Screenwriting : Controversial Scenes by Matthew H Emma

A Priest attempting to murder a Bishop. That doesn't happen all the time.

Owen you win. Okay. I won't argue with you.

Some people have commented that seeing that transpire on screen is too tough for them to take.

Matthew, within that religious-world context such a murder would be controversial, and with controversy comes debate, opinion, and reflection. Sounds like you have created something with particular social commentary, so I say keep it. ;)

Thank you Beth. Owen, I'm not taking anyone's anything into account, I have kept the scene in my work. I'm just posing the question to draw feedback. That's all. Case closed. Period. Stop. If you don't feel it's an issue, then fine.

To add: Is the notion itself controversial? Or is it the way it is depicted the issue? Too violent, perhaps? Are the two being conflated by your readers? Or is that the point? Is it the shock of such a violent act within this context your intention? To cause debate? Ask yourself your intent and trust your gut. ;)

Beth, I would say I'm going for the shock value to raise the notion that this is why extreme groups can be so dangerous and to perhaps convey that they'd perpetrate such horrific events to make the ends justify their means. I get that it's not an original notion, but one that I think is necessary for the story I'm aiming to tell.

If the reader believes the characters are capable of making that decision/taking that action then I say keep it as it sounds like a powerful scene. If the reaction to the scene isn't what you'd aimed for then maybe look back to earlier scenes and find changes to further legitimise the character's motivations.

Ah, okay. Then as I said before, keep it. ;)

Thanks Beth. I certainly plan to.

Yes Dan. I know this business is make believe.

Owen, I respect your opinions and realize you know a lot about the craft. That said, I believe you are arguing over the semantics behind the word controversial. Granted, has the act of a Priest murdering a Bishop happened in the course of history? Yes. Could it happen again? Of course. I just believe it controversial in the sense that it is not so commonplace that it would be reported as just your average murder on any nightly news telecast around the world. Thanks for your input, I guess we just disagree on what constitutes controversy. All the best.

Maybe if you made the priest a transexual who rapes a little boy before murdering the bishop, that could be controversial :^}

Hey, just do the work, lovebugs?

Sure it's controversial - but so was The Exorcist, Bad Lieutenant, Angels & Demons...etc.etc.

I like the idea, and one of my great-aunts was a first cousin to a pope. And nobody has more Catholic guilt in the world than me. Wait...that sounds too much like something that Donald Trump might say. Let's just say I have a lot of Catholic guilt. And I have a lot of faith, even to this day.

Make it memorable, Matt. I see that Bishop falling through a beautiful stained glass window in slow-mo after the killer does his thing....O Holy Night playing in the background....shards of glass forming a cross on his lifeless body on the ground....or maybe the glass is the coup de grace....Sam Peckinpah meets Matthew Emma!

Good Luck and Happy Writing, Matt!

Thanks so much Bill. I love your wit. Steve, thanks for the suggestion, but I think I'll keep things the way they are.

Great take Aray. Thanks.

Don’t think the scene is contraversial unless it’s window dressing. The only thing that could make it contraversial is your portrayal of the particular faith through the movie - not the characters views.

Laura, it wasn't an issue. It was just a topic I asked for feedback regarding.

I know what I said. Let's just move on please.

Thanks. Okay?

Thank you Owen. I completely agree with your comment. I thought about it and probably should have used different words to convey the point. I apologize for that.

Learn the current situation of Syro-Malabar Catholic church, (a group of priests conspiracy against the Cardinal)

Owen, perhaps you (nor I) are not the audience for this specific screenplay/film. Matthew's question was his to ask. No need to apologize. His question was specific, but some chose to instead respond to the broader, general notion of what is considered controversial -- which was not the question. That happens sometimes in the forum. People focus on different aspects and share their point of view. It's all good. ;)

Dan, I'll have you know that I did write it with the aforementioned scene included...and also submitted it for consideration it with that scene in question included as well. Furthermore, I have no intention of taking it out. I was just gauging what people thought of it, and like I mentioned in a previous post, I apologize for perhaps using the wrong language to convey that point.

well think about it from another point of view , at the screening of your film you will have to sit in front of an audience and explain why you wrote it, now I don't know the full story of the script but either you have to explain why you wrote it and why you stand by it

Specific context for a specific audience. ;)

Just for fun and meant only as a comparison for considering controversy... My family and I were watching the found footage, Norweigan film Troll Hunter and as Americans we were unaware that bear poaching is very controversial in Norway. That controversy is what starts the story. The mock "reality" approach about the folklore of trolls in Norweigan culture was pretty fun and interesting too. We enjoyed it. I kept pondering... I wonder what Norweigans think of this film? :)

Mark I should be so lucky to have it one day screened in front of an audience. At that time, or for anyone who wants to know my motivations for writing it, I'll be glad to explain it to them. I just don't think this is the time or place for such an undertaking.

Matthew, again, no need to apologize. And your reasons for writing this script are yours. No need to justify it to us. It sounds like you have a script with social commentary that hits a nerve for a specific community. I wish you the best with it! :)

Thank you Beth. yes, the script is socially-conscious and, to make a long story short, is designed to be a cautionary tale against the dangers of extremely radical political groups and the influence they can have over people. In addition, the group I parody in my script are a very real extremist political party that is gaining strength in another country and worrying members of a specific group of immigrants from said nation who still have family and friends residing there and who have a large contingency in the New York City metro area and across the United States. The reason it is so personal to me is that I am very close to many of these same people on a personal level.

Owen, I said my peace about the subject and made my mea culpas to you and anyone else in the community that may have misinterpreted, have a differing opinion or was in any way offended with what I was getting at. I'm not going to apologize or explain myself anymore. You've made your point.

Matt: that explanation details a pretty complex and interesting story. And it's socially relevant and controversial. You nailed quite a bit there.

Best of luck with the project!

Beth's reference to Troll Hunter: that was a great film. It's a lot like District 9 in terms of theme and metaphor. Those are two great films with a lot more going on than just hunting other-worldly creatures.

Thanks so much Bill. I appreciate your kind words.