As a devoted fan, I can’t help but be utterly captivated by Francesca Sloane‘s extraordinary work on Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The scene from episode six, “Couples Therapy,” is nothing short of mesmerizing, a raw and intense portrayal of a relationship reaching its breaking point.
Francesca Sloane, who co-created the movie “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” collaborated with Donald Glover to transform the 2005 film into a dark comedy-drama about two secret agents, portrayed by Glover and Maya Erskine, who are in a troubled sham marriage. Sloane chose a heated argument scene from episode six, titled “Couples Therapy,” which takes place during a mission in the woods. This confrontation, fueled by tension that has built up throughout the season, reaches its peak.
According to Francesca Sloane in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, that particular scene between the characters is arguably the most unfiltered. It’s undoubtedly their most hostile exchange. It signifies a breaking point for them. The disagreement ensues when Jane casually mentions a bug being drawn towards their campfire and meeting its end. Sloane explains that this remark serves as a casual observation, but he becomes curious about her comment and challenges her perception, essentially telling her she’s being too pessimistic.
Rather than interpreting John’s comment as an insult, Jane attempts to guide the conversation towards a book they had discussed earlier in their relationship, focusing on the ideas within it. Unfortunately, she soon realizes that this was a misunderstanding – John hadn’t read the book because he didn’t understand her reference to it. This only served to escalate the situation further.
In the sixth episode, the narrative style is distinct as it alternates between scenes happening in the forest and therapy sessions for the couple. However, this wasn’t always how things were: “Originally, the entire episode occurred within the woods,” shares Sloane. Although the writers appreciated the prolonged argument in the forest that depicted a couple at their breaking point, they found that an hour of it was too intense to watch. “We began to consider both from a production standpoint and creatively, how we could maintain the disintegration of this relationship while also injecting humor,” Sloane added.
To clarify the course of the conflict in their story, the writers pondered, “What would truly provoke? What would cause it to seem like John was about to erupt?” They crafted a narrative detailing how they could reach this climax, aiming to make John eventually explode like a firework. The fight concludes when Jane queries John regarding his emergency contact, which served as a significant reference point for Sloane. “The one thing that guided me throughout was the desire to ensure that after we witness John’s big explosion, there would be a moment of Jane asking, ‘Who is your emergency contact?'”
Sloane pondered the underlying themes of her source material while constructing this scene. “I’ve come to understand that the movie is more profound than I initially thought,” she notes. “It’s essentially about a marriage.” “Our intention was not so much to focus on the actions themselves, but rather on the actual bond between the characters,” she continues. “A strong relationship relies on both parties being open and truthful, but the best spies are skilled liars.”
As a fan on set at Harriman State Park, I joined Sloane, Glover, Erskine, and director Amy Seimetz in a trailer to strategize the intense verbal clash we were filming. “Out there in the wilderness, shooting this episode, everyone was grumpy, cold, and soaked, as New Yorkers tend to be when they’re torn away from their beloved cappuccinos,” I recalled. “But let me tell you, it wasn’t just the woods that were miserable – I was a new mom during the filming of this show, juggling family life while breastfeeding, and schlepping my loved ones along for the ride.” It was a challenging experience, to say the least.
As a gamer, I often find myself reminiscing about “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran due to its profound impact on my friends and me. You see, this book holds special significance as it was part of a unique chapter in Donald’s life, particularly his relationship with Nish. They shared a heartwarming moment where they read the book together under the open sky, a park serving as their intimate stage. It was a pivotal moment for them, a hint that they were developing feelings for each other. That’s why we decided to tie this beautiful story to our own narrative.
Originally published as a solo issue in The Hollywood Reporter’s August edition, you can get this magazine by clicking here to subscribe.
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2024-08-10 22:24