I began investigating relationships and how they may come about and what effects/affects occur during and after.
Because the pairing is a same-sex pairing, I took out a book in the library about gay relationships and society (Sexual Orientation and Society). It explores the different dynamics of homosexuality and even stereotypes, which is something that fascinates me most about the story. What I want to portray is a non-stereotypical gay relationship that is almost heterosexual in its approach, in the way in which 'camp' gay couples are not so much excluded, but showing a relationship that isn't trying to be gay, which is something that the book explores in how certain TV channels have portrayed gay couples and individuals in an almost negative way, where the only outlook on them is a over-camp identity which many gay men don't identify with.
What I wanted was the main character to be indifferent to his identity, he has fallen in love with another man, but that doesn't mean he was going to suddenly start acting camp and change his personality to suit the identity of other's. The same goes for his partner, who, although is different in terms of preferences in fashion, isn't a fruity camp guy who has a fag-hag following and goes shopping and speaks with a lisp. He is however a lot more extroverted than the main character, which allows for him to be a little more cocky. The way I see him is a kind natured man with a lot of friends, but his focus is towards his man. The main character is much more introverted and doesn't have many friends (perhaps only through his partner) so his personality isn't as strongly expressed.
One article I read which was about straight men 'acting gay' really threw me off, because, while I can understand why it would be almost insulting for gay actors who can 'pull it off', there is an underlining of stereotyping of gay identity. The man who voiced his opinions came from Rory Cowan from Mrs Browns Boys (BBC). His character is gay and camp, however, there is also the argument of how gay actors are playing straight characters, so the argument is almost invalid. Sexual identity has nothing to do with lifestyle, which is something Cowan doesn't get across.
In my film I wanted to allow the character's sexuality to be the lesser of the film's theme. While I am determined to have a gay couple in the film, they aren't any less of a heterosexual normality, and that is what I want, I want them as a 'normal' couple, but the film dealing with a death. This is pushing forward the homosexual normality in media, which is becoming more prominent as people are slowly becoming more tolerant and accepting. But it is still taking time, and with semi-negative portrayals of gays in film and TV, it's something that needs to be put forward more, instead of relying on the stereotypes.
Links
http://www.goss.ie/2014/11/mrs-browns-boys-star-rory-cowan-straight-men-cant-act-gay/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/legacy/haveyoursay/2010/07/is_the_tv_portrayal_of_gay_and.html
http://www.stonewall.org.uk/documents/unseen_on_screen_web_final.pdf
What I wanted was the main character to be indifferent to his identity, he has fallen in love with another man, but that doesn't mean he was going to suddenly start acting camp and change his personality to suit the identity of other's. The same goes for his partner, who, although is different in terms of preferences in fashion, isn't a fruity camp guy who has a fag-hag following and goes shopping and speaks with a lisp. He is however a lot more extroverted than the main character, which allows for him to be a little more cocky. The way I see him is a kind natured man with a lot of friends, but his focus is towards his man. The main character is much more introverted and doesn't have many friends (perhaps only through his partner) so his personality isn't as strongly expressed.
One article I read which was about straight men 'acting gay' really threw me off, because, while I can understand why it would be almost insulting for gay actors who can 'pull it off', there is an underlining of stereotyping of gay identity. The man who voiced his opinions came from Rory Cowan from Mrs Browns Boys (BBC). His character is gay and camp, however, there is also the argument of how gay actors are playing straight characters, so the argument is almost invalid. Sexual identity has nothing to do with lifestyle, which is something Cowan doesn't get across.
In my film I wanted to allow the character's sexuality to be the lesser of the film's theme. While I am determined to have a gay couple in the film, they aren't any less of a heterosexual normality, and that is what I want, I want them as a 'normal' couple, but the film dealing with a death. This is pushing forward the homosexual normality in media, which is becoming more prominent as people are slowly becoming more tolerant and accepting. But it is still taking time, and with semi-negative portrayals of gays in film and TV, it's something that needs to be put forward more, instead of relying on the stereotypes.
Links
http://www.goss.ie/2014/11/mrs-browns-boys-star-rory-cowan-straight-men-cant-act-gay/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/legacy/haveyoursay/2010/07/is_the_tv_portrayal_of_gay_and.html
http://www.stonewall.org.uk/documents/unseen_on_screen_web_final.pdf
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