Greta Gerwig Barbie: This week, 60 Minutes featured a profile on the multifaceted Greta Gerwig, renowned director, actor, and screenwriter. Her latest cinematic triumph, the unconventional blockbuster Barbie,” stands as the year’s highest-grossing film, surpassing a billion dollars globally.
When tasked with directing and writing “Barbie,” Gerwig sought the collaboration of her life and creative partner, filmmaker Noah Baumbach. Initially perplexed by the concept of a Barbie film, Baumbach found clarity when Gerwig presented her pages. “I can write this Barbie movie. I totally understand what this is,” he remarked.
In an insightful interview with 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, Baumbach and Gerwig shared insights into their collaboration on “Barbie,” their unique approach to screenwriting, and the dynamics of their successful partnership. Alfonsi also probed for details about a potential “Barbie” sequel.
Gerwig described the film’s initiation as “very mechanically…like a clock,” portraying Barbie and friends in the idyllic Barbie Land. The narrative takes a sudden existential turn when Barbie confronts her friends with the question, “Do you guys ever think about dying?”
This pivotal moment in the film evolved from Gerwig’s initial script pages, where Barbie encounters an old woman and grapples with the concept of mortality. Baumbach resonated with the concept, recognizing the potential for an exciting and meaningful movie.
The duo delved into their writing process, emphasizing their preference to adhere closely to the script during filming, with no on-set substitutions. Gerwig highlighted the meticulous scripting of “Lady Bird” and “Little Women,” down to every “you know” and “um,” aiming to preserve the rhythmic flow of conversations meticulously crafted before the first frame is shot.
“When we have something that feels more like a script, then we start reading the whole thing out loud,” Gerwig explained. This process allows them to vet the language, ensuring consistency in jokes and maintaining the intended rhythm.
Baumbach and Gerwig revealed a fascinating detail about the “Barbie script – they always envisioned Ryan Gosling for the role of Ken, even inscribing his full name next to Ken’s lines in the first draft. Exploring the “Ken effect” in the real world, an earlier version of the script included a scene where Gosling played himself.
Reflecting on their abundance of material for Ken, Gerwig humorously acknowledged their extensive writing process. Baumbach playfully interrupted, urging her not to “give it away,” adding an element of intrigue to the anticipated cinematic journey of “Barbie.”
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