
This post comes from the group The Books of Twilight from member Audreystar.
Dear Ms. Rosenberg,
First let me say that I thought you did an impeccable job at screenwriting Twilight from Stephenie Meyer's novel. From what I can see you did a great job on New Moon as well. I can only assume that Eclipse will be no different. You have proven yourself a competent and talented screenwriter. Hell, you write episodes of Dexter for goodness sake! Your ability is not in question.
I am here to discuss Breaking Dawn. This will be the ultimate test of your career. If you can manage to pull a workable movie out of that piece of literature you should (hands down) win the Academy Award in screenwriting. Everyone seems to be wondering who will be chosen to direct Breaking Dawn because they believe that is (ultimately) the person who will sink or swim in making a film work on the last book. I beg to differ. This all lies with you and that is quite a big burden to bear. The world is on your shoulders. The movie will make a ton of money so Summit can't be THAT concerned with the script. But I know you aren't a writer to please all the people who will watch anything with Robert Pattinson in it. You actually care about putting out quality work.
To read the rest of the letter (WARNING: Breaking Dawn spoilers ahead!), just read more.
So here are my questions. How are you honestly going to manage to write the birth scene and still maintain a PG-13 rating? How are you going to write for Renesmee and her not look like a freak of nature? Regarding Renesmee, the hardest challenge will be for the casting directors/CGI geniuses. They have a daunting and hard and impossible job. The honeymoon scene is what everyone will be flocking to the cinema to see (the rabid fans I mean) and I am sure Mrs. Prude Meyer will be ALL OVER the writing and filming of that. Look I know she didn't write the books for a mature audience and is trying to keep it morally sound. But this is the last movie and we have to have more than just a fade to black. But I know it won't happen because SM wouldn't even let the first kiss scene stay the way Catherine had it (i.e., steamy). I find it rather hypocritical that SM has an issue with a tasteful sex scene however has ZERO problem with blood and gore which Breaking Dawn the novel is filled to the brim with. You want to see Edward and Bella consummate their relationship. . . sorry, you aren't gonna get it. But if you are excited to see Edward rip Bella's belly open with his sharp vampire teeth, well you are in luck.
And don't even get me started on how you are going to work out the awful anti-climatic ending. This is going to be the last film in the series and as a talented screenwriter you know you can't end it that way. Sure, if this were an indie film you could get away with it. But, it isn't.
So in conclusion, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers while dealing with this huge predicament and the test of your career. You will deserve a Pulitzer if you can pull this off.
Best regards,
Audreystar
(Please note: I have no clue if she has even been signed as the screenwriter for the fourth film).
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Bertie
Wow...did Audreystar nail it on the head or what? I think A LOT of people are thinking the same thing...I am one of them. Breaking Dawn has to go to a "R" rating. I don't see any way around that. I just hope Stephenie agrees and will allow it. We all want to SEE the passion and love between Edward and Bella...it's been brewing for 3 books now. These books/films are not only for younger readers. It's the adults that have fallen in love with them, as well. Why not make a film for them, too!
1I'm not a Twilight fan, but, from what I've read, Breaking Dawn would be better with an R rating. However, it's never going to happen, and not just because Stephanie Meyer. Yes, the Twilight franchise has plenty of adult fans. But, like it or not, it has plenty of teen fans, too, and the studio is not going to risk losing all of the money it could make by making a movie those teens can't see.
2Agree with lilkimbo. The problem is not only SM. The studio won't change the rating, especially because a lot of teens are into the movie.
3Breaking Dawn will be a hot mess if the screenwriter and director doesn't get it right. I fear no matter what the whole film will end up being laughable. It is one thing to read about a newborn baby who has the ability to make facial movements and can understand everything around her but to see it on camera is just hard for me to imagine. And the ending will be a big disaster too. You think you're going to get this big fight between the Volturi and the Cullen's but really nothing even happens. I hope it gets made into a movie though. I am super excited to see the wedding scene and when Bella first becomes a Vampire.
4The last movie has to have an R rating as most of you have stated. I don't see any way around it if it sticks to the books. You have to have the honeymoon because it's what the previous 3 books have been leading up to and the birth scene is one that has to be included also. Even if there's no nudity to speak of it has to have more gore and sexual inuendo to make it believable. Okay, I know it's vampires and shape shifters but....
5You said it Audrey!
6At the very least, I hope they give us a directors cut.
7"The world is on your shoulders" and "You will deserve a Pulitzer if you can pull this off"...
Seriously? Do people really think anything Twilight-related is good (GASP!) literature? LOL!
8I enjoyed the first 3 books for what they were but by the 4th I was like reallllly? And hoping no one saw me reading it. It's almost unfilmable. And set aside the popcorn for THAT birth scene.
9I'm on my way out but very quickly I will say that some fans have mentioned casting a little person for the role of Reneesme and/or using Benjamin Button type effects for the aging and all the rest.
That sounds like a decent compromise and I hope the execs consider this.
10Literature? LITERATURE?!?! BWAAAA hahahaha that's the funniest thing I've read all day.
11No, no one thinks it's literature.
I'm 27, I'm an attorney and I love these books. I find them easy to read and enjoyable. They are Fun Reads and nothing more.
Honestly, I think its more annoying to pretend to like highbrow stuff than it it is admit liking teenage vampire smut.
12running -- I'm a year younger, also an attorney and I love them. Not everything has to be Pride and Prejudice (and yes, I love that too). Just take them for what they are...light entertainment.
13exactly, allyace! nothing wrong with some easy and fun reads
14I agree to a point. While most people who have never read Twilight believe it's a teen book, I have always disagreed. While it's set in high school and Bella is a teen, this book deals with adult issues and themes and one of the many things I loved about the whole series is that the books grow up as Bella grows up. So I think a screenplay can be written and made into a movie while maintaining a PG13 rating but I don't think it needs to be gory to get the storyline across. But it certainly can be written to show Bella and Edwards adult relationship that evolved from their high school one. I think Breaking Dawn should be made to show Bella as an adult, entering into adult relationships and to where her life is fated. But I think this movie needs to be made to give the series of movies closure just like the book did, so that the fans of the movie get to see Bella/Edward/Jacob's lives completely.
15I think this girl has too much time on her hands.
16yeah! twilight saga is not just for teens..
17i love this series.
There's no denying that all things Twilight have become part of the global pop culture and trends. It takes all the high brow explanations in the world to figure out why this low brow vampire smut has created such a huge following. So I'm not dissing SM's achievements although I would never use Twilight books and literature in the same sentence. (other than the one I just wrote!)
Also I think SM should be more concerned about giving the teens the wrong message by having Bella choose marriage over college, than the sex scenes.
18thank god it will be gone soon, retired to the $1 bin and I wont have to hear about it anymore.
19Oh give me a break kids this days no more than adults really people is just a movie and parents can made a choice to let the kids watch it or not so if you so offended by this stay home and let everybody else make their own choices don't speak for every body ok.
20I've worried about this constantly. On one hand, it's going to be so hard to have Breaking Dawn be pg-13 and not lose most of what the book is about. Then if it goes to an R rating the franchise is going to lose so many fans, the tweens. Breaking Dawn is so complex, much more than any younger fan can really comprehend. I'd hate to lose what the book is really about by keeping it pg-13 to keep younger people in the seats. I'm scared of the outcome cause B.D. is my favorite of the series and I'd hate to see it butchered.
21I just hope this film happens - otherwise it will leave all the fans both young and old in limbo! There surely must be a comphremise without straying too far from the book.
22Gah! bsprague01 finally! Reading through these I was ready to ask "am I the only one who actually LIKED Breaking Dawn?" ..... I loved the final book and thought the ending brought an all around nice, happy closure to the series.
23Rainey, no you aren't the only one. Out of all the books I love B.D. the most. Being that the content is so much more adult than the others I can relate to it so much more. I wasn't exactly happy that Jacob imprinted on Nessie, but I can see SM's view of making everyone happy. I really felt horrible for Jacob and in the end everyone seemed to be happy with the situation. I LOL'd hard when Bella went after him though. Anyway, I guess that's why I am so nervous about them making it into a movie. I just don't see how they can do the book justice and keep it PG-13. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it pans out.
24I agree with Rainey4pres and bsprague01, I loved breaking dawn it was my favorite too, but I worry as well on how they are going to pull the movie off and stay true to the book. I don't think it will be R rated although I wish it would be, but I don't see it happening especially with all the teens who would be devastated if they weren't allowed to watch the last movie. Its definitely going to be a challenge, I hope the movie won't be disappointing!
25Good job Audreystar, for being chosen!
26i thought the fourth book was a fitting conclusion to the series, albeit somewhat anti-climatic as stated above. however, what made the book for me was the enviable, undying relationship of edward and bella. if the movie can capture that at the very least, it won't be half bad. the movie will be a challenge in many aspects, but i'm glad it'll be brought to life on screen regardless. i have faith that Rosenberg will remain consistent.
as for an "R" rating, i highly doubt summit would go for it merely b/c it may hinder ticket sales for the target audience.
27So I have to admit I am late joining the Twilight Saga ride. Only weeks ago I watched Twilight via a dvd from my 11 year old daughter. I instantly fell in love...in that time I have read Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. For the sheer need to see it to its end. Breaking Dawn must happen. It will be the only way to give Bella and Edward their Forever....
28Josette, I too came only recently to know about and love the series, and I think what you said about the necessity of the movie for the characters is beautiful! Regardless of the problems inherent in making a movie that tries to please multiple audiences, I think it must be done, and I'm excited to view it for what it is--a different take on a great book.
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