributing writer

for Harper's Magazine,

contributing writer

for George magazine,

contributing writer

for Rolling Stone,

and of course,

associate editor

of the New Republic magazine

in Washington D.C.

Sorry if I'm beaming, but, you know,

I was his journalistic muse.

- It's true.

Just seven years ago,

he was sitting...

right there.

I'm sorry.

Right there.

And I was doing the exact

same thing you guys are doing...

grinding out pieces

and then having horrid nightmares

of Mrs. Duke

and her infamous red pen.

And see what happens

when greatness is demanded of you?

Now he's at

The New Republic.

And now I'm at

The New Republic.

In May, the editors

of The New Republic magazine...

... with The Washington Post,

The New Republic, and The Boston Globe.

But the bill was blasted

in The New Republic this week.

You're very helpful.

I just wanted to get a confirmation...

So, I said,

"Network news, network news. Hmm.

Oh, right, that's that show

that's on every night

between those "Fixodent"

commercials, right?" That shut him up.

Hey, Steve.

Hey, Steve.

Hey, guys.

- Gloria, that necklace is you.

- Thanks, doll.

I got some new merchandise.

For your girlfriend.

- As soon as I get this piece done.

- How is it coming?

- Horrible.

- Uh-huh.

It's the fundamental nature

of the magazine, Lew.

- Mallory, can I get some copies?

- Sure.

People want photographs,

they can buy Newsweek.

They do buy Newsweek.

And Time,

and US News & World Report.

And our losses are a joke.

Let me guess. He's on you again

about a redesign.

- Yeah, cover page and graphics.

- And photographs.

Let me remind you Steve,

this magazine hasn't changed

its look since the ' s.

How is it?

It's good.

- You hate it.

- No, it's good, It's a little rough.

No, it's the worst thing

I ever wrote. It's horrible.

If you guys don't help me with it,

I'm not even going to send it in.

- When is it due?

- Tomorrow.

Tsk...

I may have to kill myself.

I mean, The New York Times

Magazine!

Will you guys

help me with it, please?

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote

Billy Ray

William "Billy" Ray is an American screenwriter and director. He began writing for television and movies in 1994 with Color of Night. He has written numerous movies including Volcano and Hart's War. He was one of the creators and writers of the science fiction show Earth 2. On August 10, 2015, it was announced that he will be writing the screenplay that Martin Scorsese will direct of an adaptation of The Devil in the White City, which will star Leonardo DiCaprio. more…

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