ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXChildren's Media/Docs and Films with sexual content - A dilemma
10 years, 2 months ago - Neelu Bhuman
Dear All,
One of my potential actresses is starting out in a new line of work, she would like to go into children's tv both in entertainment as well as documentaries around children's rights. She has been told that it is important for people in this line of work to have a squeaky clean history. She has also often been asked to do a short films where there are sexual scenes (homosexual or heterosexual). Although they are not nude, they are somewhat explicit, not exploitative rather political and realistic to the characters' experience.
She is concerned that scenes and particularly the sexual ones sometimes get shown out of context, which has the potential to lose meaning and could make her work within Children's media arena much more challenging. It is this sharing of bits of film/video material that concerns her in addition to performing in sexually charged material.
As a writer-director, I am unable to guarantee to her that clips of films will not be shared as part of a trailer for a film festival or other mediums advertisement at the least.
Does she have to make a choice on these two areas of work at this point i.e either a squeaky clean one as a children's advocate or one that is open to more adult material? Or is there a way to do both without getting in trouble on the children's media side of work?
Thank you so very much for your time, consideration and sharing of your perspectives!!!
All my Best,
Neelu
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10 years, 2 months ago - Alève Mine
Dan (Smith), why will they wash up in a straight-to-DVD bucket?
Response from 10 years, 2 months ago - Alève Mine SHOW
10 years, 2 months ago - Andrew Morgan
This stuff always comes out in the open - particularly if a childrens presenter is popular/well known. It annoys me incredibly that people are persecuted for their past but that's just what society is like. If she's serious about this as a career then no, she shouldn't do the film. She also shouldn't be seen out in public drinking, smoking, kissing, doing drugs or pretty much anything that normal people do 'cause some day it'll come back to bite her on the ass.
Response from 10 years, 2 months ago - Andrew Morgan SHOW
10 years, 2 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin
She needs to look at it the other way round - if she has a burgeoning children's TV career and then a scene is uncovered, it'll kill her career (some tabloids will delight in persecuting her, without any regard to their own blatant hypocrisy). After that, she might get the occasional Celebrity Big Brother, but as a novelty. Doing kids TV presenter work will also probably kill off the acting offers*, so it's not a choice to take lightly.
For both of these reasons, I suggest she takes a long look at what she wants before making decisions that'll limit her options.
*Rainbow's Geoffrey Hayes is actually a fine actor and had a blossoming adult drama TV career, but after getting typecast on Rainbow had to stack shelves in a supermarket, and now drives a taxi.
Response from 10 years, 2 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin SHOW
10 years, 2 months ago - Dan Smith
If she wants a quiet life, ditch the sex scenes as they will wash up in a straight-to-DVD bucket...however, if she does choose the quiet life, she will have to start boning up on The Childrens Act 1933 and chaperones.
Response from 10 years, 2 months ago - Dan Smith SHOW
10 years, 2 months ago - Daniel Cormack
Journalists will use the 'fair dealing' provisions in copyright law as a justification for reporting, showing screen grabs and possibly even clips, even if the article is essentially for titillation, rather then there being a genuine public interest.
That said, you would be astounded at how extreme and unrealistic the moral judgements of parents can get when it comes to things like kids TV. To be fair, we now live in a post-Saville world and people are rather concerned about the moral probity of people making programmes for children and young people.
Response from 10 years, 2 months ago - Daniel Cormack SHOW