'Lincoln' writer Tony Kushner on working with Steven Spielberg

Tony Kushner had a decade's worth of plays behind him when his epic two-part masterpiece, "Angels in America," exploded in the mainstream in 1992, going on to win the Pulitzer Prize, two best play Tonys and a clutch of other stage awards. In adapting the play with Mike Nichols for cable TV, he discovered a fresh way to tell stories; "Angels" eventually won 11 Emmys for HBO in 2004. Since then, the playwright has added screenwriting to his credits with 2005's "Munich" and this year's "Lincoln" (both for director Steven Spielberg). It's a change that clearly works for him: "Munich" earned him an Oscar nomination and "Lincoln" is certain to garner further awards attention for the writer who is still getting used to the finality of working in film.

By Randee Dawn

December 13, 2012