Too Taboo for TV?

fedorable1 · Mar 21, 2006

I've been getting conflicting opinions from my critique group. I am writing a Sci Fi miniseries based on the novel I recently completed. In it the main character - originally 15 years old - is a member of a genetically-engineered race that was outlawed and thus subject to arrest or death on sight. It's been referred to as a "futuristic holocaust."

In one particular scene the MC is arrested and held in a rather seedy prison. While the "real" authorities are away, some of the other prison guards start accosting her and making crude jokes and comments - including what they might've done to her while she was unconscious. The teasing rapidly degenerates into physical abuse. The guards push her around, strip clothes from her, pin her to the ground sort of mock-rape style. This is broken up when the authorities burst in and detain the guards and relocate the girl.

As I said, originally the girl was 15 - due to events and explanations in the rest of the story. However some in my group feel that this scene and a few others - such as her discovering of a killing field ala "Hotel Rwanda" would never be allowed to air, or at least would be shunned for its sexual/physical harrassment of a minor. I changed the character's age to 19, but her mannerisms and some other details of the story don't fit any more.

What are your opinions? If you don't care to comment, at least respond via poll. Your opinion is greatly appreciated.

xhouseboy · Mar 21, 2006

It's a topical subject. And it would all boil down to how the programmers felt about it, whether it might alienate an audience, etc. But having said that, I personally believe the detractors in your writing group are wrong. What do they know, at this early stage, how a director would elect to show these elements of the script. And if it's integral to your story, then you have to stay true to it. Less is more, and these scenes could be portrayed in such a way as to ensure that they're not too graphic, while staying true to the story.

dpaterso · Mar 21, 2006

fed, hope you don't mind, I removed "Child Abuse" from your subject line. I don't want anyone from outside the forum clicking on the thread thinking it's THAT kind of child abuse (the worst kind) and sparking off another kind of debate entirely. May seem silly and I could be wrong, but you never know. Anyways...

The fate of your 15-year-old character sounds unpleasant but it also sounds integral to the story, which involves her growing up and surviving in deadly times, yes? I say go for it. What I would remain aware of however, if I were writing this kind of thing, is that Sci-Fi series are made to be shown in prime time, and TV stations are duty-bound to keep things clean before a certain hour of the evening.

-Derek
My Web Page - naked women, bestial sex, and whopping big lies.
Take the critiques you get with a grain of salt. Invariably, some of the critics will be kooks, bitter curmudgeons, or complete fools. ~odocoileus

scripter1 · Mar 21, 2006

My thoughts as well.

If the action / events are integeral to the story then they need to be in the script.

The studio can soften them up with directing, cut aways, implied actions.

This is something that can be dealt with in negotions and rewrites.

Or if it really, really worries you then take the scene down just a notch or two. The audience can assume what things are leading to and then the interuption happens.

maestrowork · Mar 21, 2006

Anthing goes on cable TV. As for network, just watch 24... they can get away with pretty much anything now (except nudity/sex/language).

fedorable1 · Mar 21, 2006

dpaterso said:
fed, hope you don't mind, I removed "Child Abuse" from your subject line.

I don't mind. But thanks for explaining. I was confused a second there.

Anyway, thanks for the replies. And the scene, I feel, is indeed integral to the story. Not necessarily for the sake of the main character, but to describe the world and how they treat her kind - or anyone else that's different. There's a similar scene in West Side Story where the (American) Jets harrass the Puerto Rican woman Anita.

I think I'll keep it for now and see how it could be "softened" for prime time.

ChaosTitan · Mar 21, 2006

It depends on the network that produces the series, and what time it airs. Nowadays, most nets just slap a TV-MA label on it, along with a "The following program contains graphic blah blah..."

The scene you described looks like something that would be hard to watch, but worse things have aired on network TV. I refer to you to Born Innocent, a TV movie from 1974 that contained the graphic rape of an adolescent girl with (if I recall correctly) a broom stick.

Write what the adaptation demands. Once the network gets a hold of it, they'll probably ask for rewrites anyway. :tongue

no brak€$ · Mar 22, 2006

I think a warning would allow this, but wow, this is pretty disturbing. However, as I see it, it gets people talking, and people talking lead to people wanting to know what happens, etc. I think it takes a lot for people to 'cross the line', because we all know there are some real crazies out there who will think you are sent from Hell to do something like this....that's a whole other topic, but I think it would be okay.

Too Taboo for TV?

Child Abuse: Too Taboo for TV?

Yes! No network should air something like that!

No! This is freedom of speech. It's just a TV Show.

It's possible to air it, but not very recommended.

With everything else out there, this is the LEAST taboo!

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