Advice from Harwood
May 25th, 2008 by Erin
“If you’re having trouble with a scene, put the least likeliest person in. That way you will be sure to make it interesting.” - Ronald Harwood, screenwriter of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.
I think this is just another way of saying every scene needs conflict.
Harwood is referring to that wonderful scene in The Diving Bell where Céline (Bauby’s wife) is on the phone with Bauby’s mistress translating for Bauby (because he cannot communicate himself). It’s a powerful scene rich in conflict. The result is that it’s awkward, sad, funny and touching all at the same time.
I saw Diving Bell at the Vancouver International Film Festival back in September and just recently listened to an interview with Harwood on the CSM podcast. He’s a fascinating writer who has a lot of great advice. Here are some other highlights from the interview.
“I don’t know who my characters are until I start writing them. I discover everything while I start writing.”
“If you’re true to what you’re doing, to the scene and to the characters, it’s impossible to be sentimental.”
The best advice he got on writing was from his friend Graham Greene: “Only stop when it’s going well.”
On why he won’t direct: “You can’t be a director if you want to be loved. And I want to be loved.”
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