I'm finishing up a rewrite on one of my screenplays. I'd love feedback regarding swearing. I have done my research on the topic, but do value your input. My protagonist is a bitter athlete and rough around the edges. Him calling someone a "jerk", saying "shoot" or "heck" just isn't in his character. And the antagonist is an ex-con, psychopath. He wouldn't say "heck" if his life depended on it. I would like to keep it PG13, but I don't think I'm being true to my characters. There is some violence in the story, but no killings. Maybe I just have to make it a R rated. Thank you guys so much for any knowledge you have on the subject.
Screenwriting : The Use of Swearing in a Screenplay by Lynne Logan
The Use of Swearing in a Screenplay
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You're quite right, an ex-con, psychopath wouldn't talk that way, unless you were doing a comedy but if it's not a comedy then you should keep your characters true to form and there's nothing wrong with swearing for the sake of the character. You also need to keep in mind that you do not give the story a rating, the censors do that. You can aim for a particular audience but you have no real control over what rating it will receive. My advice? What the best story you can and the way it needs to be told, if this one happens to turn out to be an R or even higher, then so be it and maybe your next story might be a PG13.
Your script description has an "R" rating written all over. And your reasoning is very sound - you won't be true to your adult characters - a psychopath and a bitter jock - if you water them down to garner a PG13 rating. Please don't do that. Just look at the current movies out right now with "R" ratings. From "Sinister 2" to "The Diary of a Teenage Girl" to "Mistress America" to "We Are Your Friends". Your description of your story definitely sounds like an "R" rated story.
My instincts were right. My script felt vibrant and alive with the "real" verbiage. And when I tried to change it, well, "watered-down" is the perfect word. (And boy, did my characters get angry.) Thanks so much Bill and Pierre. So value your validation.
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IMHO, there is a huge difference between profanity that is in line with the character and an inundation of profanity for the sake of profanity. It seems that you are erring toward the former, and in that case I don't think there is anything to worry about.
We have a set of rules regarding swearing which are quite easy to follow. If it's against character not to swear, or it hurts the rest of the dialogue when you don't use it, then simply use it. If production companies don't like it, they either won't use your script, or a simple rewrite can take care of that..but then you know that what you've done, preserves the integrity of the script and character. Don't swear just to swear (because it's generally very obvious when that happens), but don't leave it out just for the sake of "ooooh, it's swear words, mind my rating".
Lynne: I use profanity when I think it's appropriate for the character. And sometimes when non profanity just won't do. However, I do try to use it sparingly. Shows like Deadwood and films like Wolf of Wall Street proved there are no boundaries. I was a big fan of the former but not the latter. However, there is good taste and my preference is to attempt to use it.
Got it. Great getting your feedback. Nothing is just thrown in for the sake of a swear word. It truly is in character. Got some rewrites to do. Boy will my characters be happier now.
As per example, we've written a short story which was originally called "Gothic Muffin", which was just about the goriest, most gruesome story we've ever written. When we were done with the rewrite, it became a story of self-discovery (We weren't happy with the way our character seemed to be nothing but a one dimensional little jerk). Then we re-wrote it again and now it's totally fit for children and we're sending it to children's hospitals. It's not about your characters being perpetually unhappy, though. If your character NEEDS to be just that, by all means, let them wollow in self-sorrow. "Jimmeny Crickets" isn't a language anyone (or most people) would use anymore, but it all depends on the voice of your character. It's difficult making the judgement based on a short description.
In my most recent script the character doesn't swear until she tries prove she is tough, she fail horribly. I have read scripts that use profanity to try and set tone. This usually doesn't work. All language is a tool.