Do I need a caveat?
My question is simple, albeit mildly existential. I recently completed a spec — a raunchy, R-rated, Apatow-esque comedy — that a mother couldn’t love. Even mine. Think “Something About Mary” and you’ll begin to get the picture.
Of course, buried in the premise, there’s a sweet love story and all that jazz, but it’s pretty crass stuff, replete with humor that, if taken the wrong way, could easily offend. Naturally, as an aspiring writer, I don’t want agents and the like to think: “Man, that Evan sure is homophobic and likes to talk about Mormon orgies.” Is there a way to address this in a query letter? Pitch meeting? Or should I just assume everyone will understand writers don’t necessarily create characters that they agree with?
– Evan
Los Angeles
Don’t stress over it. Hollywood folk are savvy enough to realize that actors who play serial killers aren’t themselves dangerous, and that the guys who wrote Saw aren’t any sicker than most screenwriters.
In a query letter, don’t back away from your premise or your big moments. If you wrote raunchy, let them know it’s raunchy. In a pitch meeting, there will be plenty of time to establish that you’re a normal human being without gay Mormon issues. And if they like your idea, they won’t care one way or the other.
Articles
January 13th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I think their concern would be more with how it sells. Gay Mormon issues, or really anything religiously insulting, might be looked at like box office kryptonite. Then again, who DOESN’T have gay Mormon issues?
January 13th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
@Chris:
The answer to your last question is “Dustin Lance Black.”. That dude’s doing just fine for himself.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Hell yes, he is! Why isn’t Milk getting any award love?!
January 14th, 2009 at 1:38 am
I know the Saw writers and let me tell you…they’re pretty average unassuming guys. Totally baby faced too. One of em looks like he’s 16, except that he’s freakishly tall.
January 14th, 2009 at 2:51 am
okay — what about a raunchy comedy wherein the climactic scenes take place at an abortion clinic. deal killer no matter how big the haha?
January 14th, 2009 at 6:34 am
Oh I’d love to see the Adsense ads for this page :D
January 14th, 2009 at 7:53 am
he has nothing to worry about. Raunchy comedies are REALLY popular nowadays.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Wasn’t OJ considered to play the Terminator? Just saying.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:46 am
As the most success graduate of my alma mater, Darren Lynn Bousman is heralded by the staff as the ideal for up and coming writers. I was told one instructor that his unassuming manner actually helped him sell the deviance that is Saw II.
One can only imagine the filth a truly disturbed individual could come up with. Something involving mashed potatoes and a shetland pony…
January 14th, 2009 at 10:01 am
“In a pitch meeting, there will be plenty of time to establish that you’re a normal human being without gay Mormon issues.”
LOL. Would they even care if you weren’t?
January 14th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Being a freak with gay Mormon issues might make for an interesting meeting, actually, especially when they get to the part where they ask you where you got the idea.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Thanks for the response, John. Loving these comments too.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Great post. I’ve often been concerned by the same thing.