Advice requested

[Bill Marquardt]

I'm starting a new sci-fi comedy story which includes a wheelchair guy reminiscent of Stephen Hawking, the physicist. None of the humour is at this person's expense, so it should not be offensive to disabled persons. This character's role will be as a consulting scientist for someone in the space program who has a problem with unintentional time travel.

My question - I've read that it is extremely difficult to get a script with a disabled character past a reader. Is this true, even when the character is portrayed in a purely positive way? The wheelchair serves a purpose in the story, as it is a way to get a "joystick" (the one used to control the chair) into the command center where it is put to a different use.

Bill M.

[Leandro]

I'm thinking of a couple examples:

The assistant DA (female, wheelchair-bound) in the adaptation of Scott Turow's "Presumed Innocent."

Hitch@#%$'s "Rear Window" (Though the main character is wheelchair-bound due to a broken leg, not due to a permanent disability.)

Other films having characters with major disabilities: Water Dance, Passion Fish, Children of a Lesser God, A Shot in the Dark, Coming Home, A Patch of Blue, Forrest Gump, Peter Pan's Captain Hook, etc.

Though I'm no expert, I'm guessing that if your story, like those cited above, deals fairly and respectfully with the disability, and if the disability is simply another facet of your character's dimensionality, then it is not likely to diminish the commercial or theatrical appeal of your overall work.

Two more: Denzel Washington's quadriplegic character in "The Bone Collector" and Tom Cruise's paraplegic in "Born on the Fourth of July".

[Tony R]

Find a prodco that has produced films that deal with disabled persons. Cross index that with any that specialize in sci-fi...if there are no matches, I would query both types. You gotta hit the right people.

By the way, Bill, don't undersell your abilities...I noticed in a previous post of yours that you were awfully hard on yourself...but every indication I've gotten from your messages is that you can write, and you've got a mind for this storytelling stuff...keep plugging away!

Tony

[Bill Marquardt]

Leandro and Tony R -

Thanks for the responses. I'm going to give it a go, and I'll follow the advice about cross referencing. I forgot all about Bone Collector.

Tony - maybe I was just stealing the other guy's ammunition? I am a wise ass, and sometimes people take me too seriously, as did someone in that thread.

I'll get a handle on whether or not I can write well in the next few weeks, as a person in the biz may be reading a script of mine soon, and I have a few things going on. I'm not going to blitz the agencies until I have more scripts to show.

[Leandro]

Just thought of another example of a paraplegic in a comedy that might apply to your question:

The wheelchair-bound Lebowski in "The Big Lebowski"

Very funny movie and in no way demeaning to the character, Lebowski, wrt his disability.

[Goreomedy]

Need I mention "Charles in Charge" from the X-men film? Professor X, strong character, broken body, no respect lost.

As long as you avoid offensive gags like in the films Senseless and Mr. Magoo... there shouldn't be much backlash, from a reader or the viewing public.

-- Gore

[steeves]

offensive works really well for them

i suspect they could do make fun of a deaf, black, blind jewish lesbian in a wheelchair who is dying of aids (but keeps forgetting she has aids due to her alzheimer's) and get away with it

but, are you the farrelly's?
beter still, do you want to be? (before you answer that, think: dumb&dumber... no, no, no, not profits)

[Writers Blockhead]

Don't forget Dr. Strangelove.

[GirlinGray]

Notting Hill made it downright romantic, when a man swept his chair bound wife into his arms to carry her up the stairs.

[Bill Marquardt]

Now that you guys mention them, I realize that there has been a great many movies featuring a disabled person. I'm wondering where the heck I read that bit about not getting it past a reader? Maybe it was in a different context. Oh, well. Thanks.

Bill

[ksk2]

My Left Foot... :)

[Roxanne Battle]

I love smart original comedy, hard though to make a genius look stupid... good luck.
Bear in mind that Hawking can push a joy stick and many government creeps will hurt you.

Roxanne