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tv-writing TV series based on religion?

S

Strawberry

Hi, everyone.

I have an idea for a TV series that is religious to a certain extent and utilizes God and the Devil as characters. It is intended to be a comedy or dramedy. I'm wondering how worried I have to be about being accurate or about conforming to one particular vision of Christianity. I would like to take creative liberties and explore my own ideas about heaven, hell, purgatory, God and Lucifer's backstory, et cetera; I know that most Hollywood productions about such matters do this, but as far as I know, this concept has not been explored in TV except for once ("God, The Devil, And Bob"). Any thoughts?

Thank you!
 
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Why not man.

Several sitcoms have included God or the devil as characters, though not necessarily steady characters. Lots of cartoons have depicted the Christian God as well as satan and other gods from other religions; family guy, South Park, futurama, the Simpsons and I'm sure many many more.

The only drama I can think of where God was a real character was "Kings", and it was based on the story of David in the Bible. Though not embodied by any actor, God was definitely an interacting character.

Of course, there's all the documentaries and retellings of different Bible stories out there, but not creating new characters like you're talking about.

I say if you think you have a solid concept and good ideas and characters you should go for it.
 
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you're on the right track. use your own ideas and take creative liberty. it'll offend some christians no matter what you do. others wouldn't care, even if satan raped jesus on top of the ten commandments.
 
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Do it.

I started writing something like that just the other day, thinking it would be an episodical. (In the past I think I saw it as a novel or as a feature.) This is something I've been thinking about and researching for a long time. Not my first attempt at starting it though. I worry about some of the same things you are. But probably unlike you, I'm not too sure I care much about ever selling it. My take is probably unsellable and unproducible. So yeah, depending on where you're going with it, it might be a tough sell.

On the other hand, like CF has pointed out more than once on these boards, there is a thriving Christian media industry (?) whatever, if you're approaching it from a faith-based position. Consider Mel Gibson's The Passion of Christ.

Anyway, I'd think a lot depends on what you want out of it. If you want a big hit and for everyone to love you, then you probably want to stick with orthodoxy, convention, and walking softly...like, on egg shells.

If you want more liberty than that, or to ruffle some feathers, then, let's face it, if people pay any attention at all, then, yes, some might get angry at you. Death threats and fatawas against you are a possibility. Or maybe no one will want to produce it in the first place, and so all those angry people will never even know about it or you. But hey, Scorsese and the Monty Python boys came through all that all right. =)

As far as anyone buying it and it getting seen, I'm sure it depends on just what you want to do and how consumable it is.
 
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I actually just finished writing a feature script on this subject. Dude dies and is given the choice to go to heaven or hell. He starts asking questions about what heaven is like, what hell is like, and what God is like. He ends up choosing to go to hell.

I made heaven and hell completely different from whatever scripture suggests they're like. I couldn't really define heaven, and I was vague about it. I kind of described hell, and made it acceptable. I hate my portion about God, and I want to rewrite it, cause I find what I wrote fundamentally uninteresting. So I gotta work on that portion a little more.

But I really did not care about accuracy. I wrote about my own ideas, and every now and then, I'd tie it to general understanding of scripture or whatever it is my religious mother told me.

I am a rabid, radical atheist, but I do not offend anybody in this story I think. I tried to just write something interesting, without taking a stand on anything, and not offend anybody, just kind of asking questions. That was my approach. I didn't really care about accuracy about things, unless it was a historical event that is mentioned in conversation.

Good luck with your series. I plan to shoot mine in end August beginning September, with any luck.

Best,
Aveek
 
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Thank you for the replies, guys!

I think I will definitely go ahead with this now and take creative liberties. Would love to hear more replies on the subject anyway if anyone has anything else to say about it. Interesting to hear about other similar projects!
 
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If it's 'anti-Christian' or has some humor directed 'at' them or about their beliefs then be warned...

It's going to be a tougher sell than the already really tough spec TV market.

But selling is not always the end game.

If it's your passion and you can write it really well then do so. You can use it as a writing sample.

I wouldn't do it if your intention is solely to sell it.

I really liked Good Christian Bitches (re-titled GCB and Good Christian Belles) - it got cancelled due to complaints from religious bodies, lack of advertisers (they were afraid to be associated with the show) and not great ratings.
 
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Sounds like a good challenge for an immensely talented A-list writer. If it's a an amazing story, well told, and expertly executed, it could be a really really interesting project.

As someone from the southeast US, I can tell you that you'd have huge portions of this country who wouldn't be receptive. CraigL is right, you'd really have your feet held to the fire.

And GuerrillaAngel is also right...

First, Lucifer is a King of Babylon in the Hebrew Bible. In the Protestant and Catholic Bibles, Satan is only personified on a couple of occasions. The Hebrew and Greek words we interpret as "Satan" just mean "adversay" (like the word for "angel" just means messenger, buy I digress) -- my point is that most Christians take more theology about "the Devil" from John Milton than an accurate reading of their own holy scriptures.

If this is a hobby or self expression of art for the fun of it, there's absolutely nothing to hold you back. If you want to sell your product, you simply have to discern whether or not the capitalistic market in the US will support you with a money-making platform for sharing your own personal theology.
 
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Do it!

richy is right, to point out that I'm right ;), when I tell you that Christians are STARVING for quality content that has a strong religious bent. Honestly, I feel it's only a matter of time before I make a straight-up Christian Film.

Hey richy!

Strawberry, I don't think you need to worry too much about sticking to any particular doctrine. Christians, like anyone else, are capable of recognizing a work of fiction, so I think if you can just tell an entertaining story, while teaching the most basic tenets of Christianity, you should be on solid ground.
 
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I wrote and produced a one act play a number of years ago called Getting In.
Saint Peter was overdue for a vacation, but had one last dead couple to assess before he could get away. It was done with a light hand, and was well received by religious and non-religious people.

I also wrote and produced a (very) low budget short called Getting In; the log line is:
what if Mary and Joseph were raising Jesus in 21st century NJ?
You can see it here:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0ehhvJvA_6I&feature=plcp
 
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