Let me just start off with I'm white and my writing partner is black and we are writing our screenplay from both sides of the coin so to speak. We are writing a superhero screenplay, now before you say oh boy, it's more about our main character coming to terms with who he is as a person. He comes from a transracial family so he's stuck in between two worlds. He also finds out that he's half brothers with a famous superhero who is white, and throughout the story he has to take up his brothers mantle and save the world, but he finds out he is still treated differently from his brother. With that rough summary.
The question is: when talking about issues such as race and equality. Do you go full on Spike lee or Robert Townsend since it is also a comedy? We want make a statement but we want everyone to see it so we can start a dialogue about what the film represents.
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What does your character have to interact with? If his world intersect with things, talk about them.
Your biggest issue will be if your script has the feel of “we got the race thing out of the way, now lets get started”.
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If you find yourself in a catch-22 situation then you really need to look internally and figure out what matters the most to you. Sometimes you have to put ego aside and do something modest because it's expressing what you need to say.
Paul, one of the projects I want to work on over the next twelve (or so) months is a comedy-drama that focuses on four families whose members have gotten so angry over the racist slights they've faced that the families set out to stage a drug-style intervention on the perps...and morph the intervention into an antiracism workshop.
It'd be easy for me to try and go Spike Lee or Robert Townsend on the project (more-than-worthy models to emulate!)...but I want to use my own experiences in trying to deal with America's institutionalized racism to tell the story.
And if I can inject myself into it, "Intervention!" will stand a chance and work out.
As long as you and your writing partner can put yourselves and your own individual experiences into your superhero project, it'll work out fine.
Can't wait to check your story out...all the VERY BEST to you two!
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Hey Mr. Screenwriter; are you a Preacher, a Teacher or an Entertainer?
Paul Mitchell I ask the same question as Doug Nelson. Answer that and you should have your take.
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Hi Paul,
Two superhero brothers....one is biracial and faces different issues and struggles than his white brother faces....and together they have to save the world.
Wow...that is an interesting play on the "Superhero Saves the World" story, and is definitely something that I would look at.
Of course, every story is its own story. How you shape and present the characters....the story lines...the actions...the intended/unintended consequences of those actions...to what degrees the racism is involved....the conflicts, ironies, juxtapositions, transformations, reconciliations, climaxes, themes, messages, etc., etc.....is up to you and your partner. Part science, part art, you know?
But I do like what you've shared there. Best fortunes in your creative endeavors, Paul and Partner, and stay safe!