Article Assignment 2 (unit 26) preparation

Brief: 

Write what the MPAA ARE, who the members are (film studios), specific film examples given ratings from the MPAA. Why the MPAA are important to Hollywood producers. Critically rant about the MPAA using quotes and reasoning why they are a bad thing and people who have negative views on the MPAA. Provide arguments (supported with evidence), about whether regulation is effective.

Notes:

Kimberley Pierce-received a NC-17 rating for her film. Quoting "the studio won't release it" she also said that the sex was labelled really offensive but the shooting and the gore throughout the film wasn't.

Matt Stone- Made the film 'Orgasmo' which was an independent film. No notes were given for the film he was simply given a rating. His quote was "the treatment was a completely different experience"

Kevin Smith quotes "if you choose not to accept the rating you can't market it" 

MPAA Raters

• No experience or training process for the raters. 
• No speaking about the MPAA -no one leaves and talks about it.
• Accused of 'censoring' films -CENSORSHIP
• MPAA have quite a conservative ideology-if things make the raters uncomfortable they don't want anyone else to see it. "Didn't like the tone of the movie"
• Biased to Studios
• Raters in the MPAA are made to sign a confidentiality agreement.
• Raters are unknown.
• Could be seen as homophobic- no lesbian or gay people were on the board, so basically ignoring half of the population. Scenes of homosexual sex/nature get higher ratings. 
• There is a scale of "better" films of a rating however this is not documented, no one has seen it so ultimately the board makes up their own scale.
• MPAA will go out of their way to protect violence in films. 
• "The board is filled with parents with children aged 5-17" LIES. 
• "Raters are only allowed to work for 3-5 years" MORE LIES. 
• Raters never do interviews.

Names of Raters

• Joan- in her 50's, has 2 twins that are 18 years old.
• Joann- 61 years old, her "children" are now 22 and 25 years old.
• Alex
• Danielle
• Kori Jones
• Cheryl
• Anthony "tony"
• Barry
• Arleen- is 44 years old, her 2 children are 15 and 28 years old.
• Matt- is 44, his children are 17 and 28 years old. He has been a rater for 9 YEARS!!!!
• Scott
• Howard- he has NO children!!

Appeal Rules

1. NO COMPARING OF FILMS IN YOUR APPEAL.
2. Don't like to be challenged 
3. There is a quick telling of the votes.
4. Allowed to speak, not speaking your mind and the appeal members have already made up their minds. 

About the Appeal

• All the major cinema chains are linked to the MPAA (like a conspiracy theory)
• MPAA is linked with Religion- haze code
• No list of the people on the appeal, RATERS ARE SECRET THE APPEAL BOARD SHOULD NOT BE. 
• The MPAA choose not to make this board public. 
• All the Appeal Members are men, they are all part of productions.
• Members of the Clerchy are on the Appeal Board, two Priests from the Christian/Catholic religion. 
• Clerchy casts the vote in the Appeal Board but they don't speak. 

Quotes

Quote from James Wall (Clerchy)- 'We do not want to take away Artist Freedom, but we do not want to make it totally free' 

Unknown- 'They [the MPAA] aren't doing a good job of discriminating violence.'

Wayne Kramer- 'you're not showing something that's never been shown before.'

Unknown- 'it's childish, the MPAA are turning us into children'

Unknown- 'Categorised by a bunch of unknown people 

Unknown- 'how much more bothered they are about seeing sex than they are upon seeing violence.'