The Bitter Script Reader analyzes “Black Swan” (Part 2)
The Bitter Script Reader continues his analysis of Black Swan after this post yesterday focusing on Lily. Today: Nina:
Continuing with our look at the differences between the June 2009 draft of Black Swan and the completed feature film, let’s take a look at how Nina herself is handled differently.
One of the earliest differences concerns Nina’s audition. I’ve already mentioned how in the feature, Lily interrupts Nina’s audition for the Swan Queen part, causing Nina to stumble. In the script, Lily hasn’t shown up then, and the audition ends with the director expressing frustration that she’s not passionate enough.
In the script, she goes home and dances in her room until she completes the difficult coda, eventually beaming with satisfaction when she nails it. The next morning, she dolls herself up and reports her accomplishment to the director. He’s unimpressed and then forces a kiss on her. It’s her aggressive reaction to that which convinces him she’s got what it takes to be the Swan Queen.
If you’ve seen the film, you’ll know that all of that is pretty much how it plays out on-screen — with one crucial difference. In the movie, Nina doesn’t complete the coda, but lies that she did. Again, I think this is a more interesting character choice. It’s an even better example of how fragile and desperate she is for the part — it’s the first sign of just how she’ll sell out her integrity to get the part. In the script, she’s coming from the perspective that she earned it and is capable of it. In the movie, she’s more like a student begging their teacher to change their B to an A because they have to have an A! It gives Nina an interesting flaw.
For more, go here.
While Black Swan did get nominated today for Best Picture, Director, and Actor Oscars, it wasn’t nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Does that surprise you?