I think there is a moral responsibility to write capital-T Truthful characters.

I think the sad thing is that whatever morals a screenwriter has, in a situation like Iron Man, or any other big budget feature, they are trumped by executives who have none.

Lord spare us from physicians commenting on the sad state of movies. What a patronizing piece of shit letter this guy wrote. Maybe the president can appoint Dr Buzzkill cinema czar. Because that's just what the country needs.

Give me a fucking break.

If Tony Stark, after some time in horrific conditions, requested a veggie wrap with organic brown rice and a cup of carrot juice that would have made it more believable??

I don't believe we have a moral responsibility in the stories we write. We have a responsibility to the story itself and that ends on the page. It is producer's responsibility to ensure the film is profitable, and that is where the original letter writer's appeal should be directed. If Reese's Pieces serves the story, then it belongs in the draft, even if it was M&Ms originally. The writer shouldn't be concerning themselves with the potential influence of candy on childhood diabetes- he/she should be focused on finding a universally recognizable mechanism for a young boy to relate to an alien as a friend.

Our responsibility as writers is to write true characters and to write truthfully about life -- AS WE SEE IT. Parents have a moral obligation to say "NO" once in a while. To do something to counteract all the crap that advertising, movies, TV, etc. try to sell to them. Just because they see it on TV doesn't mean it's good for them or that they should have it. But, that's not the writer's job (or the filmmaker's).

One could also claim that movies put pressure on children to diet and exercise. Nearly all actors are physically fit, after all.

Sheesh.

You might want to read this...

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/06/09/2008-06-09_burger_king_helped_me_beat_addiction_rob.html

I think we have a moral responsibility in many aspects.

To show a slim hero eating fast food all the time is one.

To show good values is important.

And not stereotype characters.

i don't feel like the two have to be exclusive. Like anything else, ask yourself "does this help the story"
If having a character smoke doesn't do anything to help the story (or the character) then consider leaving it out.
Tony Stark had been starving probably on basically break and water for 3 months. Even during any time in the hospital he was probably on jello etc. And this is a guy used to hot sake, sushi etc. He wanted real food and decadent food at that. and you can't really get more real, American and (mildly) decadent than a take out fast food cheeseburger. So it worked.
Look at the Twilight films (yeah I'm ashamed for saying it). There's like no teen smoking, drinking, parents are out parties, massive cussing etc. And yet teens flock to the films. they don't care. that stuff wasn't needed so it was left out.
Precious could have perhaps worked with a thinner character but they wanted, nay needed, so show a character that was at rock bottom. Turning to food for comfort to the point of stealing buckets of fried chicken and scarfing it down, even knowing that it would kill you being that obese, it works.

and so on.

but forcing all stories to be big moral lessons and have their 'now kids we should be eating junk food and sitting around on our growing asses playing video games' moments. well to that I say when did movies replace tv as the new nannies. Where are the parents and why are they doing their jobs.

WHO gets to say what is and is not "moral"...and doesn't that just open the door to censorship?

Write what you want. Write what you have to write. Don't let anyone stop you.

We need to be responsible, like those guys who wrote "Up":

RUSSELL
I found the snipe!

CARL
(not looking)
Oh, did you now?

RUSSELL
Are they really tall?

CARL
Oh, yes, very tall.

RUSSELL
And lots of different colors?

CARL
Iiiindeed they are!

RUSSELL
And do they like chocolate?

CARL
No, that wouldn't be a responsible message to send to young viewers. They like tofu and soy sprouts. And mineral water. And nothing else! Now take that snipe over to the organic grocery store and buy him a twenty-dollar bottle of vegan gourd-milk! I'll wait right here with the house until you get back.

I think the only "moral" that truly exists is telling the truth.

Unfortunately, morality has become relative. Ironically, that's from my perspective.

I think what we need to do as writers is remain true to the story we are telling.

Stories are where audiences can suspend reality and enter a world that is different from their own. Whether the world is one where everybody is well off, good looking and healthy or poor, miserable and ill, audiences look for something other than their current reality when they go to see a film.

If a story doesn’t require a trail of candy or an American cheeseburger don’t put it in. If it does, don’t feel bad that you did.

By the way, I wasn’t in captivity for three months, but when McDonalds opened a store in downtown Guatemala City in 1974, it had been two and a half years since I’d had an “American cheeseburger.” I was only fifteen and I can still remember how my cheeseburger tasted.

I can relate to Tony Stark and if Dr. Rahul K. Parikh had tried to stop him from eating a big, sloppy cheeseburger, I’ll bet he would have had an up close and personal meeting with Iron Man.