What's a Little Nudity?
I have been following all the various discussions and comments about the nudity in These Girls with some interest. So far I have stayed out of the online discussions - happy to observe from afar, no matter how misguided or (in a few cases) sleazy the comments have been. However I've gotten a few direct questions and feel that I should throw some thoughts of my own out there. The first thing is that as a filmmaker I don't have any control over what happens to my film once it leaves the post production lab. How people react to it, or choose to interpret it, or these days how they choose to chop it up and (re)present it are out of my hands. The fact that people are doing anything with my film is a compliment (stay tuned for my next post on piracy).*The following contains mild spoilers*
There certainly has been quite a buzz and reaction to David's nudity - both positive and negative. Some have gone as far as suggesting that David was manipulated into going as far as he did. This is an excellent rumor and maybe one which I should go along with (I could play the role of the cynical puppet master). Unfortunately, for me, the truth is less dramatic. David was very much in control of the situation – he is, after all, a very experienced and intelligent actor. The ‘jewelry box’ was his idea (I wish it was mine). In the context of the film I still think the nudity is pretty innocent stuff and I know that David wanted to have fun with the role. He knew it would be funny and he had the smarts and the guts to play it funny (with a little edge). I know there are ‘still frame’ images out there that appear to be very revealing but that’s not the movie – in the context of the film the scene is funny and a tease.
posted by Red Devil at 6:27 p.m.
5 Comments:
I also agree with you, John. Had you or the cast had any problems with the nudity aspect, surely you and they wouldn't have signed up to do the film. Also, having read what I have about David in interviews (i.e. comments he's supposed to have made - you know you can never completely believe all you read!), I can totally believe that he knew what he was doing. He is, after all, an exhibitionist - if he wasn't he'd be following another profession!
I can't see a rating on the jacket or on the DVD itself and am presuming that it's rated as 'Restricted' - if people don't like what they are seeing, there's always the 'stop' button on the remote!
I enjoyed the film - the nudity just added a little extra 'x' factor!
Thank you for this comment.
I am one of those holding this unpopular view that sex is good, violence bad.
It's a facet of the American psyche than never ceases to amaze me: violence? bring it on! It was totally considered appropriate and even cathartic by some (other than me) in this story.
But I suppose repressed people need some release...
Sex? Nudity? OMG, bring the rosary and the Spanish Inquisition!! The mere fact that sex and violence are considered equal in the censorship rules in US is obscene to me.
@sebbyakami
Very well put. The scene was also a turning point in the story telling - the point where the teen comedy is about to become something else - and it contains all the layers of dark and silly humor that make this movie.
Also, re: those people who profess to be shocked by nudity.I won't speculate about what they do once they finish scolding us, although I did see the most twisted fan sites, everything from strange combinations of characters/real people to incest glorification.
It kinda reinforced for me the finding that during our last national witch hunt, many of the impeachment managers screaming bloody murder about consensual sex were eventually brought to justice for child molestation, stalking and other abusive porsuits. I concluded that the more loud the preacher, the darker the deviance he projects on others.
The great she-wolf poster on the blog reminds me that we had an attorney general who covered the breast of the statue of Justice.
Sorry for posting here, but it's not like a discussion board where I can start a new thread!
I've been listening to the commentary - which si really interesting. If it's not too daft a question - why did you have to shoot a film which takes place in the summer in October/November? Is it cheaper to do at that time of year? Is it easier because of there being less people around? I'm puzzled!
logika - Misandry, a curious accusation indeed. I've seen some of the comments and I'd love to discuss the so called "hatred of men" that supposedly lurks beneath the surface of These girls. I'll post about it soon.
jo - The reason we shot so late in the year and froze our collective asses off was because the money just didn't come together in time. We were originally planning on shooting in August and into September but the production just kept getting pushed. So it was out of our hands. It was a miracle that we had many clear crisp days that appear on camera to look like summer. On many days when we were shooting inside the sky was slate grey and the sea was angry - which is typical fall weather in New Brunswick.
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