Interview (Written): Matt Charman (“Bridge of Spies”)

A Creative Screenwriting interview with Matt Charman, nominated as co-writer for a 2016 Academy Award for Best Original screenplay for Bridge of Spies:

As a Brit, what was it about James Donovan’s American story that captured your interest?

A great character is a great character, wherever they’re from, right? I always loved American history — especially the Kennedy White House and the Cold War period, and I read the Robert Dalleck book An Unfinished Life, which talked about this American lawyer sent to Cuba by JFK to negotiate with Fidel Castro for the release of the 1,500 servicemen captured after the Bay of Pigs. A footnote said “James Donovan came to prominence for the role he played in the spy swap between Rudolf Abel and Gary Powers”, and I thought, “Hang on. Stop. Who is this guy?”

So I started digging and I pieced together this remarkable untold story about a genuine American hero who risked his life to pull the world back from the brink, during the most dangerous point in the Cold War. It became an odyssey for me to tell this story. I met with Donovan’s son in a coffee shop in New York, and it was a very emotional meeting because he knew how serious I was, and I knew how much his father meant to him.

You’re credited as the main writer, but Joel and Ethan Coen did their own polish. Was there any addition or subtraction that really perturbed you?

There really wasn’t. It would be a juicier story it there was, but the truth is, I got lucky so many times on this movie. I wrote a draft, I got notes from Steven Spielberg, then after my second draft, Tom Hanks came aboard, and then I get a call from Steven saying, “The Coen brothers love this story and want to polish it.” As a young screenwriter, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and the Coen brothers working together — that’s the most incredible film school you could ever have.

Tell me about the Coen’s contribution.

They were able to really punch up the negotiations on the back end of the movie, then they handed the baton back to me to do a pass after they did their pass, to make the movie just sit in a place we all wanted it to. The flavor they brought is so fun and enjoyable. It needed to be entertaining but truthful.

So the Coen brothers were delicate about polishing your work?

I didn’t say that. The Coen brothers are two of the best living screenwriters, and the reason I love their movies so much is that they come at scenes from such an interesting angle. It makes you raise your game as a collaborator.

For the rest of the interview, go here.

You may download the script for Bridge of Spies here.