So what happens when a movie producer approaches schools in the Tampa Bay Florida region for permission to create a film called "Sex Ed"? Well, it seems that officials from the schools did their due diligence, and after reading the script of the proposed film almost every school turned down the offer.
According to producer Dori Sperko of Bradenton, Florida:
There's a reason we got turned down by the others: They read the script
Well, almost all of the schools. One school did agree, the owners of the Sacred Heart in Tampa, a school which has been closed for a couple of years now. The Sacred Heart parish, headed by the Rev. George Corrigan, agreed to let the producers use the closed school for an undisclosed fee. Both sides agree that an outline of the plot was shared. Aside from agreeing in the deal and, presumably a sum of money to be given to the parish, there does not seem to be a lot else that is agreed upon.
Tamp Bay Times Story
Now that the Diocese knows what the film is about, they are having some regrets about the deal:
a middle school detention teacher who realizes his students lack proper knowledge about sex in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies and STDs. His efforts to change that situation are resisted by the PTA president, who happens to be a local minister.
The real-life pastor, Rev. Corrigan, according to Bishop Robert Lynch (head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg, Corrigan's boss):
...didn't ask to read the screenplay, but did see an outline of the plot, according to Lynch and producer Dori Sperko of Bradenton. Lynch wrote that "did not raise any alarms." He also noted that the dioceses' vetting process for property rentals wasn't properly followed.
OK, so the good Reverend did not read the script, now he wants a mulligan as more becomes known. The racy script was know to other school officials who were approached. A great example of the "It's your fault I was not prepared" argument...I bet that excuse didn't cut it with the teachers at Sacred Heart when it was open. Why does Rev. Corrigan expect it to fly now?
The school is identified as a public school in the movie, but I suppose that much of the real squeamishness from the Diocese is the fact that Planned Parenthood supplied the sexual education materials used in the scenes shot at Sacred Heart School. There is probably also discomfort from the Diocese with another part of the script where the Sex Ed teacher is a virgin and falls in love with the older sister of one of his students. Gee, how could they have known about that seedy plot twist?
The descriptions of the movie from both sides are fairly divergent: but Sperko does not deny that it drops several dozen F bombs, and expects a R rating, but calls the movie a "coming of age" story with some racy plot lines. Bishop Robert Lynch calls the film a "sleazy movie". Lynch complains that the movie debases people with strong faiths. Sperko claims that there is nothing blasphemous in the story at all.
For their part, another film producer (in charge of publicity) is a little irked that this controversy is starting so soon. The film is in the final stages of production and due for release in 2 or 3 months. But Joe Restaino admits "I don't think it's that bad because it's going to create some buzz"...
And getting back to the fact that in contrast to all other official approached with the idea of allowing filming at their schools, the Pastor did not actually read the script, and according to his boss did not follow proper procedures, I think the Bishop is rather bold when he proclaims that "Sacred Heart Parish and its pastor had been duped."
Nothing like a dose of persecution complex in the morning. Make mistakes, look silly, then claim that you are the victim. I'd bet the money doesn't look so good right now to Rev. Corrigan, but just who was he serving when he agreed to that deal?