Great forum and I am quite happy to see all the different theories floating around, especially since I don't have one myself!

I am wondering if anyone knows where the producers got the character backgrounds? "Dr. Pat" lives in my hometown but I know the actress who portrays her does not (duh). I just thought it would be interesting to know who developed these guys.

• RE: Thanks and a question,OceansAngel16, 11:35 PM, 09-30-03
• RE: Thanks and a question,Guppin1234, 01:57 AM, 10-01-03
  • RE: Thanks and a question,Lisapooh, 02:34 AM, 10-01-03
    • RE: Thanks and a question,Guppin1234, 06:08 PM, 10-01-03
      • RE: Thanks and a question,Lisapooh, 06:25 PM, 10-01-03
• RE: Thanks and a question,kris6336, 09:58 AM, 10-01-03
• RE: Thanks and a question,Jpod5, 11:44 AM, 10-01-03

The backgrounds are probably all fiction, I think they had the script writers make up a small background for the character, minor details that might be asked, and let the actors fill in what is needed, so that way they are more flowing with their character..

Technically, aren't they supposed to make these things up if they claim they are false bios in the first place? Otherwise, if they base so-called fiction too much on a real person, that would leave them way open to law suits assuming they don't have prior permission from the person they are basing it on and they have received compensation for such.

If the person's personality being bio'd was recognized, regardless of what actor they use, and it was without permission, erroneous and misleading, they could be liable for slander and everything that goes with it.

For instance, if you were the producer's cousin, and he profiled this cousin like Hutch and mislead the public, wouldn't that cousin be extremely irate? Reminds me of what Truman Capote did to all of his friends.

Just a thought.

All the lawyers and lawyer types in this forum, what's the legality of creative translation and how far can you go with and without permission?

well, I'm not a lawyer - but one of my favorite writers Anne Lamott suggests that if you want to base a character on someone you know, just give them at least one really bad trait. Like, if your character is based on an old boyfriend: make him really bad in bed or give him a little tiny penis. That way, the guy won't sue you cause who wants to own up to that.

I'll let one of the real lawyers give you a real answer now. I'm trying to stay out of trouble from here on out.

Interesting, thanks for the tidbit.

To answer your question, I'd own up to that, and I'd grind that person into oblivion until they owned up to the dishonesty and stealing. That in an of itself would be enough to weed out the lies/truth.

Pooh - you have too many posts to get into trouble. I got in trouble for bashing shakes, but I got so much satisfaction from that I didn't care if I got banned, especially since I was responding to his bashing me so I was bashing him for bashing me and others with a total head bash. The only thing missing was mud wrestling. I even got a thank you note for bashing him and a warning from SB.

It's amazing how little it takes to get away with stealing someone's life in the name of literary mojo.

Ciao baby!

sweetie, number of posts don't protect you from trouble. We've had plenty of long-time posters get booted. People who have been here since the dawn of time! Some I miss, others...not so much.

shakes isn't so bad, but I know a lot of people don't like him. He's not hard to avoid considering he's almost never here.

Lamont was being facetious - she's a great writer - you should read "Bird by Bird" - that's the book I stole that from. She kicks ass.

I'm sure someone else could give you an definitive answer. I just change enough about my characters so that even if they are based on someone I know - it isn't instantly recognizable. Like say you have a character based on someone you know with a stutter and how that stutter has made them bitter, triumphant, whatever they are 蔓 you could always give the character in your story a limp or some other challenge to overcome or yield to. Same emotions, different circumstances.

You can draw from what you know but still change it up enough to keep your nose clean.

right, I was already under the assumption that all the caharatcers are not based on real people but rather composites of all the reality tv people.

Obviously, for my example of the Dr Pat character being from Rochester, I find it interesting and wonder who in the cast/crew would even have my city in their head to use in the "bio".

The interview with Brian, linked in the 96X thread, had an interesting tidbit about his background being 'real' with the exception of his entertainment career. Apparently he asked for that, and I'm not sure if it was really for Matt's benefit (so that in the end there was at least one person telling him some bit of truth), or because Brian wasn't an 'actor' and was afraid of slipping up with his storyline.

He didn't comment on anyone else's background that I can remember.

jimbo