Irvine Welsh (Scots writer) wrote a letter after finding characters from Trainspotting’s older scripts too “middle Class” and “sappy.”
As he was still living in Amsterdam, the 63 year-old claimed he was probably stoned at the time he sent Andrew Macdonald his typed letter.
Welsh is from Leith (Edinburgh) and believes that the early drafts of the screenplay made drug addict characters sound more like “middle-class students” than’scheme addicts.
Hazy: Scots author Irvine Welsh sent a ‘stoned’ letter to Trainspotting’s film producer after finding the characters in an earlier version of script too “middle class” and “sappy”
He said that he could not take these characters seriously because there were too many swear words, and the “scheme vernacular”, such as “radge” being substituted for “went balistic”.
Welsh told Macdonald that Begbie the psychohard-man, played by Robert Carlyle in the film, was portrayed as’sappy and weak’.
Welsh was complimentary of his constructive criticism but praised the movie’s screenplay for its excellence.
Unimpressed. Welsh was not happy with Ewan McGregor’s portrayal of Mark Renton (heroin addict) in 1996’s film.
This letter was dated 7 April 1995 and reads: “Dear Andrew. The screenplay for Trainspotting was given to me by the publisher. They suggested I contact you about my views on it.”
First, understand that I have the exact same attitude to the play.
“This is not being negative. It’s just that I find it a little old-hat and am more interested in the new projects I’m involved with.
“Of course I will give whatever help you need, but only when your team feels it is appropriate. The exciting part is seeing the transformation of it. I would not be surprised if you did a complete rewrite.
“So my comments are meant to help, not be negative. Make what you like of them.
Detailed: A photocopy of the letter was shared by novelist Nadifa Mohamed on Twitter on Sunday
He stated that he thought the film’s overall impact was excellent. Thank you for focusing on a lighthearted, black comedy and not a dull bit of social realism like The Big Man. (yawn.)
“The only issue I currently have is the lack of dialog between the characters.
“I understand that actors bring their own sensibilities, but at the moment the characters sound more like scheme addicts than middle-class students.
Renton is seen as detached and educated, which works well in this context. However, I’m not able to take all the characters too seriously.
‘I appreciate that censorship is different in cinema, ie: tighter, but my concern is not so much to do with the minimum of f***s and c***s and large absence of scheme vernacular like radge, barry, swedgin etc, but what has replaced it, ie: ‘ went ballistic’ (p 27).
Hard man: But Begbie was played by Robert Carlisle in an early draft. Welsh dismissed Begbie as “sappy, middle-class” in the screenplay adaptation.
This makes characters appear weak out of context, making their actions difficultly plausible. Characters often come across as too dry, self-consciously witty, or effete.
“This causes me to picture violence in student rag slapstick and undermines its credibility.
‘I see this most with the Begbie character: right now he’s a sappy c**t and I wouldn’t s***e it off him.’
Welsh said, “For instance, he wouldn’t say to Rents” (p.75). Would you mind taking a look for us? Here are some examples:
“He’d say, with breathless indignation in irritation that his needs hadn’t been anticipated: ‘Rents, git doon tae the f***ing shops fir ays then ya c**t!’
It was iconic: Trainspotting, which depicted the grim reality of heroin abuse in Edinburgh’s working classes, became an instant sensation.
“Anyway. There you are. Do you think this is me being overly critical of the characters? It’s simply the way that I saw them.
“The book’s best feedback was the one that I received from everyone in the UK: “at last, working-class characters with bolocks”
With that, Muirhouse F.C., Leith and Hibs F.C. have been deleted. The details don’t matter. It could be anywhere, but I believe it is vital to keep the strengths of the characters.
“I just saw Once Were Warriors, New Zealand. I thought that the Begbie character should be able to wield the same kind of power and influence as the father. totally f****d up and uncompromising.
“Incidentally,” he said, “If you’re looking to extras for this film, I have been hassled almost everyone in Leith.”
Retrospective: Welsh claimed he was probably stoned when he wrote producer Andrew Macdonald the letter. He was in Amsterdam at that time.
Welsh’s signature was in blue pen on the signed constructive letter.
Nadifa Mohammad, novelist and Twitter user, shared a photocopy the letter with captioned: “This is hilarious.” @IrvineWelsh I love the corrections.
Welsh replied this morning with the following: It was most likely that I had been stoned. It was Amsterdam.
Trainspotting is the story of Mark Renton (played by Ewan McGregor) and his friends who live through the Edinburgh heroin scene in the 1980s.
Stars of the hit film include Robert Carlyle and Jonny Lee Miller, as well as Ewen Bremner.
The Blade Artist, a spinoff of trainspotting, is still in production. The show focuses on Begbie’s turbulent life.