LA honours Jack Valenti
p2p news / p2pnet: "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 observation refers This Film is Not Yet Rated, a documentary investigation into the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) film ratings system and its "profound effect on American culture," says the IFC (Independent Film Channel). The quote is from its director, Kirby Dick.
The system was invented by ex-MPAA boss Jack Valenti who, although he’s officially retired, keeps his hand in through his hand-picked successor, Dan ‘Jedi’ Glickman.
On Friday, Valenti was awarded a key to the city of Los Angeles.
"No matter what you see, Hollywood and the movie industry will always be there," Valenti is quoted as saying in the LA Daily News. "No matter what technology emerges, it is still going to need a product that people want to see."
The story has LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa saying, "We don’t give out a key to the city often, and Jack Valenti was the first person who came to mind," Villaraigosa said.
"He has left an indelible imprint on American society."
Might ’stain’ be a better word?
This Film is Not Yet Rated is slated for the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and will be aired on the IFC network in Fall 2006.
Also read:-
kept secret – MPAA movie censorship, December 9, 2005
LA Daily News - Industry solid, says former MPAA head, December 17, 2005
December 19th, 2005 at 6:23 pm
Not Rated is a funny way to say it. Today you go into a rental or browse the shelves of a store, not rated is only a way to say to the kids, “It’s still got the good stuff in it”. Not rating the movie or reissuing it without a rating is just another way to say, this one’s an R but if we don’t put it on the box, then no one is going to kick it out of the store for carrying a rating we don’t allow.
Nothing more than playing with loopholes to keep the same old crap out there and milk the customer once again. Absolutely want to see that new movie that just hit the rental shelves, go ahead rent it. Shortly after the splash is over, here comes the not rated version. Want to see what you missed? Rent it again in this version. So your paying twice to see the same thing with a few minutes here and there that wasn’t in the rated verision. This is Hollydud playing with the loopholes and figures and nothing more.
*Hint* After it comes out, that one you gotta see, just wait, there’ll be another along shortly and you can save your money and only spend once.
Do understand, I’m not a prude, I’ve nothing against the X rated, other than there are a few subjects that shouldn’t be done, such as children. However, call a spade a spade and quit fooling around with loopholes. Ratings only work when they are used. Still this is nothing more than a scam to milk the customer of a few more bucks for the same one. Its the format wars version of music.
December 20th, 2005 at 3:45 am
Didn’t that movie get an NC-17 rating recently? Apparently there’s a bit of a stir about it, as it doesn’t appear to deserve the rating. But coincidentally enough, hardly anyone ever sells movies with NC-17 ratings. Just the cartels keeping “dangerous ideas” out of the publics hands perhaps?