Screenwriting : Unsure of word usage by Krista Crawford

Tuchus always get a laugh, but implies some Jewish connection. Tushie might be useful, as it is both funny and twee.

Rear, rear end, rump, back side, derriere, keister, fanny, gluteus maximus?

I don't think ass will make it R rated, besides, your character should be using their own word. What best suits your character?

Write what you think is funniest. If Bridesmaids is your example, that's R...I'd go with ass.

buttious-maximus

I think it depends on the character's personality. What would SHE say? Is she usually vulgar, polite, reserved..etc?

Thom, my neighbor's son just married her... a nice Italian girl.

like Christine pointed out, her personality would tell you what word expression to use. If she's a smart nerd type: gluteus Maximus! If vulgar: Arse (in a British accent) if she's proper: derriere or fanny.

What Christine Capone said -- All dialogue must reveal (early) or confirm (later) character. Should a char's dialogue or delivery later contrast with established traits, it had better have a grounding in the plot and character arc.

An English nanny might tell her young charge to get her botto in the bath.

I have a mate that carries a bit of weight. Someone teased him about having a big butt. He said, “You can’t hammer in a huge nail with a tack mallet”. I don’t know if that triggers anything amusing.

It depends on the overall style of your comedy screenplay. If you aim at being funny and naughty, then butt is fine but if you want to be sort of understated but yet kindly humorous I would suggest bottom, and if you want to be sombre and dry (maybe a bit sarcastic) I would suggest behind. But as I said you need to fit it into the overall linguistic style of your screenplay.

PS It is like with the words - breasts, boobs, chest, bust, 'melons' etc... It all depends on the context and style.

I was advised a while ago that there is actually a trifecta you would have to meet in order to get a studio buy in for an R rating. The film must include 3 of the following : violence, strong language, nudity, gore. if you don't have 3 of those it will be hard to get that R rating to cover you. If you only have casual language like "ass" it might qualify for a PG 13 rating but if there's a lot of strong language it will bump it out of that category and they will be looking for the trifecta to get an R rating. "A motion picture’s single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive requires an R rating, as must even one of those words used in a sexual context." hope this helps!

If you're going for comedy than you could also look at other slang for "ass". Like "ba-donka-donk". I remember a time when people used that to refer to butts. In the case of comedy though, using some kind of off-kilter slang would likely be a better way of getting laughs. Another fine example of this is the running gag in the Austin Powers movies about male genitalia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpiP_jN1Pv4

Best thing I can say is make it true to the character. How does that character talk? The terms they use would have to be in line with their voice.

The term is called a euphemism. Takes offensive words or phrases and dulls them down.

behold a rear porch worthy of a sculptor

Thanks everyone! Made a lot of sense in making the language true to the character and given that, I went with ass. Knew I could get answers from you guys! Thanks again!