'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

[E.L.]

I really hate the book series, but I knew about the childbirth scene and I honestly would have paid money to see that in the theatres. Too bad!

[Stephanie]

The movies has straied away from the love between Edward and Bellas love.
Thats why most of us love the books.Thats what people want to see.And people do want to see a little of the sex scense and birth not all but some.

[RockFan]

I want to clarify now that I have read all four books and the Midnight Sun excerpt several times and will be reading them all dozens more times in the years to come. I am neither Team Edward nor Team Jacob but rather Team Meyer, though if I had to choose a character, I'd be Team Bella since she is the character I most closely relate to being female and human, not to mention the emotional connection with her when reading the books or watching Kristen Stewart's portrayal on film.

I'm happy to read here that the "still a virgin" scene between Bella and Charlie is in the film. It's one of the ones I felt had to be in there and I hope to see Edward's smirk as he's leaving Bella at the door, knowing what awaits her. I'd bet it is because I do think that Melissa has poured over these books just like the rest of us, has discussed with Stephenie every aspect, and knows what to include, even though in the end, it's the director and editor who make those final decisions as to what can and can't be in the film to keep it moving and on time. I do want to see some of the smaller scenes, like Bella addressing invitations with Angela and the conversation they have, and the larger scenes, like the Quileute tribe scene where Bella gets whole story of how the wolves came to be and Bella learns the story of the Third Wife, that don't necessarily include Edward. But I also don't want to miss the ones where they are together, especially the trip to Florida and how Renee observes them together. I am curious to see exactly how Edward manages to stay out of the Florida sun. It would be interesting to see some of the Bree book scenes. And I’m looking forward to seeing the scenes that were not "seen" in the book because they were not in Bella’s perspective.

As is everyone, I'm hoping the adaptation is as true to the book as it can be and the major scenes are interpreted as closely as possible, but I do understand the time constraints, and the difference between adaptation and interpretation. I believe practice makes perfect and experience counts and that Melissa, who I believe has done a fine job so far, will do an even better job on Eclipse. As long as the actions and words of the characters are true to the characters, I know I will be very happy with the film, and I expect them to be because how could they not be with Stephenie Meyer and Kristen Stewart on hand to make sure?

I read all of Eclipse again last week, along with reading the Bree book the day it came out, and will read it again before I see the movie. I'm bothered a bit only by one clip I’ve seen. I know that Jacob comes to the school on his motorcycle to spring Bella from being babysat by Alice while Edward is away, but that's not the scene that's shown; the scene shown does not end in Bella riding off with Jacob in the book and does not seem like something Bella would do to Edward. Possibly it's a combination of the two scenes so that all three could be in it but still, it doesn't sit well. In the book, Bella and Edward go to class after the revelation from Jacob about the border chase, after the principal comes and breaks up the confrontation. Other students had gathered and were watching and whispering, Tyler was nearby and getting closer. I can’t imagine that Bella would ever walk away from Edward in that way. It feels very wrong seeing that and I’m hoping there is some context absent in the clip that will be revealed to clear it up. The rest of the clips I’ve seen appear to be along the lines of what I’d expect or want to see and I’m very much looking forward to all of it.

I know everyone, obviously, has their own perspective, but I feel I completely understand where Edward is coming from in Eclipse: he's coming from a place of knowing what it feels like to think he has lost Bella, lost the first and only love of his existence, the only person he will ever love, could ever love. He reacts the way he does out of his all-encompassing love for Bella. His vampire brain can comprehend what will hurt Bella, not to mention he can see in Jacob's thoughts the actual pain he's already caused Bella, and Edward has the control and capacity--not being human--to be able to understand and tolerate Bella's love for Jacob. Bella’s happiness comes first to Edward and he is well aware that it was his actions that caused the relationship between Jacob and Bella to become what it is. Bella has known since New Moon that she loves Jacob. She doesn't understand she's in love with him because of the over-powering, supernatural love beyond measure she has with Edward--the overwhelming and permanent magical love of myths and legends that cannot be duplicated or surpassed. Since that came first, that defines love for Bella. Jacob could never compete with that, but Bella's understanding in the end that she is in love (in the normal way of humans) with Jacob is critical to her being able to understand why she was so torn, why he was so hurt, why he needed the acknowledgment to be able to say goodbye, and for her to say goodbye to Jacob fully understanding what she was giving up in taking that final step of commitment to Edward. Jacob was completely aware of his love for Bella and her love for him throughout Eclipse, and in New Moon, and he needed her to see it just as much as she needed to see it. His love is too true to have let go otherwise. And Edward needed for her to see it, too. It was the only way for him to move forward knowing that he was her choice in full knowledge of what she was giving up. He could see through Jacob's mind that they were in love, that Bella truly loved Jacob. That's why it was so difficult for him, why he had so much trouble controlling his jealousy. His own insecurity, his own belief that he was not good enough, not a good choice for Bella, kept the door open--for him--that Bella could choose Jacob. That's why it's billed as the height of the "love triangle" because in so many ways, it is. I expect this will be well conveyed in the movie if it is correct. After reading the book so many times, I do feel that it is.

Breaking Dawn is my favorite of the four books because finally, the wedding happens, the relationship is consummated, and Bella realizes what she, and all the readers, knew all along--that she was right all along--she belongs with Edward. I will admit that the first time I read Breaking Dawn I was disappointed because, as far as the physical relationship between Edward and Bella, I was certain that Breaking Dawn would give the scenes that the other three books had built up to. It was actually painful at first to not have the closure that my mind desired. But I got over it and, as was mentioned, used my imagination. Even so, there are more than enough graphically written scenes in the book for both movies to have an R rating. To make it PG-13 will mean adapting them very differently from the book. It will be interesting to see how this will be done and still honor the integrity of the story. I would love to see a true interpretation of Breaking Dawn (of all the books for that matter) on film, but I've never dreamed it would actually happen. I'm resigned to accept the kid-friendly adaptation that we will receive, that I will go see in the theater, that I will purchase on DVD, and just keep going back to the book to immerse myself in the story and characters that I love, even though every time I read it, I'm longing to know what Edward is thinking (possibly as he is longing to know what Bella is thinking), and hoping, hoping, hoping, that four more books, from Edward's perspective, are in the future, along with at least one more book from Bella and Edward's perspective revealing the continuing turmoil with the Volturi that Siobhan hinted at in Breaking Dawn, and another series of books from Renesmee's perspective. I don't want it to end. I love it too much.

[BeckyRose]

Noooooo Don't cut out the birth scene!! that's one of the most important parts! If you do then your going to have a lot of angry Twilight fans on your hands. ¬_¬

[indranee]

@Rockfan: Can I just say, that was a fantastic post. Especially this section:

"Bella’s happiness comes first to Edward and he is well aware that it was his actions that caused the relationship between Jacob and Bella to become what it is. Bella has known since New Moon that she loves Jacob. She doesn't understand she's in love with him because of the over-powering, supernatural love beyond measure she has with Edward--the overwhelming and permanent magical love of myths and legends that cannot be duplicated or surpassed. Since that came first, that defines love for Bella. Jacob could never compete with that, but Bella's understanding in the end that she is in love (in the normal way of humans) with Jacob is critical to her being able to understand why she was so torn, why he was so hurt, why he needed the acknowledgment to be able to say goodbye, and for her to say goodbye to Jacob fully understanding what she was giving up in taking that final step of commitment to Edward..."

You've got it. I just hope you are right that so has Ms. Rosenberg.

PS. Ms. D'Zurilla -- understood about the sockpuppets. What can you do, there are nutcases in every fandom! However, I do believe the sentiments/frustration/resentment expressed toward Summit et al in the comments in this blog are legitimate. Summit should ignore them at their own peril.

[CDZ from the Ministry]

@idranee -- Meh, call me Christie!

:)

The comments on this post have been extremely interesting.

//cdz

[weebutton]

I am a true fan of the books. I love the story, the movies however.. they make me ashamed to tell people i'm a twilight fan. it's a completely different tone in my opinion. the story is just way off. in my opinion twilight did the best at keeping it true to the story. new moon felt like a disney movie or something. eclipse is my favorite of the series but i highly doubt the movie will be. Bella would never be so cruel to Edward. the parking lot scene was a big hell no for me. there is no way the character SM wrote would do that. it's ridiculous and this movie is making edward look weak. Bella is sposed to hit jacob in the face and be put out with him. edward is sposed to keep his cool and in the scene from the movie he's flipping out like a hormonal teenager, which yes, i get it, he's 17 but he's a vampire. he does not act like a 17 year old. he has restraint and control and bella loves HIM not jacob so these movies are a failure in my eyes. if i wasn't a huge fan of everything twilight related i wouldn't go see them. i know they'll just upset me, but i have to see anything with Rob and Kristen.

[weebutton]

and let me add i agree with everyone who says this is a bella and edward story, because it is. it's about their journey and their love. not jacobs. i like the jacob character in the books. he has funny moments but he's so whiny and morally wrong. tricking bella into kissing him..

[Brittany C]

Man guys I totally relate to most of what you guys have said! I'm so happy to know that I'm not the only one who has a really hard time with re-reading the books after seeing the movies and that I have to tell people I'm a fan of the books and not the movies (even though I still go because I hope every time that it will be better and they are put its just not up to par AT ALL with what they could be) and thinking that it is Melissa who has been the one to make it that way!

What I don't understand is that the fans mostly ALL say that its a writing problem and its not like we are just complaining, she has murdered the Edward we bought every book for and read and re-read the series and buy movie tickets! If we all feel this way, why does summit love her so much?? I can't stand to hear her talk, talk about the movie, anything I just get so upset. Its hard to say that she did this all by herself but it is HER!!!

WHY SUMMIT WHY?? AND WHY STEPHENIE MEYER DO YOU LET HER DO THIS TO EDWARD??????

P.S. I do have a great love life thank you very much, the reason we are on here upset is because they have taken something so awesome in the books and made it into something we have to be embarrassed about!

[Jenn]

Personally I would thoroughly like to see the film the way it is written, if that means making it R rated than so be it. Hasn't Summit already made enough money on the franchise so that they could forfeit a little loss to give the fans what they want, and truelly what would they really lose, most of the tweens that follow these books have already seen a few R films anyhow.

[cd]

A great part of the book is about the childbirth and honeymoon, it will be disappointing to take that out of the movie. Just as the book is risque so should the movie. I really don't think it is wise to disappoint the fans. The movie dose not have to be rated R in order to add the best scenes of the book.

[moi]

MR does not understand E/B relationship at all... especially Edward and his love for Bella.. and why the heck did Jacob become a softy? he's arrogant! that's why l like him.. MR is fail.. total fail..

[Julie Grzywinski]

MR is totally wrong if she thinks fans will like her not showing the childbird, the sex between Bella and Edward and her transformation! Everyone has read the books, even the 12 yr olds she seems to think she needs to protect. They can make a movie showing these things without being really graphic! I will be really pissed if she skips these parts.

[Concernedtwimom]

I sincerely hope I won't be dissapointed with the love story between Bella and Edward in Eclipse. I don't know if it's the writing, or Kristin's acting. Edward is the love of her life yet I never see her smile (or laugh!) when she's around Edward. I hope I see a little bit of that in Eclipse. So far Bella doesn't seem to be too devoted to Edward in all the clips I've seen either. I hate to just judge an entire movie by watching a few 30 sec. tv spots, it just doesn't seem true to the book or the characters. I hope I'm wrong.

[Mel]

Melissa Rosenberg is a moron, and I say this with the utmost confidence. She thinks Bella is a role model? She thinks HER writing has made Bella into a strong character? Bella is very weak. Kristen Stewart makes her less whiney and vulnerable, but that doesn't make Bella strong, by any stretch of the imagination.

Rosenberg seems to be incapable of adapting books to movie. The writing in Twilight was just awful, and so laughable. New Moon was better, but I credit that to Chris Weitz. The Eclipse script might be back to the crap pile that Twilight was.

Her lines have to be forced out by the actors in a very unnatural way. The lines that she gives the human teenagers prove that she is completely incapable of connecting to her target audience, and understanding them. Her interpretation of lighthearted scenes from the books always end up dark, moody, brooding, and overdramatic. Just not good. I don't understand why she wasn't fired after the first film, Twilight was slammed for it's script. I have yet to find someone over the age of 13 who thought Twilight had even a decent script. And while New Moon was an improvement, it was still awful. I'm terrified of what she'll do with Breaking Dawn, considering it's already a train wreck.

[Booyagirl]

I think she is right in the fact that you can have childbirth without actually seeing the birth - it would have to be very well written and directed for it to be effective. The one thing that they need to consider is that an R rated alternative as a DVD as opposed to a PG/G rating would be an absolute money maker for them. I will go and see the movies regardless of the lack of sex scenes etc but will it essentially bring the love between Bella and Edward out on the scene effectively enough. I am bitterly disappointed with the kissing between Rob and Kristen and am hoping that in Eclipse and BD there will better kissing scenes to reflect the 'lust' they both have for each other even when Bella is a human. I really hope she gets this movie right. It shouldn't be about her interpretation of the books but what is actually going on in the story - A LOVE STORY.
<3

[Lovestruck]

I just watched "The Young Victoria" and the love story between Victoria and Prince Albert is so much closer to the feeling of what they should have done in the first two Twilight movies. It's very sweet and also sensual. Although I like RPatt, I also think Rupert Friend would have made a great Edward. I will feel very cheated if they don't turn these movies around and start showing us that "all consuming" love that is there between Bella and Edward. That is the reason so many fell in love with the books. That brand new love that makes your stomach flip and you sigh everytime you see him. As SM says in Twilight, "Surely it was a good way to die, in the place of someone else, someone I loved. Noble, even. That ought to count for something."
All I've gotten from the first two movies is a very akward relationship between the two. Lately I've enjoyed the real life interviews of Kstew and Rpatt better than the movies.

In the end it's all about the money. I think they focused so much on Jacob and the werewolves to get guys to go to the movies. A guy would have more of a reason to let his girlfriend drag him to the movies if he knew there was a dude who acted like he could kick the "sensitive" guy's butt.

[Lovestruck]

I had to add that The Young Victoria is rated PG for goodness sake and they managed to convey the love and sensuality between the two. Their wedding night and 3 day honeymoon made me look at the hubby with moon eyes! And did I mention it was rated PG! MR has failed to convey the love between E/B totally and completely. Again I believe all for the sake of money. This saga should have been a chick flick, end of story! There are enough girls and women who will go see the movies multiple times that they are just being greedy trying to get the guys in there with the endless wolf action! Do they really think I prefer to see a teenager with no shirt on over tender scenes between E/B that I remember the most from the books? Blah!

[Angela]

I don't see why she was hired for the movie adaptation to start with, she has ruined the books, fans do get that things need to change, be cut, be left out, things added whatever.... but she has changed characters, their relationships and key scenes to suit her own tastes. She is selfish and should be REPLACED for breaking dawn.

I have yet to meet a Twilight fan that likes her... it I were to put my money on it i'd say 90% hate and 10% love from the fans to her. REPLACE HER I BEG OF YOU

[Kerstyn]

It's SO upsetting to me that almost no one sees that the Twilight saga IS NOT about Bella and Edward's love. It's about Bella, and her choice between the TWO that she loves. Just because her love for Edward wins out, that doesn't mean Jake was never a viable option for her. Anyone who claims she didn't fall in love with Jake read the books with blinders on.

That said, I'm not paying to see Breaking Dawn. It's going to be the most disgusting thing in the world, from Bella's emergency, fang-induced "c-section" (whether or not they show it) to poor, lobotomized Jake imprinting on Nessie...the book was awful. The movie can only be worse.

[Lindsey]

I am Team Jacob through and through (and I think Taylor Lautner is HOT, so the more screen time the better, lol). However, I've read the books a zillion times and I acknowledge and concede that Bella's choice is and always will be Edward. Therefore MR should write it that way! That's the way the book flows.
THe clip where Bella leaves Edward at school and gets on the motorcycle with Jacob is WRONG. Book Bella would NEVER have done that. She did that, running away from ALICE. But she'd never leave Edward standing there like that.
I haven't seen the script as some people have, but hte clips/trailers that we've seen seem to focus on Jacob, as opposed to Bella and Edward. Bella almost looks annoyed with Edward most of the time. And all happy to see Jake. Though in the book she was delirously obsessed with Edward and usually annoyed with Jake because he was always hounding her about the bloodsuckers.

I am looking forward to the Charlie/Bella scene where she tells him she's a virgin, haha .that's going to be hilarious. I love Billy Burke as Charlie.

Breaking Dawn is going to be lame, I think. We aren't asking for porn, we're just asking for MR to follow the themes of the book, love, marriage (the CONSUMATION OF MARRIAGE), childbirth, newlywed sex. Yes, all of these things can be done tastefully and still sensually with a PG-13 rating, but I don't want it to "fade to beach view with music in the background" to suffice for the honeymoon as Isle Esme.

[indranee]

@Christie... nice to meet ya! Oh, and I dare you to show these comments to Melissa Rosenberg :p

BTW, when all is said and done, I do still like the saga. I actually hate chick flicks and like action/fanboy movies in general (books are another matter). But what can I say? Edward and Bella are irresistible. I saw Twilight before I read the books and I was hooked right away. I just wish that Summit would stop trying to draw the guys in. Come on, people, don't they have enough stupid franchises already that cater to their testosterone fetish?! Please... give us girls at least ONE franchise that we can call our own!

So take the risk, Summit. Watch stuff like the Notebook or even Remember Me. PG-13 *can* be extremely sensual without being graphic. God only knows we don't want those pure and innocent 11-year-olds to know more about sex than they do already!! Hah!

Anyway, take care Christie... thanks for the interview and the blog. You've made yourself a regular reader.

Over and out,
Indrani.

[Chris F]

There's a lot to comment on, so...

First, I couldn't agree more w/MR regarding Billy Burke. I loved him in Twilight (especially the shotgun scene), there wasn't enough of him in New Moon and I hope she takes her own hint and works w/him more in BD 1 & 2.

Second, Kristen Stuart is definitely up to the challenge; the entire franchise is ready. Everything has been leading up to these events. I only hope that Bill Condon is up to the challenge of delivering the energy and excitement that is warranted. He has a huge responsibility on his shoulders to get the climax right.

Third, I hope we here soon where shooting is going to take place and when extras will be cast - Oh how I would love to be...

Next, there a few fans out there that seemed to have forgotten that the films are "BASED" on the books and that there is something called "creative license" usually for the sake of visual interest and entertainment value; the movies are not a direct interpretation. Although I do agree that there have been some week spots in the dialog, especially in New Moon.

Finally, the most difficult part of all is going to be when it's all over. Taking a look at how fast 3 movies have gone by, doing 2 BDs will fly by.

[Lynne Stringer]

First I nail my colours to the post: I am Team Edward. But everyone who thinks that Jacob was never really an option Bella seriously considered and someone she doesn't really love needs to reread Eclipse. Stephenie Meyer makes it quite clear by the end that Bella's aware she has another choice and that part of her wants to take that road. No one could say the things she says to Jacob in the goodbye scene in his room without loving him a lot: a genuine, romantic love.
From what I've seen of Eclipse so far the only anti-Edward thing in there that isn't in the books is when Bella leaves him at the school. And, realistically, he did lie to her then. I had to admit when I read the books I wondered why she didn't call him out over that. But that's all I've seen so far that suggests there's anything that downplays Edward and Bella. And I haven't seen anything that suggests there's an unreasonable amount of Jacob. The scene they have put in at Emily's with the wolfpack is perfectly acceptable if, say, it's before they get to the bonfire. And it's certainly true to their characters, as portrayed in the book. Perhaps some people here have seen full versions and know better than me, but I think I'll wait and see, and I don't think I'll be disappointed.
And I don't want a BD with lots of blood and guts, either, and you don't need graphic violence to portray a difficult and horrific birth. Nor do you need full frontals to demonstrate the consummation of Edward and Bella's marriage. It can be beautiful and magic without that, and will work better on screen that way.

[chris]

Melissa Rosenberg is a terrible screenplay writer but Stephanie Meyers likes her so all the complaining in the world isn't going to get her fired. Stephanie Meyer is not a good writer so she doesn't recognize how poor Melissa is. She's just happy Melissa will write what she wants her to write.