characters in delicate situations

[KangsP]

I'm developing this idea for a screenplay I want to film. The only problem is that one of the characters is a pedophile. I'm not sure how to implement his problem into the film. I refuse to show him hurting children, nor am I going to use child porn as a prop.

It concerns me also because this is a sensitive issue. Is it in bad taste to do a production with a character (one of the main ones) with this problem?

On a side note, the basis of this character is that he has some kind of disease that causes him to hurt others. Pedophilia seems like a realistic disease. It's much better than some kind of obscure or made up psychological condition that an audience has never heard of or can't even understand.

Any ethical/technical tips? Thanks.

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[deanl]

Hey there.

To say its a disease sounds like an excuse.

Pedophilia can never be excused.

P.s

Why the hell do you wanna make a movie about pedophilia for. Jeez why dont you make a movie people will enjoy.

Despin out.

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"Ive got bad feeling about this."

[KangsP]

#1 Actually, it's a psychological pathology, look in a book.

#2 In this movie, they all die anyway, if it makes you feel better.

#3 I don't really want to make a movie about pedophelia, that's why I made this post. Pedophilia is the best pathology for this main character to be afflicted with in order to move along the plot. I'd be more than happy to give him the flu, but it just doesn't fit into the plot as well.

The point of this character is that he's afflicted with some psychological abnormality (it doesn't matter what) that causes him to hurt people. The character is ashamed about this and wants to stop, but he can't control it (which is key, and why it has to be a psychological affliction).

Is there an affliction better suited for this character? I'd be more than happy to stay away from pedophilia. And no, and alcoholic physical abuser or something along that lines wouldn't work.

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[sn-films]

If you're set on the pedophile angle, you can set a really disturbing feeling in the pit of the audience's stomach by just implying the character's obsession. Show a child walking down the street, and the some extreme close-ups of the character's eyes as they narrow... cut to another extreme close-up as the creepy guy licks his lips... show him stalking the child... leave it at that. Leave the really horrible stuff to the audience's imagination.

On a lighter note, have you considered having a character with an obsessive-compulsive-disorder? How about a character with multiple personalities? That's a fun one for the actor and the director... the actor can adopt different mannerisms that indicate which character is running the show. Maybe one personality taps his pen constantly, while the is more statue-esque.

Just a few thoughts... hope they help.

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www.sn-films.com

[KangsP]

OCD and MPD wouldn't work either. They're both easily treatable (though calling MPD an easily treatable condition is relative). There has to be no cure for it. The character is eventually going to be too overwhelmed and kill himself.

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[Matt J Heaton]

Schizophrenia? That could make a person do these things and ask the nut that walks around my town if treatment is always successful.

Not to defend pedophiles but I don't think its something that they can help. Just like a gay person can't help liking their own sex.

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[twister!]

I think making the character a pedophile will be problematic - the audience will not want to even attempt to relate to the character - they will be probably be wishing him to take his own life - which is probably not the effect you're after.

Is it necessary to be specific about his problem?

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[miker]

sounds like you should watch the opening scene of cronenberg's Scanners ... basically a 'telepath' capable of fusing with the nervous system of the target and inflicting great damage (exploding head for example ;-)

in the opening scene, the scanner doesn't know he is a scanner and reflects negative thought back at a target causing her to fit ...

science fiction rides again ...

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N305UDB M173UBM
(B55VOR)
(WGO963W)

[chris.crook]

Don't know if you saw it, but there was a Dispatches programme repeated recently (albeit at about 2:30am :-P) about a peadophile who set up on a market stall and had used it to get into contact with children.

They filmed him secretly, and a psychologist analyising the footage said that it was interesting because they had filmed a very rare thing - a sex offender 'at work', choosing his victims, etc. Needless to say, the people doing the filming were under instructions to intervene if they thought a child was in danger.

I think you can get transcripts (or maybe even videos) of the programme. I remember that the offender is generally very skilled at exciting himself sexually quickly, so that the briefest of encounters is enough to satisfy his sexual need, especially in a public place like an open market.

If you're able to view it as I was (I was studying psychology at the time) from an objective point of view, then it provided a very interesting insight, although I must admit the descriptions of sexual abuse on of his victims was particularly disturbing, and still haunts me to this day.

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http://www.rogueshadows.com

[This message has been edited by chris.crook (edited December 01, 2001).]

[Mods]

If 8mm (the movie with Nick Cage) got away with rape & murder of a teenage girl, shown in detail, why wouldn't you?

I think its good you see there are problems with this issue and dont exploit it too far.

You saw what happened to Brass Eye (tv programme).



Mods

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Mark "Mods" Lovegrove