Ethical Storytelling

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kingmeatloaf

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Hey everyone!

Does anyone know of any good resources, either from popes, priests/religious, or Catholic writers about ethics in writing fiction, specifically in filmmaking?

Just for example, I’ve heard several Catholics, including a close seminarian friend of mine, speak highly of the movie “The Exorcist”. While I enjoy that movie and can see its value in understanding the phenomenon of possession, I can’t help thinking, how does a Catholic justify a movie director getting an adolescent girl to say all those profane things, and do awful stuff, like simulate masturbation with a crucifix? Surely this has caused some sin and scandal, and who is responsible for that sin and scandal? The director? Linda Blair’s parents? Anyone who recommends the film? It seems hard to defend.

To a lesser degree, another that comes to mind is Flannery O’Connor. I LOVE Flannery O’Connor, but would have trouble recommending her work because of her generous use of profanity, including using the Lord’s name in vain over and over again. Bishop Barron’s obviously a huge fan, too. But by extension, does that mean it’s okay to use the Lord’s name in vain sometimes, as long as it’s used in making a philosophical point? I know these are scruples.

Does anyone know of a Catholic author who’s spoken about this? I’m writing a film that’s attempting to address the objectification of people that results in recreational sex. I don’t want to show nudity, or give any perverts anything pornographic to get off on, but it does depict immoral people in the real world doing immoral things, like human beings do. Despite that, I want to make a clean film about sex!

It’s a bit difficult, but it’s a topic I think is worth exploring from a Catholic perspective, and am looking to see if any other writers have gone through this and how they avoid scandalizing anyone.

Thanks!
 
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Lots of times what you see in film isn’t actually how it is filmed.

While I don’t know how they filmed the exorcist, often they use body doubles, special effects, camera tricks, prosthetics etc. I’m pretty certain that there was a voice actor for the sounds, so the young actress might not have been saying those words.
 
True, yes, and that’s what I’m gonna choose to believe for my piece of mind.

I’d be interested to know other’s opinion about Flannery O’Connor though. Again, it may be scruples, but not taking the Lord’s name in vain is one of the commandments, and O’Connor used it many, many times in her fiction, where other words easily could have been used. Bishop Barron and countless other Catholics revere her work, and to the uninitiated, it could appear that Catholics believe it’s okay to use the Lord’s name in certain circumstances, especially if one of our bishops praises a work containing it.

Any thoughts there?
 
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