Comments on: /Film Featured in the New York Times http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/ Blogging the Reel World Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:13:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ferus1920 http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-49463 Ferus1920 Sat, 16 Jun 2007 23:30:09 +0000 http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-49463 It would be nice if a theater chain would agree to ignore the MPAA. It would be nice if a theater chain would agree to ignore the MPAA.

]]> By: thesimulacra http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-49409 thesimulacra Sat, 16 Jun 2007 20:32:02 +0000 http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-49409 There're a few answers to your questions: one is that though some of the major studios are there, the non-majors are not. This means these studio heads are able to have a significant effect on the success of films that are their competitors. For instance there's a great example in the aforementioned documentary where they talk to Matt Stone (from South Park, Team America, etc) and he explains how when they did the movie Orgazmo, which they produced independently, they were given an NC-17 rating and asked the MPAA what they could do to change the rating down to an R. They were told repeatedly that it was "MPAA Policy" not to discuss any specific reasons why films received their ratings. Then he explains how when they went to make the South Park movie (with Viacom behind them), they had the same thing happen and when they asked for specifics they were literally given a list of the specific things they needed to change to get an R rating. Also in the film they show a fantastic split-screen montage of indie film sex scenes versus studio film sex scenes, where identical shots and scenes in independent films were given NC-17 ratings but the studio films consistently got R's. Trust me, if you watch the documentary they're much better at explaining the details of this than I am. There’re a few answers to your questions: one is that though some of the major studios are there, the non-majors are not. This means these studio heads are able to have a significant effect on the success of films that are their competitors. For instance there’s a great example in the aforementioned documentary where they talk to Matt Stone (from South Park, Team America, etc) and he explains how when they did the movie Orgazmo, which they produced independently, they were given an NC-17 rating and asked the MPAA what they could do to change the rating down to an R. They were told repeatedly that it was “MPAA Policy” not to discuss any specific reasons why films received their ratings. Then he explains how when they went to make the South Park movie (with Viacom behind them), they had the same thing happen and when they asked for specifics they were literally given a list of the specific things they needed to change to get an R rating.

Also in the film they show a fantastic split-screen montage of indie film sex scenes versus studio film sex scenes, where identical shots and scenes in independent films were given NC-17 ratings but the studio films consistently got R’s.

Trust me, if you watch the documentary they’re much better at explaining the details of this than I am.

]]> By: Ferus1920 http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-49386 Ferus1920 Sat, 16 Jun 2007 19:30:01 +0000 http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-49386 But that doesn't make much sense. I have heard countless stories where films are given NC-17, and are forced to cut out, 2 or 3 seconds here, one word there, in order to make it R, or drop from R to Pg-13. If the studios controlled it why wouldn't they just go ahead and drop it down without cutting it. Is there really a big difference between 3 or 5 seconds of on screen blood. Or saying shit 7 times instead of 6? But that doesn’t make much sense. I have heard countless stories where films are given NC-17, and are forced to cut out, 2 or 3 seconds here, one word there, in order to make it R, or drop from R to Pg-13. If the studios controlled it why wouldn’t they just go ahead and drop it down without cutting it. Is there really a big difference between 3 or 5 seconds of on screen blood. Or saying shit 7 times instead of 6?

]]> By: TheSimulacra http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-49356 TheSimulacra Sat, 16 Jun 2007 17:58:31 +0000 http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-49356 That's the only thing they'll release publicly. But the truth is the people who make the decisions at the MPAA are all movie industry executives... people who are in charge of the huge movie theater chains, sony pictures is there, warner brothers... it's all owned by the industry. They decide what the ratings are. And considering a movie's rating has been proven to have a seriously strong effect on its success in the market, that allows them to wield a LOT of clout over the film industry. Honestly it borders on antitrust violations in my opinion. That’s the only thing they’ll release publicly. But the truth is the people who make the decisions at the MPAA are all movie industry executives… people who are in charge of the huge movie theater chains, sony pictures is there, warner brothers… it’s all owned by the industry. They decide what the ratings are. And considering a movie’s rating has been proven to have a seriously strong effect on its success in the market, that allows them to wield a LOT of clout over the film industry. Honestly it borders on antitrust violations in my opinion.

]]> By: Ferus1920 http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-49206 Ferus1920 Sat, 16 Jun 2007 09:27:19 +0000 http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-49206 All my friend could find out is that one of their requirements was that you had to have children. He couldn't find anything else. I am going to have to get a copy of that doc to watch. All my friend could find out is that one of their requirements was that you had to have children. He couldn’t find anything else. I am going to have to get a copy of that doc to watch.

]]> By: TheSimulacra http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-48569 TheSimulacra Thu, 14 Jun 2007 21:32:28 +0000 http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-48569 There's a fantastic documentary called "This Film is Not Yet Rated" which incensed readers here would do well to get and watch (you can get it from Netflix or any other online rental/purchase site). They show you how much effort (they have to hire actual Private Investigators) and time it takes to find out absolutely anything about who is actually making the decisions at the MPAA, and when you see who it is, you'll be ready to march down to Hollywood and start a riot. When Jack Valenti died, I didn't shed a single tear. There’s a fantastic documentary called “This Film is Not Yet Rated” which incensed readers here would do well to get and watch (you can get it from Netflix or any other online rental/purchase site). They show you how much effort (they have to hire actual Private Investigators) and time it takes to find out absolutely anything about who is actually making the decisions at the MPAA, and when you see who it is, you’ll be ready to march down to Hollywood and start a riot. When Jack Valenti died, I didn’t shed a single tear.

]]> By: Ferus1920 http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-48229 Ferus1920 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:48:26 +0000 http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-48229 The MPAA is out of date. I know friends from film school who have tried to write reports about the organization. They found almost nothing. The demographics and requirements for its members, how they decide upon the ratings, and other issues were never answered by the organization. There were times where the MPAA had him on hold for over 2 hours waiting for an answer. When they did finally talk they just sent him to talk to someone else. This organization has way too much control without any accountability. The MPAA is out of date. I know friends from film school who have tried to write reports about the organization. They found almost nothing. The demographics and requirements for its members, how they decide upon the ratings, and other issues were never answered by the organization. There were times where the MPAA had him on hold for over 2 hours waiting for an answer. When they did finally talk they just sent him to talk to someone else. This organization has way too much control without any accountability.

]]> By: Mad About Movies » Blog Archive Red Band Trailers – How To Get Them » Mad About Movies http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-48199 Mad About Movies » Blog Archive Red Band Trailers – How To Get Them » Mad About Movies Wed, 13 Jun 2007 22:45:57 +0000 http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-48199 [...] recently, our friends over at /Film had a little brush up with Sony who asked them to remove a red band trailer for the upcoming comedy [...] [...] recently, our friends over at /Film had a little brush up with Sony who asked them to remove a red band trailer for the upcoming comedy [...]

]]> By: Ray http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-48091 Ray Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:12:28 +0000 http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-48091 I am right there with you. In fact, I wrote up an article of support for you: http://therecshow.com/2007/06/13/slashfilm-fights-the-mpaa/ I am right there with you. In fact, I wrote up an article of support for you:

http://therecshow.com/2007/06/13/slashfilm-fights-the-mpaa/

]]> By: Screen Rant http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-48061 Screen Rant Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:38:34 +0000 http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/06/13/film-in-the-new-york-times/#comment-48061 Red band blah blah blah... Dude, your site was in the New York Times! :-D Awesome. Vic Red band blah blah blah… Dude, your site was in the New York Times! :-D

Awesome.

Vic

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