Shop Talk Writers : Could this be a problem?

Could this be a problem?

My script has only a few characters and one of them is black and he's quite a scumbag. Would this make me look like a racist jerk? Should I not mention his race? I just don't want a script reader to see a terrible black character and throw my "racist script" into the trash.

Re: Could this be a problem?

That's just how I've pictured him from day one. His wife (who's also black) is actually a very polite and smart character so I believe it's balanced, but I'd still like to hear opinions on this.

Re: Could this be a problem?

If you're writing a movie that is specifically about race relations and the only bad guy is a Black guy you might get a backlash from the PC members of the audience. That's assuming you get it through left wing Hollywood far enough to even have it produced. If you're just writing a straight story I don't think people will care. This is no longer Michelle Obama's America. You'd have to write a White Male Gun owning Alternate Right character that is even worse and have the Black Man find some sort of redemption through personal growth or preferably both to get made in Commiewood.

Re: Could this be a problem?

So, trying to avoid stereotypes is lefty and commie.

Got it.

Re: Could this be a problem?

Your re-education is coming along nicely. Welcome to level2.

Re: Could this be a problem?

You forgot to use the phrase "drink the Kool-Aid". Would have thought that was your go-to,

Re: Could this be a problem?

How you picture him is irrelevant. It's how he'll be presented in the eventual film. Unless you're shooting it yourself, you have no control over casting. Unless his race is integral to the storyline, any specification is another hurdle to getting it made.

All roads lead to truth if you're willing to travel honestly.

Re: Could this be a problem?

So screenwriters generally don't mention a character's race?

Re: Could this be a problem?

Not unless it is essential to the story.

Re: Could this be a problem?

Interesting, I didn't know that. If anyone else has anything to add to this conversation I'm all ears.

Re: Could this be a problem?

Think of it as a smiley face vs. a photo-realistic drawing. The former is wide open and could be anyone, while the latter is much harder to match.

If your description is more like the smiley face, more actors could see themselves in the role and could put their weight behind the project. As well, directors, producers, and others don't feel as tied to your vision. The more specific you are, the more people and possibilities you close off.

Consider Alien, where Ripley was originally written as a man, or Beverly Hills Cop, originally written for Sylvester Stallone. Flexibility helps get scripts made.

All roads lead to truth if you're willing to travel honestly.

Re: Could this be a problem?

I tend to agree. The flip side is that people making casting decisions tend to default to "white" if no race is specified. So there's a reasonable argument that specifying the race of characters is one way to at least get them thinking about diversity in casting.

The problem is even well intentioned attempts to write minorities can backfire. I recently read a friend's script containing an Asian character who plays into all sorts of offensive sexual stereotypes. My friend isn't racist but this character kinda was.

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Re: Could this be a problem?

Agreed. White tends to be the default. Even so, a name can suggest race. A character with the last name 'Chang' will likely get seen as Asian. Beyond that, if they have an English first name, it comes across that they're second-generation or mixed. You can get across a lot with names.

I have one character I saw as Asian in one script, though it's not really essential. Even so, his last name is Chinese, but that's easily changed. Another script covers historical issues where certain characters need to be Asian, so the specification gets made.

You make a decent point that an attempt to write a minority can end up offensive in itself. To my mind, a character of a certain race fitting stereotypes isn't necessarily an issue, but if they lack awareness of that, believability flies out the window. Without believability, characters easily become caricatures, no matter how well-intentioned the writing.

All roads lead to truth if you're willing to travel honestly.

Re: Could this be a problem?

Yes, it's a problem. The fact that his wife is polite and smart does not provide the balance you think. On the contrary, it reinforces the traditional binary opposition of blacks in media as either sinners or saints.

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