Quoted from Heretic Hahahah! "Gays"?

- yeah, maybe just ditch the gays for now... (I'm joking   )

It is a tricky thing, especially with all the current stuff going on. I'd definitely be cautious.

Like Heretic says - there's a difference between a 'character' in the script, and the actual script being offensive. There are lots of characters in lots of scripts that offend, but are they part of the story or the drive behind the story? What is the intent of the story - if it's intended to offend, then you're more likely to ruffle feathers. As long as characters like this are handled correctly (they get their comeuppance, learn the right way etc), then you should be in clear water.

Maybe post a sample ... ?

Quoted from Forgive Maybe post a sample ... ?

I think we have already had enough self-promotion here.

Offensive?  In today's world?  Are you kidding me?  And by whose standards?

The question you are really asking is, "Is this too offensive for me to put my name on?"

And the only person who can answer that is you.

The real answer to these sorts of questions is always the same -- "Trust your instincts, Luke."

Alex, breathe life into your script by having certain characters act different ways towards other races, sexes or gays/bisexuals/lesbians.

Let your imagination run free.  Give your character life.  If you don't like something, there's a good chance it will work.

You may accept what I stated, but your character might not.  

Don't ever feel threatened by "offensive".  Yes, it will be offensive, but it's a story.  In fact, it helps develop a story if you add offensive tones.  This leads to character development that allows a certain character to see the error of his/her ways.

Take American History X for example.  A brilliant film that deals with racism.  In the beginning the main dude (I forget his name) is a neo-nazi racist.  

Then he goes to prison, meets an African-American and they become friends.  When he gets out he redeems himself and tries to teach his brother the same thing.  

This leads to the neo-nazi group turning on the main character, which makes the main character knock out the neo-nazi leader.

Stuff happens, the main dude and his brother are out of the life.  But their past catches up to them when 3 African-Americans kill the brother in the bathroom at school.

It's character development.  That is what makes, and breaks a script.

Make a character of yours offensive.  Make another character oppose the offensive character.  There you have your protagonist and antagonist.

There's an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm about Larry wanting to date a covered girl, so that no one sees her before him or something - don't remember it very well, but I know for a fact that that one was not offensive to Muslims at all.

I don't know about all Muslims though, like those who wear hijab - Muslims are different, depending on the region, but to the  ones living in Azerbaijan it's just a funny episode.

Send me your episode if you like.

If the writer creates a character that's racist, does that make the writer racist?  No, not at all.  I think it's more why the character is racist/offensive.

Quoted from bert Offensive?  In today's world?  Are you kidding me?  And by whose standards?

Bert - this is the question exactly, and the reason why he's posting the question.

Simple answer: Theo van Gogh.

People have completely different standards and perceptions and it's only right to take them into account.

Alex

As I am one of the few to have read your pilot, I find it funny and clever not offensive, even if it was... fuck them.

If you feel it's offensive... stop writing. just kidding. You're always gonna offend somebody in comedy.

Monty Python did it with the "life of Brian", Mel Brooks did it in "Blazing Saddles" South Park does it, family guy does it and they're all my favorite comedies of all time.

Or just for shits and giggles... my own parodies "the unlikely series" about Jesus, set in recent times, or Will(Albinopenguin) "Bible bedtime stories" did we care that we offend certain people? No.. we wrote them for ourselves and those who them funny enjoyed, but sadly you're always gonna find the one or two who use it for their own beliefs.

Don't change a thing.

and on a last note... i just watched a documentary on Mel Brooks 2 nights ago... and on Blazing Saddles he asked, if punching the old lady was over the top offensive and the producer responded with " when you're at the top, you might as well ring the bell"

Mark

Thanks Guys for all your comments, really appreciated.

I do like the concept of my screenplay though I am now considering some major changes to it anyway.

I have had a couple of producers keen and they have mentioned that a one hour Comedy Sitcom is a hard sell to the networks and to either change it to a 30 minute Sitcom or to a feature as the market is much easier.

I am considering both options and undecided on which way I will go ATM.

Back to the topic, with the movie released in the US last Year and the producer, director and everyone going into hiding and fearing for their lives, I am seriously considering dropping the Muslim side.

Considering the screenplay is Aussie and it will probably get produced in Melbourne or Sydney where there are many Italians and Greeks I am seriously considering this change in the rewrite ?????

Thanks to Steve and Mark for their comments as they have both done a read, though the difference is, it will be me putting my name to it, so hopefully you will understand me being cautious.

To others, thanks for your comments and I have read and considered them all.

I will let you all know what I decide and which way I go.

Regards Alex

Quoted Text There's an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm about Larry wanting to date a covered girl, so that no one sees her before him or something - don't remember it very well, but I know for a fact that that one was not offensive to Muslims at all.

One of my favorite episodes! Larry tries to hook his shallow blind friend up with a woman... the blind guy thinks it's unfair that everyone else gets to see her, but he can't. So Larry meets a single Muslim lady with a covered face - the perfect arrangement.

Actually, Curb is a great show to use as a barometer with what you can and cannot get away with - the show tiptoes that line of offensive, race driven material - Muslims, Jews (Hasidics), gays, African Americans, people in wheelchairs and mentally challenged people.

I think the key is to show some heart behind it... while one of your characters may be offensive towards other groups of people, give that character some redeeming character traits.

I'd hate to use this as an example because I felt it was pretty lame, but in the waaayyy over rated film Crash (the one about racism, not the good one that Cronenberg directed) but the Matt Dillon character is a racist cop, then he saves the same African American woman who he was racist towards.

Other characters in TV that have been offensive, but we kind of like - Kenny Powers (East Bound & Down), Archie Bunker (All in the Family) and Al Bundy (Married With Children - although he offended mostly obese people).

There are no boundaries in comedy with what you can and cannot joke about - it's about how you execute it and present it that determines whether it's offensive or not.

It all depends on what kind of audience you're looking for, too, and what networks you would plan on pitching it, too. If it were HBO or Comedy Central or something, you'd probably be able to get away with more.

-- Michael

Thanks Michael,

I know where you are coming from and my character is very similar to Archie Bunker.

Always got a laugh from this one and it is done well:-

                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjhzhK2zryg

They just don't make comedies like this anymore !!!

Regards Alex

heh... I just write what I write as long as it comes from an organic place... a creative place...then I really don't care if it offends someone.

its my purgative.

Here's the thing. You can have extremely offensive characters and get away with it if you make the joke be on the racist person and not on the race.

Let's say the grandpa makes some racist joke about "towelheads." If you set it up to be funny because of how ridiculous the grandfather is and how people like that should be laughed at, you'll be okay.

Now, if you set it up for the audience to agree with grandpa, then you're going to offend some people.

On the Office, Michael Scott (or David Brent in the British version) were always making racist jokes (see, e.g., the Office's "Diversity Day" episode), but the character was so clueless about his remarks that he didn't even realize he was being racist.  I think most people got that--same with Archie Bunker on "All in the Family."  The joke has to revolve around not only the character saying it, but because it's a part of their DNA.

You can't just throw a racial joke out there in a vacuum.  It needs to make a point about the character saying it and not about the person that's the brunt of the humor.

Gary

You could always have the character make up their own derogatory terms and none of the other characters ever know which group is being referred to.

"The who?"
"You know, the gopher kissers. The one's that live around the corner from Bill's daughter."

I once read a quote that claimed that if your comedy isn't offending someone, then you're doing something wrong. Not sure if I agree with that completely, but some of my favourite comedies, whether or not they are TV of film, have featured characters and situations which some people will definitely find offensive.

But these films and shows get away with it, because they're not being offensive for the sake of it, instead the offensiveness is featured for a reason, whether or not that is to reveal character, make a point, etc.

Gary makes a brilliant point:

Quoted from Gary in Houston You can't just throw a racial joke out there in a vacuum.  It needs to make a point about the character saying it and not about the person that's the brunt of the humor.

My thoughts exactly, and David Brent from The Office was the exact example I was going to use.