Emma Thompson | BAFTA Screenwriters' Lecture Series

"Just write. It doesn’t matter what you write. Just sit at that desk and write."
Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility, Saving Mr. Banks, Nanny McPhee) delivers an entertaining and heart-felt lecture, as she demonstrates her own writing processes and discusses failure, adaptation and inspiration.
Sponsored by The JJ Charitable Trust.
Listen to this talk on Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/bafta/emma-tho...
Read the transcript on our website: www.bafta.org/media-centre/tr...
The Screenwriters' Lectures are presented as originally recorded. Some of the lectures may contain outdated comments or views which some listeners may find insensitive or offensive.
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#BAFTA #EmmaThompson #SenseandSensibility

[@thexxit]

Emma Thompson is iconic. So very talented!

[@janverboven]

I'm surprised that how few men adore her in the comments. Fellow guys, this is a REAL CLASS woman ! - (and a beauty in- and outside) - Her acting performances are beyond words.

[@pjbraine2289]

Thank you, Emma! You are my role model. I literally consumed "Sense & Sensibility" 100's of times. It is a part of my soul, at this point. Now, at 68.5, with three happily married children, and three grand children, I am writing screenplays; something I have dreamed of since first seeing "S&S"!!!! There are just not enough words to describe how you beautifully you enrich the world of film making.

[@riich73]

You ate Sense & Sensibility?

[@janverboven]

pj Braine, I love you like Emma, not unlike I like and love Emma,but she's born in 1959, so it makes her 60 at the most.

[@thexxit]

@@riich73 It's a common phrase used in English - to consume something doesn't always mean literally to eat it. Like when I say "it's raining cats and dogs" it's not literally doing that.

[@thexxit]

@@janverboven I think she meant she herself (PJ) is 68... she's talking about herself.

[@thexxit]

That is fabulous. It's been some time since this comment but I hope your writing has brought you happiness!

[@AndromedaImagination77]

Like Tolstoy said, to write a great novel (or screenplay) this is the order of importance: First, Transitions. Second, Context. THEN we go to Character, and finally you get to: Story.

[@gracefaithjanet2673]

I really enjoyed this she is an amazing screenwriter and actress.

[@chikkychiksful]

Saving Mr Banks .. i cried bucketful .

[@loopyvirgo]

She's definitely one of my role models!

[@LatvianElina]

She's a perfect artist - both writer and performer. How many do we have of those?

[@susettesantiago5509]

Sense and sensibility...brilliant..

[@SophyaAgain]

She is sooooo funy and sooooo inteligent!

[@justintai8725]

fantastic thanks so much !

[@Marilinaa]

Fantastic! Some really good advice.

[@allergic5]

Is there access to the other half of the lecture, in video?

[@sydneyaustin9098]

Does anyone know where I can find her monologue? It's awesome!

[@ThatsWhat-She.]

Why didn't she get clarification about the head/melon conundrum?

[@karenbaumgartel6077]

At 16:58 that’s a very interesting concept!

[@setmefree1109]

Hi, is there a full transcript for this Emma's lecture?

[@Aurora-qn2dx]

Finally can see both sisters actong together.

[@he_isa_teacher5706]

Starting 8:17 is the best!

[@cqdude0158]

32:54 .. that quote .. wow..

[@wenaolong]

All of these sentiments might have significance and validity in any world, but in the world in which they are related, these sentiments of "the script of the world" in which she "honed her part" vis-a-vis scriptwriting, become a reference to an alternate universe, where corruption hasn't made a mockery of the meaning of society. It's not real, but it echoes something that once was.

[@drew2943]

25:58 Chills.

[@sharekeogh8658]

Of course very talented

[@Rockblue01]

Marjorie was bloody brilliant.

[@Patricia-ok1cd]

What a character Emma is . lol lol lol .

[@petertubular]

Who is the spotty old no one interrupting the interesting intelligent woman?

[@ArnaudSiemons]

This woman. I would cook a wonderful meal for her. And talk......

[@evgeniamusic3801]

I like her earrings!! I want them :)))) Anyone knows where they're from?

[@pacifier311]

Very funny :-)

[@sharekeogh8658]

Emma had wonderful short blonde hair didn't she? Lovely

[@alexfernandohuenten1374]

nani mcphee good movie.

[@helionflux]

I found this very difficult to watch due to the interviewer continually interrupting her mid-speech and 'a-hum-ing and a-ha-ing' over her answers. There's controlling the interview, and then there's riding rough shod all over it! Stop it! Argh!

[@georgex.moutafis4997]

A-huh. Mmm.

[@georgex.moutafis4997]

A-huh. Mmm.

[@francoisebremond3354]

I agree with you: Emma is half playing and half real ... bough !!!

[@josephmiddleton4331]

Completely agree with this! He's insufferable!

[@Querent2000]

I find it really annoying that he's narrating his plan for the interview as he goes along.

[@annetaylor6619]

i only wanna hear Emma talk i wish this guy would just stop talking over her

[@drew2943]

This interviewer is terrible. For fuck's sake, she's not interviewing YOU 🙄

[@robinhunt9772]

What a self-opinionated and annoying interviewer Brock is. He should learn to shut up and listen. Definitely not listen to his own voice. Stop interrupting, Brock!

[@MrUndersolo]

Marjorie’s friends gave this all the thumbs down... 🇻🇳

[@David-mg1yj]

Love Emma, but would much rather hear her talking about the art of screenwriting, than watch her performing old comedy sketches.

[@oscarfun100]

She performed only one sketch.

[@olzarius]

she looks lean

[@lauragatehouse7935]

Do wish the interviewer would stop saying “I ”.... it’s not about you, you are a facilitator! he rates himself far too highly.

[@dr.elizabethmartin7118]

Laura, It is called a CONVERSATION - intelligent people have them often with OTHER intelligent people. sheeeeeeesh

[@lauragatehouse7935]

Dr. Elizabeth Martin well aware of that thank you!! I have them daily. I felt he placed too much emphasis on what he thought.

[@hagenissen666]

Can I personally get to hit the screamingly incompetent editor?

[@David-pt8ge]

Uhh, that was toe curling.

[@olzarius]

she looks lean/high

[@Huntertainment1]

Supposedly this is about screenwriting? All I see is someone talking about themself.

[@misss.7863]

+James Hunter It's akin to The Actors Studio, but for screenwriters. Thompson was invited to speak about her experiences as a writer. She didn't offer herself to BAFTA to do it.

[@babyirene3188]

Good lord. What happened to EM? How can someone so funny make utter nonsense like N.McPhee? And the skits she does here-Yikes! They're not in the same galaxy as funny. Does she not have friends to clue her in?

[@ladyredconstance]

She sounds racist...most English people are....

[@sassora]

Inspirational word I agree with most English, but Emma’s son is a POC, so I don’t think she is. But the culture around you will influence you in ways you don’t notice and she may say things that she doesn’t mean.

[@janverboven]

@@sassora Not that inspirational. I travelled around the UK from south to north and never encountered a racist, I met only helpful people, descent, friendly and of all colours and ethnicity. So the racists must be hiding under a secret haystack most of the time. And BTW Emma has a Scottish heritage (mother was Phyllida Ann Law) Don't start dividing the UK Mr. Word, because they are all intermingled. I'm just a simple Belgian, but I know and recognise trends and person with an affliction to racism.