Lessons from Dashiel Hammett, volume 2:

[theweaselking]

When arguing with an editor over the use of overtly sexual language, one should always simply switch to dirty words your editor doesn't know, and do it with a straight face. This also works with the Motion Picture Production Code censors.

Comments

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

There's also the story from the South Park guys during the making of their movie where the studio rejected "Uncle Fucka" and wanted them to make some changes, so they added the "suck my balls" at the end and sent it back otherwise untouched. The studio accepted it.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I'd always heard that about the scene where the kids are looking stuff up on the internet, and each time they were told that it was "too dirty" they made it, well, MORE.

Until finally, the version with Cartman watching German shit-eating porn involving his mother and Kenny getting visibly excited was the one that got approved.

[swwoodsy.livejournal.com]

I heard (maybe it was an interview) with the creators that the censors told them to remove something they did not think was so bad, so Parker and Stone did, but then PUT IN about 10 minutes of "pure filth" and it passed.

I also heard or read that the MPAA appoved the title "South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut" and THEN realized, "Heyyyyy...", but since it had already been approved, they did not have to change it. BWAH HA HA HA. I love South Park.

[kjn]

See also: bugger.

[pappy-legba.livejournal.com]

What was volume 1?

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

"Any time you're stuck in a story and not sure what should happen next, have two men with guns burst into the room and start shooting."

[torrain.livejournal.com]

That was Chandler. ;)

Hammet, vol. I, was (paraphrased/quote-clipped)

Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. He must be, to use a rather weathered phrase, a man of honour, by instinct, by inevitability, without thought of it, and certainly without saying it. He must be the best man in his world and a good enough man for any world. The story is this man's adventure in search of a hidden truth, and it would be no adventure if it did not happen to a man fit for adventure. If there were enough like him, I think the world would be a very safe place to live in, and yet not too dull to be worth living in.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

That was Chandler.

"When in doubt of the provenance of any literary aphorism that may apply to pulp or mystery, attribute it to Dashiell Hammett" - Lessons From Dashiell Hammett, vol 3.

[fridgepunk.livejournal.com]

I do wish the glee writers would find out about that rule at some point.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

That might, potentially, make that show worth watching.