Trivia / Shame

• Actor-Inspired Element: Carey Mulligan offered to get a seagull tattoo and was given the part because of it.
• Creator-Chosen Casting: Michael Fassbender was the only choice for Brandon.
• Doing It for the Art: A rare distributor example. When the film was (unsurprisingly) given a NC-17 rating by the MPAA, Fox Searchlight released the film uncut, refusing to edit or appeal. Considering the history of the rating — only about 90 films have ever received it, as it's a kiss of death due to distribution issues — they even issued a press statement in which they said, "It's time the rating be used in a serious manner, not as a scarlet letter."
• Enforced Method Acting: For the scene where Sissy sings at the nightclub, McQueen barred Michael Fassbender and James Badge Dale from Mulligan's rehearsals. They only got to hear it for the first time while the cameras were rolling, and the scene was filmed in real time. Their reactions are genuine.
• Fake American: Both leads: Fassbender was born in Germany and raised in Ireland (something he got a line alluding to so as to explain his sometimes wavering accent) and Mulligan is English.
• Real Life Writes the Hairstyle: Carey Mulligan has short hair here because she ruined it having to dye it white blonde for Public Enemies, and it was still growing out.
• Romance on the Set: Michael Fassbender dated Nicole Beharie on the set.
• Word of God: Steve McQueen feels that Brandon and Sissy are not incestuous, and that them being comfortable with the other seeing them nude was just them not being "bashful" about nudity.

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