Wyck Godfrey: Breaking Dawn could begin filming in fall
Posted on 11. Jan, 2010 by Amanda31 in News
Los Angeles Times talked with Twilight producer Wyck Godfrey about the current status of the Breaking Dawn film, which could begin shooting this fall in Vancouver:
Wyck Godfrey, the producer of all the films in the “Twilight” saga, admits that the creative team still doesn’t know how they’ll handle the character [of Renesme] in the “Breaking Dawn” movie, but said that the plan is absolutely for the production to go forward — as either one or two installments — with an eye toward beginning to shoot in Vancouver this fall. All three stars are signed for “Breaking Dawn,” he said, meaning that Stewart and Pattinson will be dealing with the joys and woes of interspecies parenting and newly minted heartthrob Taylor Lautner will return as often-shirtless shape-shifter Jacob Black.
At the moment, screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg, who’s penned all the “Twilight” movies, is working on the “Breaking Dawn” script(s). “It’s a work in process,” Godfrey said in an interview Friday. “The issue [of whether there will be one or two movies] is not going to be resolved until we get the full treatment and see whether it’s organic. If it’s not organic, I don’t think it will be done, and if it is, it will be. It really has to do with how much level of detail from the books there is, with all of these new vampires that appear in ‘Breaking Dawn,’ the whole section about Jacob… It’s a very long single movie if it does become a single movie.”
To read the rest of the article, including Wyck’s thoughts on whether or not Chris Weitz will be back for Breaking Dawn and the sorts of visual effects needed for the character of Renesmee, go here.
Still no official announcement from Summit.
8 Responses to “Wyck Godfrey: Breaking Dawn could begin filming in fall”
Natalie
11. Jan, 2010
Honestly, I was hoping they replaced the screen writer for this one. New Moon was only better b/c of Weitz. That being said, I think he could have done even better with a stronger screen writer. I haven’t read the leaked Eclipse script, but, I’ve read what people who have have to say, and it isn’t good at all. It seems that only every 10th person who’s read it, is pleased. That’s not a good sign at all. BD is very complicated and I don’t know if Melissa can do it right. However, Summitt, like most other production companies, see’s dollar signs, knows BD will bring in the bucks, no matter what. Therefore, quality isn’t a priority. Bummer. In “the world according to Natalie” fans would have more of say!
I know I sound like a real downer, but, I think we should all be honest here. Slade has time to make some changes to Eclipse and Summitt has time to listen to all of us and hire the right director and get Melissa some help with the BD script, as they, obviously, aren’t going to fire her.
As far as filming in the Fall. That’s a good chunk of time to get everything in order. My only hope is that Rob and Kristen remain the very close friends they, obviously, are. Any change to that could make things a bit difficult or uncomfortable on the set. That can easily translate onto the big screen.
DawnaMoon
11. Jan, 2010
I have never liked Melissa R’s scripts. Twilight was wonderful because of director CH. Weitz did little for the quality of New Moon – except for the cast and the fight scenes, it was torturously slow and uninteresting.
I’m eager to see Slade’s version. As for BD, someone needs to give MS a lesson in dialogue!
Natalie
12. Jan, 2010
@DawnaMoon: Yes! Dialogue!!! Lacking in Twilight and New Moon and there is SO much of it in the books to work with.
When CH had to step in and get Melissa’s first script of Twilight revamped, that was a sign to Summitt that she would not be the right person for future movies, especially when they realized that they would be doing all four and knowing that the fans expected even better out of New Moon.
I understand that many TwilightMom’s like to keep continunity and respect the people who brought Twilight to the big screen in the first place. But, there comes a time when you say, “Yeah, if not for them, we may not have had the movies. They were great for starting out the Saga, but, this is gotten huge, fans want more, and Summit has the money to deliver that now.”
Anything less than that is…well…We’ve all just been too nice. This is business, people. To get quality, you often have to be honest and tough. You can’t sugarcoat things, keep things the same, and expect quality to come out of people who just, unfortunately, don’t have it for this type of movie.
Making movies, as a production company, shouldn’t primarily be about making money. They should learn from obvious mistakes. Great, Melissa and CH brought Twilight to the big screen. Happy for it. Summitt got a stronger director for New Moon, but kept a weak screen writer and that perplexes me.
I think these movies would get better reviews from professional critics if the screenplay was better. I’ve seen Oscar nomitated films that don’t have the best acting from each and every cast member. But, the screenplays are so great and CGI so good, the movie can hardly go wrong.
I think my words, and words of all fans, will continue to go unheard. I think it’s too late in the game. I really feel like it’s all right there. With the right director, the cast can be directed well and portray the characters well. The CGI can be great. However, BD is filled with so much more than just the birth and fight scenes and I think Melissa is going to need a LOT of help with it…
I’m not saying I didn’t like Twilight or NM. I did. NM better than Twilight. But, without a different screenwriter, or much more collaboration on Melissa’s part, I don’t see the rest of films ever being as GREAT as they really could be.
Becca
12. Jan, 2010
Stepping up the script for Breaking Dawn would make all the difference. Stepahine has written such wonderful, vivid books it is a shame the way they have been transfered to the screen. The lack of depth in the screen version of Bella and Edwards’s relationship in Twilight has always been a bone of contention to me! A new screenwritter or a co-writter could bring this saga to a higher level on screen. They have time to listhen to the fans and make Breaking Dawn the epic it should be. (One can only hope for more from Eclipse)
Stephaine Meyer had captured my interest and imagination in a way no writter has since my teen years. And although I have seen and will own every movie, they have been somewhat of a dissapointment,. the bright spot, Rob, if I was ten years younger…..
So bring on a better script and a movie with “bite”! Lets hope Summit is paying attention to the fans!
Natalie
12. Jan, 2010
I think co-writer is KEY here. It’s too late to fire Melissa. Despite what we want, we aren’t going to get it. She’s made Summit a lot of money, despite week scripts. But, they could hire a co-writer. BD is complex with so many different emotions and lots of dialogue. Two areas in which Melissa very obviously struggles.
You can click on ANY Twilight forum and on ANY online review/article, etc. and read just how many people don’t like Melissa’s script-writing. I’d be willing to say that 75% of book and movie fans would appreciate a different writer or co-writer to help Melissa in the areas in which she struggles. Nearly every fan can point out her weaknesses. If Summit and Melissa, herself, haven’t seen this, they are blind. While I’m being hard on Melissa, a good screen-writer, just like a good doctor, teacher, etc., will reach out for help when it’s made obvious that he/she needs it. Put aside pride, get help and you’ll gain more respect and fans.
I think a co-writer would make a lot of people happy. It’d be a happy-medium. For people like you and I, who don’t like Melissa’s scripts, and for the people who do like her (I have friends who think the movies were fabulously written – I don’t get that – but, hey, not everyone appreciates a really really well-written movie like I do. We all have different tastes).
Becca
12. Jan, 2010
Totaly agree with everything you have said here Natalie. We may be stuck with Melissa, but hopefully a good director can work with her and influence the process. It is no secret that Summit has the money, or now has the money, to produce a quality product. BD needs more than CGI….one can only keep their fingers crossed.
Olympic Coven
14. Jan, 2010
As long as it’s done close to the book, I think we’d be happy. It will be a nice box set to have some day.
Jackie A
11. Feb, 2010
These books have touched me in a way I never thought possible as well as my daughter. What I see happening is everyone involved with these films are loosing track of what is most important and that is Bella and Edward and this love story that is so amazing. Without that aspect of the story you have nothing and Summit needs to wake up and realize this if they want or care about making these movies true to the books as they say they are. Without the key scenes between these two characters there is nothing. Breaking Dawn is the most important book as far as I am concerned and to leave anything out from these wonderful events (wedding,honeymoon,birth,Bella’s transition and the fight against the Volturi) would be a tradgedy.