Christopher Hampton: Screenwriters' Lecture

20 December 11

After starting out writing plays and television adaptations, Hampton earned BAFTA success with the Stephen Frears-directed Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and his own directorial effort Carrington (1995).

His masterly adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel Atonement (2007), in which a young girl’s lie has life-changing effects, brought two more BAFTA nominations and his second Oscar nomination. His latest script, A Dangerous Method (2011), is directed by David Cronenberg, and stars Michael Fassbender and Viggo Mortensen.

When you write a film... you can't really tell until two thirds of the way through what it's about.

In this video - available to watch in full on BAFTA Guru - Hampton focuses on his own literary adaptations, describes the 'flash-sideways' technique used in Atonement, David Cronenberg's script-length requirements, and shows clips from his various films.

Watch the Christopher Hampton lecture now on BAFTA Guru

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_{BAFTA Guru is the Academy's online resource: inspiring minds in film, TV and games. Featuring the best in-depth video and podcasts from figures across the industries.}

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