Jeremy Ordan
Major Contributor
Someone sent me this article... I searched and it wasn't posted yet:
NEW YORK, NY, December 7, 2005 - IFC, the first and largest network
dedicated to independent film, announced today that the IFC Original
Documentary, "This Film Is Not Yet Rated," from Academy
Award-nominated director Kirby Dick and producer Eddie Schmidt, will
premiere at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and air on IFC in Fall
2006. The documentary, a breakthrough investigation into the MPAA film
ratings system and its profound effect on American culture, is
executive produced by IFC's Alison Palmer Bourke and Evan Shapiro.
On November 30, the ratings board, an anonymous group whose mandate is
to classify films for the MPAA from the perspective of "the average
American parent," screened this documentary and gave it an NC-17
rating for "some graphic sexual content." An NC-17 rating generally
limits a film's avenues of exhibition: many theater chains will not
show it, media outlets will not run its advertisements and video store
chains will not stock it.
IFC, however, will present the film uncensored and uninterrupted on
their station. Alison Palmer Bourke, IFC's VP of Documentaries and
Features states: "Kirby's film is a natural for IFC. Our 'tv, uncut.'
mandate is to give filmmakers a platform for free expression, and we
let our viewers decide for themselves what is appropriate and of
interest to them."
Kirby Dick agrees, "It is important that this film be seen by as many
people as possible, as it deals with an insidious form of censorship
resulting from a ratings process that has been kept secret for more
than 30 years."
The documentary asks whether Hollywood movies and independent films
are rated equally for comparable content; whether sexual content in
gay-themed movies is given harsher ratings penalties than their
heterosexual counterparts; whether it makes sense that extreme
violence is given an R rating while sexuality is banished to the
cutting room floor; whether Hollywood studios receive detailed
directions as to how to change an NC-17 film into an R, while
independent film producers are left guessing; and finally, whether
keeping the raters and the rating process secret leaves the MPAA
entirely unaccountable for its decisions.
The MPAA has established itself as the lobbying arm of the American
motion picture, home video and television industries in the US since
its inception in 1922. On its board of directors are the Chairmen and
Presidents of the seven major producers and distributors of motion
picture and television programs in the United States - Sony, WB,
Paramount, MGM, Fox, Disney and Universal. When Jack Valenti became
president of the MPAA in 1966, he created a rating system to replace
the old Hays code, first adopted in 1930. Valenti's voluntary rating
system, modified only slightly over the years, has become an icon in
American culture, with its letter ratings of G, PG, PG-13, R, and
NC-17 (formerly X) used to classify films according to age-based
appropriateness.
Until today's announcement, the subject matter of "This Film Is Not
Yet Rated" was kept under wraps by the filmmakers during more than a
year of research into the MPAA's rating practices. Director Kirby Dick
("Twist of Faith," "Derrida") interviews filmmakers, critics,
attorneys, authors and educators. Ultimately, Dick tries to uncover
Hollywood's best kept secret -- the identities of the ratings board
members themselves.
Filmmakers who speak candidly in "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" about
the MPAA include John Waters ("A Dirty Shame"), Kevin Smith
("Clerks"), Matt Stone ("South Park"), Kimberly Peirce ("Boys Don't
Cry"), Atom Egoyan ("Where the Truth Lies"), Darren Aronofsky
("Requiem for a Dream"), Mary Harron ("American Psycho"), actress
Maria Bello ("The Cooler") and distributor Bingham Ray (co-founder,
October Films and former President, United Artists).
When Jack Valenti stepped down in September 2004, Dan Glickman
succeeded him as president and CEO. However, Valenti continued to
supervise the ratings process until September 2005, when the MPAA
announced that it would be splitting its leadership duties between Los
Angeles-based president and COO, Bob Pisano, and Glickman, who has
been appointed the Washington DC-based CEO and chairman and now
oversees the ratings system.
NEW YORK, NY, December 7, 2005 - IFC, the first and largest network
dedicated to independent film, announced today that the IFC Original
Documentary, "This Film Is Not Yet Rated," from Academy
Award-nominated director Kirby Dick and producer Eddie Schmidt, will
premiere at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and air on IFC in Fall
2006. The documentary, a breakthrough investigation into the MPAA film
ratings system and its profound effect on American culture, is
executive produced by IFC's Alison Palmer Bourke and Evan Shapiro.
On November 30, the ratings board, an anonymous group whose mandate is
to classify films for the MPAA from the perspective of "the average
American parent," screened this documentary and gave it an NC-17
rating for "some graphic sexual content." An NC-17 rating generally
limits a film's avenues of exhibition: many theater chains will not
show it, media outlets will not run its advertisements and video store
chains will not stock it.
IFC, however, will present the film uncensored and uninterrupted on
their station. Alison Palmer Bourke, IFC's VP of Documentaries and
Features states: "Kirby's film is a natural for IFC. Our 'tv, uncut.'
mandate is to give filmmakers a platform for free expression, and we
let our viewers decide for themselves what is appropriate and of
interest to them."
Kirby Dick agrees, "It is important that this film be seen by as many
people as possible, as it deals with an insidious form of censorship
resulting from a ratings process that has been kept secret for more
than 30 years."
The documentary asks whether Hollywood movies and independent films
are rated equally for comparable content; whether sexual content in
gay-themed movies is given harsher ratings penalties than their
heterosexual counterparts; whether it makes sense that extreme
violence is given an R rating while sexuality is banished to the
cutting room floor; whether Hollywood studios receive detailed
directions as to how to change an NC-17 film into an R, while
independent film producers are left guessing; and finally, whether
keeping the raters and the rating process secret leaves the MPAA
entirely unaccountable for its decisions.
The MPAA has established itself as the lobbying arm of the American
motion picture, home video and television industries in the US since
its inception in 1922. On its board of directors are the Chairmen and
Presidents of the seven major producers and distributors of motion
picture and television programs in the United States - Sony, WB,
Paramount, MGM, Fox, Disney and Universal. When Jack Valenti became
president of the MPAA in 1966, he created a rating system to replace
the old Hays code, first adopted in 1930. Valenti's voluntary rating
system, modified only slightly over the years, has become an icon in
American culture, with its letter ratings of G, PG, PG-13, R, and
NC-17 (formerly X) used to classify films according to age-based
appropriateness.
Until today's announcement, the subject matter of "This Film Is Not
Yet Rated" was kept under wraps by the filmmakers during more than a
year of research into the MPAA's rating practices. Director Kirby Dick
("Twist of Faith," "Derrida") interviews filmmakers, critics,
attorneys, authors and educators. Ultimately, Dick tries to uncover
Hollywood's best kept secret -- the identities of the ratings board
members themselves.
Filmmakers who speak candidly in "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" about
the MPAA include John Waters ("A Dirty Shame"), Kevin Smith
("Clerks"), Matt Stone ("South Park"), Kimberly Peirce ("Boys Don't
Cry"), Atom Egoyan ("Where the Truth Lies"), Darren Aronofsky
("Requiem for a Dream"), Mary Harron ("American Psycho"), actress
Maria Bello ("The Cooler") and distributor Bingham Ray (co-founder,
October Films and former President, United Artists).
When Jack Valenti stepped down in September 2004, Dan Glickman
succeeded him as president and CEO. However, Valenti continued to
supervise the ratings process until September 2005, when the MPAA
announced that it would be splitting its leadership duties between Los
Angeles-based president and COO, Bob Pisano, and Glickman, who has
been appointed the Washington DC-based CEO and chairman and now
oversees the ratings system.
