'Twilight' screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg talks Kristen Stewart, Bill Condon and 'Breaking Dawn'

Last week, official word came from Summit Entertainment that "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn" will come to the big screen as two films. Now what? 

Major cast deals are signed, Bill Condon has set his directorial wheels in motion, and the world has "Eclipse" to snack on while massive preparation gets underway for "Dawn" Parts 1 and 2. 

We got to chat with the woman at the eye of the vampire storm, screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg, midway through her adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's final book.

While she'll break from the job at hand to receive honors from Prevention magazine Tuesday in Los Angeles for her charitable work with the Writer's Guild Foundation, the scribe admits she's all "Twi," all the time.

Does she think Condon is up to the task? Will we see the sex, violence and graphic childbirth the book promises? Is Kristen Stewart ready for the epic journey in store for Bella Swan?

 Get these answers and more in our Q&A after the jump...

Ministry of Gossip: 'Breaking Dawn' is no small undertaking. How's adaptation going?

Melissa Rosenberg: It's going really well -- it's a very big challenge. It's just thick with mythology and characters and choosing which stories to bring forward. It's a beast, but I think it's going well.

MoG: Stephenie Meyer has been consulting on the films from the start. Given this is the final chapter, what are her major priorities for the fans?

MR: She has always only demanded one thing, and that is that we adapt the book. All of her really big boundaries have to do with just adapting the book. That said, she isn't terribly precious about things. She's supportive of my bringing invention to it. 

MoG: Speaking of which, [spoiler alert!] fans are crazy over Bella losing her virginity, the graphic birth of her and Edward's child, and her vampire transformation. Any idea how you'll handle such serious imagery?

MR: On the fan site, on Facebook, all the comments are "It has to be R rated! You have to show the childbirth! Gore and guts and sex!" For me it's actually more interesting to not see it. You know, you can do childbirth without seeing childbirth ... it doesn't mean it's any less evocative of an experience.  

MoG: Kristen Stewart arguably has the most work to do in the final films. Is she up to the challenge?

MR: Kristen Stewart is really, I think, tremendous. And one of the reasons why we got Bill Condon. And Chris Weitz, for that matter; they all want to work with her.

MoG: A lot of the fans credit you with giving Bella more backbone in the films than she has in the books. Was that something you did actively? 

MR: That's something I did very consciously. What's interesting is that it's all there -- the strength was there, it was just kind of tearing away some things. You know, she's human. She doesn't have the physical strength of Edward and all of them. So how do you make the character strong when she's physically vulnerable? There really is a goal to give her stamina and other strengths. She really is a role model.

MoG: Your prior credits ["Dexter," "Ally McBeal"] definitely incorporate strong females. Is that a place you'll return to after "Twilight" is done? 

MR: Absolutely. What I really want to do is create great roles for women. And I'm not talking Nicholas Sparks romance. I think women's roles have gotten ghettoized in these sort of places. ... I'm thinking women in action, comic books, or like the Tony Soprano of women. We need some complex roles.

MoG: Back to "Twilight"; this franchise has dozens of characters. Anyone in particular you love writing for?

MR: I love Charlie, Billy Burke's character [Bella's father]. Writing for him is so spectacular, he's so funny and wry and every scene he's in he just takes. There's a scene in "Eclipse" where Bella tells him she's a virgin, and it's the funniest, most awkward scene I've ever seen on film.

Rosenberg says pre-production will begin July 1, with both films slated to film back to back at the start of October.

What do you think of her plans for "Breaking Dawn"? Tell us in comments.

-- Matt Donnelly

Photo: Melissa Rosenberg

We've got all the "Eclipse" headlines you could want. Don't miss the Ministry on Facebook and Twitter.

Comments

[Amiee]

Okay so where it is said that "For me it's actually more interesting to not see it. You know, you can do childbirth without seeing childbirth ... it doesn't mean it's any less evocative of an experience." I think that this is totally un true. These are the parts which make the book what it is and to not include the detail in the film will in my opinion let down the whole Twilight Saga. These parts need to be shown like they are described in the book. They cant just simply be ignored or limited.

[Clara]

I just hope that Summit reconsiders getting her for 'Breaking Dawn'. It's nothing personal Melissa. I just feel that you haven't managed to capture the essence of the series the way the books do.

Reading the comments on here took me a little by surprise. I didn't know you were openly Team Jacob, I guess that makes sense now.

[Kelly]

Melissa has single handidly RUINED the Edward/Bella romance that we all know and love from the books. AND FYI Melissa, you can get away with a lot in PG-13.....try watching The Notebook.

[Lauren Rose]

@Jacobs_True_Mate

To be fair, going by your same logic there that we only feel this way because we are all Team Edward (Although, I must've missed that in most of the posts, since I don't recall anyone saying which team they were, but ok.) couldn't I just say that you only feel that it is ok and the movies are wonderful because you, yourself, are Team Jacob? It would make sense. You are Team Jacob (I'm assuming, from your name.) and, so, are perfectly fine with building him up to be the better character while tearing Edward down and making him a jerk. Just so you know, I'm not actually saying this is the case just that, by your logic there, it could be and, so, you shouldn't make assumptions about why people feel the way they do.

[Dawn R. P.]

I have been quite disappointed with Ms. Rosenburg's adaptation of the Twilight Saga. She seems to favor Jacob's character a great deal and it takes away from the story that the fans have come to love. Particularly in New Moon, any and all dialogue that showed the chemistry and connection between Edward and Bella was completely cut. It was biased to put Jacob forward. Had I not read the series, I wouldn't have known it was a love story or what was going on. I feel bad for anyone who is only seeing the movies.
The dialogue throughout the series is quite choppy. It gives the audience no insight into the characters and gives the actors so little room to offer character development. With all of the directors the series has gone through, I wish they would have changed writers too.

[LA]

Unfortunately I also agree with the majority of fans here, MR has watered down this Saga to no end. I have also come to the conclusion that there will be a Jacob spin off after BD, thats the only reason they would down play Edward (Robert Pattinson) as HE is the one who people feel in love with in Twilight and want more of. The Bella/Edward love,Romance, CONNECTION it has been lost since New Moon. The dialogue is horrendous, I read the script also for E, it read for 12 year olds, the only saving grace is David Slade, who had a ton of issues with Summit to get E where he wanted it, Breaking Dawn is a mature journey for these characters, I want the blood, I want to see Bella to drink blood, I want to a sexy/ passionate intimate experience for Bella and Edwards first time. Guess what MR, that CAN be done with a PG13 rating, if done correct. RP Remember Me sex scenes were very Hot, that is what a majority of the fans want. A adult Breaking Dawn. We want sex we want blood.We want Edward and Bella back. Please stop thinking its what you want, we pay for all you and Summit have.

[jenny]

i cant even thing of something nice to say about this woman. she has destroyed the twilight series. she is so wrapped up in her jacob/taylor love that its taking away what fans loved about the series. i really hope someone at summit reads these comments, because melissa rosenberg isn't very good. now with breaking dawn i don't really trust her to show us the ending of edward and bella.

[Lauren Rose]

I think a major problem with the sex is that Americans (I say "Americans" because I'm not sure how it is in other countries and I don't wish to speak for them.) view sex as this horridly taboo subject. This may shock some of you, but pretty much everyone will have sex at some point in their life. Sex is what advances our species and sex can be a wonderful, beautiful experience between two people in their relationship. Melissa (And certainly SM.) seems to be of the former opinion, viewing sex as this nasty, taboo thing that we shouldn't even be talking about let alone showing on television. It can be done in a very tasteful way and help add to the relationship and development of the characters. Again, though, this is if its done in the right way. I'm not saying throw in some scenes straight out of some hard-core pornos, but put in something. And, like others have said, it is very possible to do some gory-type scenes in a way that allows them to be put into a PG-13 movie. Try thinking outside the box, not just "We'll fade to black for it all."

[sandrine]

when an author ask a screenwriter to stick to the book said screenwriter SHOULD or rather HAS TO stick to the book. We don't ask for the film to be R-rated but to not occult scenes that are so highly expected. Plus those scenes could be film in a non-too GRAPHIC way. We don't ask for "porn" only a tid bit of sensuality there does'nt need to be any nude scene sensuality can be evoked without being showed crudly.

[Juanita Stuermer]

I am an ultimate fan of Twilight. I have read the books at least 5 times (including Midnight Sun posted on Stephanie Meyer's website) and have watched the movies more times than I can count. In saying that......I don't understand why the emphasis on the Bella/Jacob versus the Bella/Edward choice in the Eclipse releases. Jacob was Bella's "Best Friend" and she didn't want to lose that. BUT.......her heart belonged to EDWARD. It has ALWAYS been about EDWARD. ALWAYS!

[Dana]

Melissa Rosenberg has never read the Twilight Books and that is obvious to me. If she had she would have never in a million years had Bella leave Edward and get on the back of Jackobs bike. Has she lost her mind? I agree with 99% of the comments on this page and I truly hope that she will take a minute and read some of these comments and reconsider her plan for Breaking Dawn. We still have time untill July 1st and I still have hope................

[Lola]

The way Melissa wrote the movies completely butchered the meaning of the books. Yes, the books aren't masterpieces but it brings an idea, a very simple idea, about the love story centered only on Edward and Bella. That was the entire premise of the books. That was it, that was all. So I don't understand the major changes that had to occur in the plot, especially the whole "choice" with Jacob. First of all, Jacob is a secondary character throughout most of the series which is unnecessarily promoted as otherwise. Second, the change in scenes, especially in New Moon and Eclipse, to make Jacob suddenly a "better" option is such a mess. People read the books for the love story and for the vampires, and the movies show everything BUT those things. It's completely ruined and the love is lost in the film adaptations, further proof that books should just be left alone or better yet, be written in the right in proper way by the screenwriter, which was not the case here at all.

[Amelie]

I honestly don't trust Melissa Rosenburg with the scripts. The characters have become terribly out-of-character and the characters' intentions have lost meaning. Jacob is portrayed as the flawless, perfect boy as opposed to the immature and selfish jerk he truly is as anyone who has read the books can see. Even Bella's intentions of becoming a vampire has been devalued. Melissa's skewed interpretation of Bella's decision to become a vampire to be with the person she loves as anti-feminist and weak has lead her to change Bella's intentions to superficial ones in which the abilities to become stunningly beautiful and glitter in the sun is greatly valued over humanity. Her biased adoration for the character Jacob has caused her to lose sight of the real relationship, the relationship that holds love above all else and the relationship that sparked these books in the first place. She has turned Bella into a heartless person who seems to enjoy causing her boyfriend pain while turning the other cheek to the physical assault of an overbearing, self-pitying boy with no respect for the fact that a girl has committed herself to someone else. I sincerely hope there is someone out there can replace Melissa - someone who has a better understanding of the story and of the characters.

[Thea]

Bad bad move Melissa Rosenberg.
Prepare for backlash from the twi-hards.

[William Nicholson]

The beauty of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn being split into two
films is that more of the particulaized details about the story can
survive the screen adaptation process, and in Breaking Dawn especially
there are quite a few which need to make it on-screen.

So, to celebrate the coming of these two films, here is a list of
thirty must-have details from the book (not necessarily in sequential
order):

1. Bella in the Guardian: The Mercedes Guardian isn't a real car.
In Stephenie Meyer's "Cullen Cars" discussion, she explains that while
the Guardian is fictional, it is but one step up from the Mercedes
S600 Guard. So, if the Guard must be used for practicality's sake,
that's probably okay, but Bella needs to be the hotshot at the gas
station with a big bomb-proof car.

2. The wedding day: The wedding day is a given for film inclusion,
but there are some subtle details that should be in the film as well -
such as when Renee brings her a blue clip, when Alice does her make
up, the dress, Edward's tux, the scenery and dance floor, and, of
course, the farewell embraces and affections shown by and between
Charlie and Renesmee.

3. Isle Esme: Isle Esme must be perfect. Crystal blue waters with a
private, sandy beachfront and a beautiful home with all of the
trimmings for their . . . union (and those moments, of course - ahem,
feathers . . . wait, you know, Wyck Godfrey) . . . these details need
to be to the letter with Breaking Dawn.

4. The phone call between Edward and Carlisle: The phonecall that
Edward has with Carlisle to discover Bella's condition must be had to
keep the story fluent. Edward's intial conclusions about the
situation, too, must be heatedly refuted by Bella from the start.

5. Cup of blood: When Bella, the one who almost passed out from the
smell of blood in Twilight (a scene that should've been in the first
film, of course), takes a sip of the cup of blood and realizes that it
is helping her, it is crucial.

6. Edward hears Renesmee: When Edward finally hears Renesmee and
knows that she loves Bella and does not want to hurt her, his opinion
changes dramatically. This is very important for the story and should
make it to the film.

7. Bella looks in the mirror for the first time: Bella's general
awakening to a new life (or undeath, perhaps) as a vampire is going to
be in the film, without question, but some of the finer details of
that occasion - like Jasper complimenting her self-control, her first
look into the mirror, and Bella being too strong for Edward - also
need to make the cut.

8. Bella's first meal: Give us a shredded blue dress, Bella and
Edward racing through the forest, and the ability to stop from making
a fisherman sandwich, or else.

9. "Nessie": An epic moment of conflict between Bella and Jacob
happens when she finds out that not only did he imprint on her (his
"freaky werewolf" thing) but he'd nicknamed her after the Lochness
Monster. This is a must-have.

10. Games: Some of the lighter moments in the story included Edward
and Alice's motionless chess game, the uneventful paper, scissors,
rock, and, most importantly, the Bella/Emmett arm-wrestling contest
simply have to be in the movie.

11. Angry Romanians, talented Amazonians, Denalis, and earth-shaking
Egyptians: Some of the characters in Breaking Dawn could probably go
without casting. That's not a suggestion, of course, but just a small
observation. There are some, however, that have to make it to the
movie, including the Romanian Volturi-loathing twins, Zafrina and her
crew, the Denalis (of course), and the one and only Benjamin.

12. Blonde/dog jokes: A lot of people were a bit disappointed that
Alice called Jacob a "dog" in The Twilight Saga: New Moon because they
felt that this was one of Rosalie's more endearing set of lines in
Breaking Dawn. Still, the blonde and dog joke back-and-forth between
these characters can and should make it to the movie . . . if for no
other reason than to give these two a bit of comedic edge.
13. Charlie, Bella, and Jacob: In the book, we got to see how
Charlie handled seeing Bella for the first time (and how she did,
too). We know that Jacob transformed in front of Charlie, but for
continuity's sake, perhaps it should make the film cut.

14. Emmett's sex jokes: Emmett gives Edward a hard time in Breaking
Dawn, and it really helps to explicate their relationship. In the
context of bedroom comparisons, though, it reaches new, hilarious
heights.

15. Bella and Edward's cottage: The lovely gift that these newlyweds
receive needs to fit the book's description as closely as possible -
from the stone fireplace to the huge closet of Alice-selected-and-
organized clothes.

16. Renesmee's special gift: This is where Bill Condon can take the
day: bringing Renesmee's tactile-to-visual gift of speech to
life . . . it's hard to pin the image down, for some, so there is room
for a lot of creative liberty on this front. Renesmee's rapid growth,
intelligence, lovabiity, and ability to catch snowflakes mid-air are
also important for the film.

17. Irina's tragedy: Coming off of the last one, Irina's mistaken
perception of Renesmee is what causes the Volturi to call when they
did. Not only should we know the history of child vampires, but we
should also see how Irina's mistake turns out for her.

18. Edward calling Jacob "my son": Whether you found it touching or
cliche, the moment when Edward accepts Jacob as a part of his own
life, his "son" in fact, is a must-have - especially given the
dramatic nature of their tension through New Moon, Eclipse, and the
earlier scenes in Breaking Dawn.

19. Bella's shield: Bella saves the day with her own special power.
This explains why Edward can't read her thoughts, why Aro can't know
her history, and why Jane can't bring her the pain even as a human -
she's shielding herself. When she learns to cover her friends and
family with it, she can see it trickling around as she pushes it out.
That's something else Bill Condon and his CGI team could make a splash
with in this film.

20. Bella lowering her shield: The very ending of Breaking Dawn, when
Bella finally reveals her own thoughts to Edward - something he's
wished for since the beginning their story - is key for the story's
end in Breaking Dawn.

[Paola]

As much as i love the books, and the movies,,( yes i have seen them many many times and love them..) but if i put the 2 together, the movies miss so much important stuff from the books, you don't feel the love between B/E like in the books, so many small, but important details are left out of the movies, like simple "i love yous".
I want the movies to be as close to the books as possible but up until now that has not been the case. Whats up with Bella leaving with Jacob in his bike in Eclipse..?? The Bella i came to know through the books would 've NEVER NEVER done that!!! NEVER!!! and i don't get the triangle thing?? why is there even one??? Jacob was never a choice.. you get from the first book that its just Edward for Bella and viceversa.. but since New Moon that's what all the movie promotion has been about.. its disappointing!!
So please MR, please we want sex stuff, birth scene (i'm a physician and i can't wait to see the c-section) all that stuff. you don't even have to make it R rated. Have you seen The Notebook??? and it is PG13.. maybe you should..

[Laurie]

I completely agree with the majority of the commentors on this board. Fans devoured the books not because Stephenie Meyer is a prolific author but because the epic love story that she developed over the course of the saga between Edward and Bella spoke to female hearts everywhere. We wanted someone to love us totally and unselfishly as Edward did Bella. He was a true old-fashioned gentlemen who would do absolutely anything for the love of his life. She, in turn, was drawn to him from the instant they met and as the books went on, we saw them face obstacles and their love was stronger because of those obstacles. They had a playfulness about them that has been absent after the Twilight movie. Say what you want about Catherine Hardwicke, but she took the script and improved upon it because she understood that the romance was central to the story. The very foundation. In the books Jacob was always the friend who drew her out of her self-imposed exile and became a brother to her. Many times in the books she related that she felt of him as family. He was never a legitimate threat to Edward/Bella. There was no triangle in the books. The fact that the movies have chosen to go that route is because they have every intention of continuing the saga post-Breaking Dawn with Jacob as the hero. When seen in that context, it makes perfect sense that they have undermined Edward's character and written Bella as being more torn than she ever was in the books. Book Bella would never have jumped onto Jacob's motorcycle in front of Edward. And Book Jacob was a manipulative and selfish and immature guy who guilted Bella into their mountain kiss by threatening to kill himself. Instead of the canon characterizations of the books, we are subjected to this rewriting of the books to not only promote a fabricated triangle, but also to expand on fourth-tier characters at the expense of important romantic moments between Edward and Bella that would have developed their storyline. I love yous were omitted, and storylines rushed. For instance, the reunion scene in New Moon was so rushed it was anti-climactic and the audience was left wondering how Bella could just forgive him so quickly. Only readers understood why she had to - it wasn't a choice for her, she would have been settling with Jacob and she didn't have romantic feelings for him. But, because Melissa was trying desperately to develop Jacob as the hero, that cruicial scene was gutted to make room for trivial Jacob posturing. The fact that repeat viewers were down for New Moon should have tipped Summit off to the fact that the core audience was not pleased with the adaptation of that book, but rather than learn from that mistake, they have apparently perpetuated it with Eclipse.

[ARJ]

This woman has totally misread the books. She has destroyed the wonderful love story between Bella and Edward. I don't understand why Stephanie Meyers has allowed Summit to continue with her. Very disappointed in the movies.

[cindy0913]

I truly love The twilight Saga but I do not think that Melissa R. was a good choice for this position. The story is a LOVE story and she has yet to show that in any of these movies. She touched on it a little but showed more of Jacob & Bellas relationship than Edward and Bellas. I truly wish that someone else had the job and not Melissa R.

[Jorrden]

Melissa Rosenberg writes the movies from a Bella/Jacob standpoint.

She wants it to be Bella/Jacob and so when bella makes the right choice it will be confusing to those who haven't read the books.

She has made bella such a jerk toward Edward. Bella would NEVER EVER ride away with Jacob like that like a big screw you to Edward NO WAY.

She leaves out pivotal B/E scenes!!!! PIVOTAL!!
I'd like to know MR what do you have against our sparkly vampire huh??

[Jorrden]

Completely agree with Lauren Rose!!!

The way that scene was shifted!!! Edward is supposed to be calm and Bella is supposed to be wanting edward to hurt jacob. It was the complete opposite of the books. How can Melissa Rosenberg think she is adapting the books when she is just writing her own story for her love of Bella/Jacob

The reason there is so much swearing in these posts so much so that the moderator has felt the need to post about it, shows how angry the fans are. We want some justice. You have breaking dawn to fix what you've done. Now fix it good!

[Just Saying]

Great questions - I love Dexter - am luke warm on the scripts thus far for the Twilight series...hopefully I will feel differently after Eclipse.
The next female Tony Sopranos has me doing back flips. I would LOVE to see her indulge in a character like that..lord knows we need no more NS females on screen.

[Lindsay]

Sorry, MR, but you've done a horrible job portraying the love between Edward and Bella. From the movies so far is very clear you have a bias toward Jacob's character and have overdeveloped his involvement in the series and in his relationship with Bella. Most Twilight fans prefer the E/B couple and are disappointed to see Lautner given way more airtime than he needs. Give fans what they want by making BD about E/B, not Jacob. Please.

[aml45150]

I just have to say that I think Melissa is doing a fabulous job at bringing the books to life. Sure there are some scenes from the books that didn't show up on the screen but it wasn't a tragic loss.
As for those who think MR has changed the story to a Jacob/Bella versus an Edward/Bella love story I have this to say... Have you truly read the books, not just once but twice or even three times? You will find a lot of little things that pop up and further explain the "triangle" relationship going on. By the way, New Moon was all about building the FRIENDSHIP between Jacob and Bella because Bella needed to fill the void of Edward with something or she would have probably killed herself. Eclipse is about showing that Jacob is a contender and everyone including Edward and Bella are aware that she could easily be happy with him but as we all know something is missing in that relationship and she stays with Edward. Even Jacob knows that she will always choose Edward but he still spends the whole movie trying to change her mind.
As for Breaking Dawn I think its great that they are breaking it in two. That way they can fit in a lot more of the little scenes that get lost in the book if you haven't read it more than once. As for the sex and birth parts, if you recall (those of you that read it more than once) the sex scenes were washed over and the most you saw was the morning after with feathers and a demolished headboard. The birth was a bit on the graphic side in the book but it can be accomplished in a movie without making it R rated. I think the easiest way to do it would be with sounds effects and keeping a good portion of the camera on Jacob's reaction to the whole situation. Think about it, the physical description of what he saw wasn't what caught you it was the thoughts going through his head that made the scene. From the first bone breaking kick of the baby trying to get out to the descriptive sound of Edward biting Bella all over her body to get the venom in, not to mention Jacob repeatedly saying just kill it (referring to the baby), throw it away...

[Elizabeth L.]

That was the only reason I would have paid to see that movie.