The Toughest Scene I Wrote: Steve Coogan (“Philomena”)

Once again, Vulture does screenwriters a solid:

In this series, Vulture has been speaking to the screenwriters behind 2013′s most acclaimed movies about the scenes they found most difficult to crack. What pivotal sequences underwent the biggest transformations on their way from script to screen?

In this article, Steve Coogan talks about Philomena, a movie he co-wrote with Jeff Pope, and the “cruel irony of creativity… we had to craft it [the scene] to look un-crafted.”

The toughest thing I wrote would have to be the scene where Martin tells Philomena what has happened with her son. It’s the scene I’m most pleased with, but it took a long time to get right because I wanted it to be emotionally powerful but not feel over-crafted.

Why I’m pleased with that scene is the juxtaposition of comedy and conflict, with tragedy built right into it in a way that feels truthful and like real life. It starts with Philomena overwhelmed and impressed with this selection of things for breakfast at the hotel. That’s all she can think of, and yet there’s some devastating news awaiting her. The scene has an element of tension and mystery — there’s something, dare I say, Hitchcockian about it that I love — and all of these things come together in a perfect storm. The audience sees the bad news coming just before it comes, like a train approaching, and they just have to anticipate it.

For the rest of the article, go here.

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