F bombs

Sitting here with my wife watching the Witcher...(kinda predictable and cliche) and have heard several f-bombs Dropped.

Now I’m no prude.
I drop a few bombs myself on occasion.

That being said, as I hear characters speaking in medieval dialects I can’t help being pulled out of the story by f-bombs.
It’s like having a knight look at his wristwatch.

The same thing happened in the first episode of Star Trek Picard...
F-bombs don’t belong in that universe in my opinion.

I first noticed this trend several years ago when I watched the movie Paul. No doubt there are earlier examples but that one sticks in my memory. I think I heard entire sentences using the word as a noun, verb, pronoun and adjective... the decent story idea was just plain ruined by the overuse of f-bombs.


Again I’m no prude and I completely understand the usage for emphasis or to drive home a point.

Am I the only one that is bothered by the current trend?

a reply to: Bluntone22
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. They drop it all the time on TV after 9PM past the family hour.

Am I the only one that is bothered by the current trend?



Yes you probably are
at a guess, you live in the USA
USA's standards for swearing (or cursing if you're of a religious persuasion) are much higher than their level of violence depicted

other countries have differing perspectives

the UK for example allows swearing but violence is more limited

think about it
what would you rather your children accidentally experience

someone swearing which can be explained to them afterwards as something that is not generally acceptable
or some violent act that they may have nightmares about and leaves an impression that cannot be explained so easily
(mummy why did the mans head explode ?)

i am of the opinion that violence in the USA is a day to day occurrence so showing it on TV is nothing really

but an F**K ?? heavens run for the hills children and avert your eyes they may take on other forms

a reply to: Bluntone22

"Uncut Gems" is a gem of a film. Very very profane, great believable characters, With Adam Sandler showing some serious acting chops. I think you might enjoy it, it depicts a slice of big city life that is very interesting. I thought so anyway.

I hate profanity in films when it's just for shock value. I think that's the way people actually talk in the "uncut Gems" world.

a reply to: flashbackjack


I made it very clear that I’m not opposed to the word.
My point is use it correctly.

a reply to: olaru12

I have heard great things about that movie.
But like I was saying above, dialogue needs to fit.

If a word is out of place, like f-bombs in Star Trek, it just doesn’t work.
It probably works in the Sandler movie if it fits the characters.

a reply to: flashbackjack

The point of the OP was that it ruins the immersion, not that it offends him. Picard's universe isn't the world of F-bombs as a form of expression. There needs to be a tonal consistency, and Star Trek definitely had a unique standard of dialogue before. You wouldn't believe those characters, or people in that universe, would routinely talk like drunken pirates.

a reply to: DietWoke

You got it

I agree. it's use has to be in the proper context. It's used far more as an addition to a sentence these days, and to make something 'edgy'.. which it doesn't.

I know the word itself is old. but it wasn't used as we use it, today... and nor should it be in a world where we've cured everything and there are no #s given...

a reply to: Bluntone22

Wouldn't it be something like:


You sir! ..are accused of For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge! You may recuse yourself!

i " love " american " ethics and morality "

no genitalia , no swearing , not sex , no blasphemy

but shoot someone in the face = totally ok

its my opinion - that many of the " morally uptight " - who complain about profanity could handle the real world

any " typical " brittish army exercise - would send them into permanent catatonic shock

a reply to: Bluntone22

Actually the word did exist in English, with it's current usage and definition in medieval times. Further it found it's way into English from much older languages.

a reply to: ignorant_ape

You obviously didn't understand what I wrote.

Not once did I say anything about ethics or morals.

a reply to: Hefficide

Not really the point.
Video is an art form that is best when it allows the viewer to be totally immersed.
Historically accurate isn't an absolute requirement.

William Wallace wouldn't have worn a kilt in braveheart. It wasn't a problem.

Luke Skywalker telling vader to go f himself wouldn't have worked.

a reply to: Bluntone22

look we understand your point

those bad bad words dont look right in that tv drama

here's a thing you dont get

writers use bad bad words so that people alive now engage in the drama and story line

because if they use words in "Ye Olde English" or "strange made up Witcher words"

the general populous wont follow the story as well and since tv and films are all about ratings

they write it for people to relate to so they watch it and tell their friends, hence they make money

if you dont like it then maybe grow a beard, buy a hat and go live with the Amish ??

a reply to: flashbackjack

Sure..
Amish..
I already said I’m not offended by the word.

You are still wrong on its use.

Lord of the rings had all kinds of “strange made up words”... people followed the story..
So did Harry Potter..
Star Wars..
Star Trek.. admittedly they over used the word tackion...tack-e-an..
I’m sure you could name others many if you tried.

Nobody expects entertainment to be filmed like a documentary.
Interstellar was a pretty good movie that had a great deal of accurate science and a great deal of terrible science but it was the correct mix to let the viewer be immersed in the story.
Same with gravity.

I understand completely that video needs to connect with its audience and that writers are attempting to do that but that doesn’t mean they are successful.
Just watch an episode of Picard or doctor who now and tell me that it’s quality writing.
The ratings of those shows says otherwise.

As a sometimes director/producer we don't care what's in the script. We bought it, we own it and unless there are some contractual stipulations, we will change it to make the most money the product is capable of. If you want art, watch PBS.

I'm at work now working on one of the most stupid, silly, reality TV pilots I have ever seen. We probably won't even finish it because it sold to a streaming network, strictly on the concept. Not even a hint of profanity...think of the children.
Speaking of children, we hire interns right out of HS that have taken 6 wks of training in media.

Filmakers in the Q are like the gold miners of old; hoping to mine the cultural vein for all it's worth.

TV and movies are a disposable medium and streaming has changed everything gobbling up content and spitting it out on the firestik, android TV, Roku, Chromecast TV, Apple TV, Hulu, Netflix, Lifetime floor. And that's not even taking into account the global markets springing up like digital weeds.

Turn on your Smart screen and enjoy your COVid-19 and your 420 gummy bears, Crank, or Bud lite.... America.

No lines, no waiting, just click that remote and open the world of Fantasy. We're working our asses off to bring it to you!!

Whine and bitch all you want about the state of Hollywood; Ultimately, it's Capitalism and all about the money. If you have an idea you think people want to watch...write a treatment, we'll take a look at it; who knows it might even sell.


Union Proud, Union Strong

a reply to: olaru12

You are of course allowed to make your movie however you want.
But then again I get to criticize your movie.

The term starving artist exists for a reason...

originally posted by: Bluntone22
a reply to: olaru12

You are of course allowed to make your movie however you want.
But then again I get to criticize your movie.

The term starving artist exists for a reason...

Everyone's a critic...get in line!! All the criticism, and gnashing of teeth won't make a damn bit of difference and I think you know that, all final decisions are made by the guys siting in the glass and chrome offices playing their game of capitalism. Criticize away!!! They wouldn't know ATS from a honda civic. I on the other hand as a writer, love ATS as one of the most valuable resources for off the wall, clever, surreal, and wonderful ideas for my own projects. I want to thank all the beautiful people here that have reached out with their work to me.

I worked on "Lone Ranger" horrible flop in the states, but a Worldwide hit...I'm still getting my residuals; starving artist? not yet.

The entertainment biz is where even no talent donks can make millions selling cultural garbage. I won't bother with the HL Mencken or PT Barnum quotes this time...

a reply to: olaru12

According to box office mojo.

The Lone Ranger had a budget of $215 million with a total box office of $260 million.
Add the marketing to that budget and the film lost money.

You got paid to work on it and I’m sure it still gets contractual residual payments for many that worked on the film.
But you know what you didn’t get?

Lone Ranger two..
Lone Ranger three..

The studio lost money.

And as for my bitching on a little website...
You do the exact same thing on the political forums here and you know damn well It won’t make any difference.
Yet you still do it.

Why do you do it?
Why do I do it?

No clue but I’m sure neither of us lose any sleep over anything on this website.