How to write this if some characters talk dirty? Should you write them as they come from the character's mouth, or censor them in a way? Thanks for answering!
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Censoring words in screenplays...
- Thread starter victortiti89
- Start date
Basically, you're worried about offending the reader...
Okay, so were you writing a kids' script, there's no place for sexual banter and/or swearing - NOWHERE. Leave all expletives and whatnot out.
Suppose you're writing a romantic-comedy: you want it to be raunchy but again, don't want to take the script over the 15 rating... so you stick to your RATING for the entire screenplay, and when you want things to be a little bit more dirty/hot, you use only language which doesn't go beyond the longed for rating - and this goes for action lines too.
Lastly, we'll pretend for now that you're writing an 18-rated script: so write whatever the hell you like.
My point here - for those not paying attention - is that the TONE has to comply through out the entirty of the script: action, dialogue, sets, etc. A child can't walk into a nudey bar in a kids' script (well, it certainly can't be shown), but your action-thriller star who's just decapitated one of the men who raped and killed his daughter can go into the same bar and call the next bloke on his list a "motherf**king faggot c**t" before he sets his face alight with a bottle of vodka.
So, one last time: tone and rating are your best friends in making sure that you stay in line with your intended audience, be they a viewer or reader.
Okay, so were you writing a kids' script, there's no place for sexual banter and/or swearing - NOWHERE. Leave all expletives and whatnot out.
Suppose you're writing a romantic-comedy: you want it to be raunchy but again, don't want to take the script over the 15 rating... so you stick to your RATING for the entire screenplay, and when you want things to be a little bit more dirty/hot, you use only language which doesn't go beyond the longed for rating - and this goes for action lines too.
Lastly, we'll pretend for now that you're writing an 18-rated script: so write whatever the hell you like.
My point here - for those not paying attention - is that the TONE has to comply through out the entirty of the script: action, dialogue, sets, etc. A child can't walk into a nudey bar in a kids' script (well, it certainly can't be shown), but your action-thriller star who's just decapitated one of the men who raped and killed his daughter can go into the same bar and call the next bloke on his list a "motherf**king faggot c**t" before he sets his face alight with a bottle of vodka.
So, one last time: tone and rating are your best friends in making sure that you stay in line with your intended audience, be they a viewer or reader.
Will you be directing/producing what you write?
If so - go for it. Foul away. Swing for the bleachers.
If not - pop in a few of the critical ones. The eventual director/producer and actors will "modify" your precious lines on the set while retaining the "essence" of the story.
Also, you have to consider the intent of the short's primary distribution.
If it's for a festival submission will an entry with heavy coarse language be appropriate for what they're looking for? More likely for a horror fest. Less likely for a comedy fest.
Vulgarity can be a limiting factor for acceptance and rarely one that "really sells it!"
FYI, heavy vulgarity is a major nube faux pas.
Now, if you're just gonna pop this up on youtube then goforit.
Youtube is chock full of vulgar shorts that almost no one cares about.
Ride the tide.
If so - go for it. Foul away. Swing for the bleachers.
If not - pop in a few of the critical ones. The eventual director/producer and actors will "modify" your precious lines on the set while retaining the "essence" of the story.
Also, you have to consider the intent of the short's primary distribution.
If it's for a festival submission will an entry with heavy coarse language be appropriate for what they're looking for? More likely for a horror fest. Less likely for a comedy fest.
Vulgarity can be a limiting factor for acceptance and rarely one that "really sells it!"
FYI, heavy vulgarity is a major nube faux pas.
Now, if you're just gonna pop this up on youtube then goforit.
Youtube is chock full of vulgar shorts that almost no one cares about.
Ride the tide.
In Europe cursing is the same as honesty and that is seen as a healthy and constructive
thing. It can't be different in America. So why censor? To teach kids to choose their words
and to be dressed in public? Probably. So the question you're asking, is it your task to teach
the script readers these things? Probably not.
thing. It can't be different in America. So why censor? To teach kids to choose their words
and to be dressed in public? Probably. So the question you're asking, is it your task to teach
the script readers these things? Probably not.
Why would you censor words in a screenplay? I don't understand what is concerning you.
They're just words/curses used by characters when found in dire situations, under pressure or panic...
I don't understand. If the character is using these words why would
the writer censor the words? I'm not as interested in telling you why
you should or should not use curse words in a script or what the rating
might be, I am interested in your thought process.
What is it that is concerning you?
Write the dialog exactly as the character would say it, excluding obvious accents or stutters. Do not use profanity in your action lines or headings unless you are describing writing that will be seen in the scene.
I was concerned about what the readers would think if reading such terms, even if they are very scarce. In some television shows and movies, such words are replaced with a " beep". On some websites, they are replaced with " ***"(a set of these symbols equal to the offensive word's letter number). Sometimes, the first letter is present, but is then replaced by these. I was just wondering if there is a similar thing in screenwriting.
Thanks for answering and telling me there is no need to censor such words
Readers want to read the screenplay as you have written it. TV has specific
standards as do some websites. That is not relevant to the script or the reader.
The screenplay should be resented as you (the writer) want it read, not how
you feel it may end up when presented on television.
I understand your concern if you are, as an example, submitting a script to
Disney for a family film and one or more of your characters uses a lot of curse
words. But then, perhaps, in that example your characters shouldn't curse at
all. No need to censor or “bleep” your screenplay.
Readers know that the draft you submit will be changed. When the script sells
other writers will rewrite your work, directors and actors will have input and
then in post production editors will make changes. If the words are deemed
offensive during this process, the words will be changed. Do not worry about
the reader.
Have you ever read a fiction book with swearing in it? If you have then youll notice that they don't sense it. Think of it like that with the real raw detail