The Hollywood Reporter has one of the best interviews with Melissa Rosenberg that I’ve seen recently. She talks about her relationship with Stephenie Meyer, her thoughts on Team Jacob and Team Edward, and how they are making Breaking Dawn into two films. There is a lot of content in this interview and it should be noted that there is a bit of rough language and mature conversation about the intimacy between Bella and Edward. So please be warned that this is not language you would ever see in the books or hear in the movie. But overall, a wonderful interview!
What’s the last question that you asked [Stephenie]?
Rosenberg: It would have been about the Volturi.
I love that you know that right away: “I know it was about the Volturi …”
Rosenberg: (laughs) I think it may have been something to do with, in her mind, in “Breaking Dawn,” what were the Volturi up to? We don’t see them until the end. And in her mind, what was driving them? She’s lived with these characters a lot longer than I have. She has a very intricate mythology and very detailed backstories for all these guys. At one point, I had so much in there about their backstories — it’s very interesting what she’s come up with and what I could expand on.
Oh, so you can actually work from stuff that’s not in the books.
Rosenberg: Oh, yeah. And that’s hopefully something that’s going to be fun for the fans. I was able to bring a lot of my own invention. Because the book is not quite two movies. There’s air, there’s room. With the other three it’s been a lot of condensing. And with “Breaking Dawn,” if you’re doing two, there’s a little air. It opens it up. But I need to stay true to the mythology. I mean, I can’t have it turn out that the head Volturi actually wanted to be a tap dancer and did vaudeville for a while.
IF YOU ALL WANT TO SEE I CLIP BETWEEN EDWARD AND BELLA TWILIGHT SERIES THEORIES HAS ONE IT IS CALLED YOU’LL ALWAYS BE MY BELLA IT IS A LONGER FINISHED VERSION OF THE ONE WE SAW ON THE WALMART DVD TRUST ME THERE IS MORE TO IT HAHHAHA AND THERE IS ALSO A HALF CLIP HALF INTERVIEW WITH XAVIER SAMUEL AND THE CLIP FEATURES JASPER AND SOME OF THE FIGHTING OME it is awesome
This was a great interview with Melissa. She said she love both Edward and Jacob and that if she had to choose she aaid “I guess if I leaned one way or the other it would probably be Edward”. I guess. But i am finsih getting mad with what she did with the characters. It is what it is and no one is forcing me to watch the clips or go see the movie.
The person doing the interview stunk–but Melissa did pretty well. I did disagree, however, with the idea that she won’t put anything that isn’t compatible with her own belief system in the screenplay. This is an adaptation, not an original–her personal beliefs don’t really matter.
It may be hard to believe, but there are a lot of us out there that don’t believe in feminism and would love an old fashioned guy. I hope she doesn’t change that too much.
I enjoy the interview; it is a serious and introspective piece which I appreciate. Melissa’s candor is refreshing.
That said, I confess some concern about the possibility of changing the values and themes of the saga to fit what she refers to at one point as her “feminist agenda.” I’m not sure if the reporter is sort of leading the conversation along this path, or if this truly represents Melissa’s primary concern with Bella’s story arc.
My concern is because, first, I think that many readers already appreciate Stephenie’s values — story elements are one thing, changing themes could be quite another matter entirely. And if you don’t agree with the theme, you won’t like the film.
Secondarily, Bella is the hero of the series. She saves everyone — from the villains and from themselves. That there is a sacrificial element and underlying humility to her story underscores the transforming power of love. It doesn’t make Bella weak. Quite the contrary, it reveals her strength of character. It helps her find her strength — her shielding power. She is the true protector in the series.
Finally, the men in Twilight already screw up everything. They are tragically stupid, they fight endlessly and pointlessly, they threaten foolishly, and they make constant, dangerous errors in judgment. Few if any of their ideas are correct. In the Twilight universe, when a man disagrees with a woman, the woman is always right (just like in real
).
OTOH, the women in the books (esp. Bella) already have to *do* everything that is actually *done.* While the guys are busy moping, Bella (and the other female characters) are driving the plot forward by making successful plans and carrying them out. The women drive the significant (and successful) events throughout the entire series.
Just because Bella is an unreliable narrator, and mistakenly thinks she is the one doing all the moping, doesn’t change her basic strength, clarity of thought, and her ability to enlist the other women in carrying out her successful plans. Even though she doesn’t see herself clearly (as Edward warns her at the start of “Twilight”) until the very end of “Breaking Dawn,” doesn’t mean that we can’t, won’t, or don’t. Bella is awesome. We all recognize that. Already.
So how does the series need to be *more* feminist???
I just want her to stay true to the books. I mean there is SOOOO much that happens in Breaking Dawn. I just wouldn’t want her “inventions” to drowned Mrs. Meyers story.
I don’t think it will. I mean, think about the first half of BD. Jacob missing, Bella & Edward get married and go to the island. Also the pregnancy and the thing about the pack dividing. Because things aren’t so intricate in this part, it might actually need some extra material that Stephenie have created. Something that can bring in more action, it doesn’t happen much besides Bella getting pregnant on the action-side of the story. I think it will be great to fill the story out more, at least in the first part. For the second part I’m not so sure.
AND I think it would be SOOO COOOL if they put the 5th one in 3D! When I first heard about it I thought “bad idea”. But then I learned that it was only for the 5th one. Making sense!! Bella becomes a vampire with better sight and senses = the movie should have better “sight” also. I saw Avatar in 3D and it was amazing – it really makes you a part of the movie! I really hope they’ll make the 5th movie in 3D, that would’ve been awesome
Ok, it said that she was on both Edwards and Jacobs side. She also said if she leaned one way, she would go with Edward but aside from a few clips has anybody noticed that Jacob is painted more as the ‘hero’ and Edward more the ‘villian’? Other than that good interview!
In Eclipse Edward is kind of the villain in some aspect because of this pettiness. After reading New Moon I had a real hard time accepting Edward back, but after the whole kiss thing I quickly dismissed the pup. Like Rob has said Edward becomes a 17 year old boy in this one and goes a little crazy. I’m sure she’s done Eclipse proud. Plus who doesn’t like a little angry Edward.
(Also with her being a feminist I was SHOCKED that she liked Edward!)
who cares about inserting her “feminist agenda” into the books! UGH thats really really aggravating!
*movies not books.
Wow that makes me super nervous that she has ‘room to play’… yikes. Yo Melissa – we’d rather you were just super super detail oriented from the books.
I assume the “inventions” she’s talking about will be like TW & NM we saw the bad vamps. Adding stuff like that to it that will add to the story. And if she’s in contact w/SM I wouldn’t worry about it.
I agree
it will bring more action to the first part of BD (which actually needs something) and fill out the story more ^^ remember ppl, the books are from Bella’s pov, while the movies actually step out of that and gives a wider view.
I think the room to play will be similar to seeing more of the Newborns in Eclipse, in BD likely more of the Volutri – what are they up to and so prepared to visit just waiting for an excuse. That could be interesting and fun. I wasn’t pleased with the differences in Twilight, actually turned me off the movie until watched a couple more times and with the commentary. New Moon much closer to the book. We can’t blame the screenwriter for all the differences, the director makes choices too. For me, if Mrs Meyers is happy, I say ok. 30 June can’t come fast enough.
I forgot to add that I wouldn’t mind seeing more of the Volturi. (Oh and pam is right. It’d be more like seeing the newborn army in EC. Duh. Blonde moment.) I LOVED Michael Sheen as Aro in NM I thought he did a fantastic job. I wouln’t mind seeing more of him in BD.
Wow, I kind of wish I had never read this interview. It really shows her true self.
I have 3 little problems with her statements that make her seem (to me) selfish and a hypocrite.
The whole abortion comment of giving the woman the “option” to have this baby. Edward is not upset that she is pregnant, it has nothing to do with whether they want the baby or not. It has everything to do with the fact that the pregnancy will potentially kill Bella. This is not some feminist situation where she gets to choose if she has this baby or not. It is a matter of life and death for Bella (and her baby).
Also the whole feminist comments.. grr.. it’s a shame. She wants to do things based on her beliefs and wants to make sure she stays true to herself. Number one, this is not your story to twist the way you want it. James, I totally agree with you on how anyone could make the movie even more feminist. Number two, it is a story. Just because your writing something that doesn’t fit in with your beliefs or values, doesn’t mean that you are not being true to yourself. That is why it is called FICTION…
And last of all, she says something about “for aging women, the fantasy of remembering when you were more desirable, the fantasy of being that wanted, that desired.” Who is to say that an older woman cannot be that desired or wanted??? So what I gather is that in order to feel completely loved you have to be young. Sorry but that’s a big negative. I know plenty of older people who are wanted and desired as much as “young adults”. That just seems like a very hypocritical statement regarding her feminism.
I may be wrong here, I may have not fully understand what she is trying to convey. Please tell me if you think I have somehow taken this out of context or if I am just plain understanding this the wrong way.
I read this interview EXACTLY as you read it. You are definately not taking it out of context or misunderstanding it. I agree with you on ALL points! Ugh! Melissa Rosenberg has been a thorn in Twilight fans’ sides since Twilight. Her whole spill on injecting “her” values, etc. made me nauseated! Since when did this story become “hers”? It’s Stephenie’s story. Stephenie’s story is what made the books best sellers and brought us all here…NOT Melissa Rosenberg
She said SM told her to Adapt the Books. She told her whatever she do just adapt the books. I think she did on the most part. I have no idea why she change Edward so much. I hope she don’t make him a Wuss in BD like SM did. I hope he is still dangerous and angry in BD when he needs to be. There are some things that happen in the book that Edward needs to Man Up about.Like a certain Puppy showing up at the wedding reception and shaking his new wife like a rag doll. I want him to put some physical hurt on that Puppy.
I agree with you …or that puppy Imprinting on his new baby, and him not able to say anything about it, after that said puppy, just tried to steal his Bella (mother of the baby) now give him the baby instead…. his new born child.. This was the part in Breaking Dawn that ike me, imprinting is a wolf thing not vampire, the vampire should have had a chance to object or tell Jacob to come back later when Renesmee grow up, Renesmee don’t need any more protector, she has 8 vampires, and two of them are her parents