Is It OK to Have a 'Normal' Gay Guy as a Main (But Not Lead) Character

[David W. Richardson]

It's not for everyone, sure. But what is (besides air and water)?

And that, my friend, is the point. Everything is not for everyone. And because that is true, the screenwriter whose goal is to SELL his script should consider its impact on his potential audience.

Calling people -- or churches -- 'insane' is the kind of thing that will get this thread shut down. There's no need to be abusive, even to people you disagree with vehemently.

The writer is free to make his own decision about each and every character in his screenplay. He should not compromise just because someone might be offended -- no matter what he writes, somebody may get offended. At the same time, it's bad storytelling to do something simply for the sole purpose of offending a group of people.

 

[Sad Max]

And because that is true, the screenwriter whose goal is to SELL his script should consider its impact on his potential audience.

If sales and $$$ are the primary concern, then sex and violence are quite obviously a way to go, because as it happens they're a route to quick money.

Let's be plain, chapel, the audience impact with which you're primarily concerned, is upon an audience that shrinks from depictions of sexuality. Which is to say a minority segment of the audience, for whom there are limited-appeal genre films like the Armageddon stuff, along with a wide selection of G- and some PG-rated material.

Your refrain certainly appears to be something along the lines of trying to persuade that this segment of the market is so important that it should be accorded principal consideration when creating a script, and unless you have decided beforehand that this segment is the one you want to pitch to, that's just not true.

 

[jpastuch]

Number one: I have nothing against church groups. I have something against HATE groups. There are religious Christian extremists that hate...just like there are extremist Muslims, and people jump the gun on that religion because of that. If hate mongers get offended by my opinion, oh well. Just wanted to clear that up.

And what are we talking here? This isn't a business forum, it's screenwriting. if this guy starts compromising his scripts now because of a "general audience" (which is a total myth), then he will soon get sucked into the system and become a victim of it. Even worse, caricatures of gay people will remain prevalant. Why are we so afraid of frightening people with new ideas or challenges? That's how people break barriers. That's how people make great art. And, if you like, how they "break into the business (ugh)". Nobody thought Slumdog Millionaire was so special a few months ago. And now look. This stuff changes on a whim. No one can calculate success and furthermore, to edit and censor yourself for that reason is cowardly. Cowardly. Why bother writing to write for a formula? Why bow down to Hollywood and its greed? You are simply part of the problem if you do this. The problem we all gripe about: same old sam old. We lose. Might as well just give in. No thanks.

In a world where Disaster Movie, Bride Wars and every Saw film can be made and make money...it's not that hard. It's not that hard to make money writing these things. But god, is money all that matters nowadays? Why would you want to add to the ignorant slush out there just to make a paycheck? Censorship can be an incredibly dangerous thing.

There's a story I read once...the late Anthony Minghella had complained in an interview that he would have to shorten the length of his shots in his movies because the audience's attention span was getting shorter and shorter. Do you see what's wrong with that picture?

Sorry if this turned into a rant but that $$$ bottom line gets to be so cynical. Everyone needs to eat, everyone needs money. But that attitude is full of fear and gloom and only hurts people that are trying to do more than just make a buck. We shouldn't fear the audience or cowtow to them. Contrary to what many believe, we aren't here to SERVE an audience. We're here to give them something new. If they can't handle it, it's their problem. Like I said, you'll never make something for everyone or "general" people. It's a media myth and it's awful.