284. The Piano needed Dame Elizabeth Jane Campion 

Dame Elizabeth Jane Campion is a filmmaker renowned for her feature films that delve into themes of rebellion and often feature women in starring roles, frequently marginalised in society. Campion is widely acknowledged as one of the foremost female directors in women's cinema. 

Campion's directorial debut was Sweetie. She is best known for writing and directing acclaimed films such as The Piano, The Power of the Dog, An Angel at My Table, The Portrait of a Lady, Holy Smoke!, and Bright Star. She also co-created the TV series Top of the Lake and its follow-up, China Girl. 

For Campion, filmmaking nearly always begins with writing. The New Zealand-born director has authored or co-authored five of her seven feature film screenplays, in addition to her TV series Top of the Lake. 

I read an interview in which she discusses her writing process. She characterised it as an intuitive process. “It begins with an almost indescribable feeling,” Campion explained. “And a mood, you know? Then you attempt to write scenes that evoke the mood you are experiencing or envisioning. If successful, the film embodies the mood,” she added.

I found it very interesting. In fact, when Campion started writing the screenplay for her 1993 film The Piano, she spent a week alone, immersing herself in the story's atmosphere and her protagonist's mindset, sometimes shedding tears. 

“I have to spend a few days in it. Once I've got it, I can go out and work more, sort of, on a nine-to-five basis,” she said. 

But even then, her writing process remains fragile and easily disrupted. 

“Sometimes I'm having a really inspired time. I feel like I'm penetrating some ideas, and I'm working and working. Then I get hungry or tired, and I think, Fuck it, if only I could have gone on for another hour, I could have got somewhere!” she said.

I think this may seem like a quirky manoeuvre, but everyone has their own way. However, I believe it is difficult to truly portray a character on paper without understanding their thoughts in depth – somewhere at a very personal level. 

And to get into the skin, ‘living the character’ for a few days is a better idea.

But as they say, to each his own, and no mathematical formula can fit all.