April Showers vs. MPAA
Note: An R-rating does not mean April Showers will not be released in theaters. It simply ties our hands a bit in being able to get teens involved with the film in the ways that we would like them to be for we feel the film and it’s potential outcomes can be very positive for the one demographic the MPAA is restricting.
Dear April Showers’ Fans, Friends and Family,
Yesterday, I was introduced, via a phone call, to one of Hollywood’s biggest and most influential groups; the MPAA or the Motion Picture Association of America; the person or persons behind the curtains that rate movies. A film rating is not only a tool for audiences to prejudge content but it is a marketing tool for studios and exhibitors alike. More importantly, the MPAA is not impartial nor independent. See below…
The following was taken from Wikipedia:
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) was since 1922, originally the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America(MPPDA) (pre - 1942 and 1946 - 1948), is a non-profit business and trade association based in the United States, which was formed to advance the business interests of movie studios.
The current Chairman and CEO of the MPAA is Dan Glickman . MPAA members include the "big six" major Hollywood studios [1], which are:
- Walt Disney Pictures (The Walt Disney Company);
- Columbia Pictures (Sony Corporation);
- Paramount Pictures (Viacom);
- 20th Century Fox (News Corporation);
- Universal Studios (NBC Universal);
- Warner Bros. (Time Warner).
Jack Valenti was the MPAA’s president from 1966-2004 and basically was and remains somewhat the "face" of the MPAA. He was also in government prior to his tenure at the MPAA, however, one should point out that the MPAA is NOT nor has it ever been a government regulated agency.
This is true, the MPAA is voluntary…technically. Because the MPAA is composed and controlled by studios and theater owners they’ve decided (in roughly all cases) that a film can not be shown theatrically without a rating. And historically, NC-17 films either do not get shown at all or are unable to be marketed to the general public due to their "graphic" content thus, basically, destroying the film’s potential impact and box office.
So who decides what films get what ratings? Truthfully, no one really knows for it’s easier to find out the identity of government spies than it is to find a film rater. The MPAA state a number of criteria a film must meet in order to get a G, PG, PG-13, R or NC-17 rating. They are…
- A G-rated motion picture contains nothing in theme, language, nudity, sex, violence or other matters that, in the view of the Rating Board, would offend parents whose younger children view the motion picture. Some snippets of language may go beyond polite conversation but they are common everyday expressions. No stronger words are present in a G-Rated motion picture. Depictions of violence are minimal. No nudity, sex or drug use are present in the motion picture.
- A PG-rated motion picture should be investigated by parents before they let their younger children attend. The PG Rating indicates, in the view of the Rating Board, that parents may consider some material unsuitable for their children, and parents should make that decision. There may be some profanity and some depictions of violence or brief nudity. But these elements are not deemed so intense as to require that parents be strongly cautioned beyond the suggestion of parental guidance. There is no drug use in a PG-Rated motion picture.
- A PG-13 rating is a sterner warning by the Rating Board to parents to determine whether their children under the age of 13 should view the motion picture, as some material might not be suited for them. A PG-13 motion picture may go beyond the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, adult activities or other elements, but does not reach the restricted R category. The theme of the motion picture by itself will not result in a rating greater than PG-13, although depictions of activities related to a mature theme may result in a restricted rating for the motion picture. Any drug use will initially require at least a PG-13 rating. More than brief nudity will require a PG-13 rating, but such nudity in a PG-13 rated motion picture generally will not be sexually oriented. There may be depictions of violence in a PG-13 movie, but generally not both realistic and extreme or persistent violence. 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 word used in a sexual context. The Rating Board nevertheless may rate such a motion picture PG-13 if, based on a special vote by two-thirds majority, the Raters feel that most American parents would believe that a PG-13 rating is appropriate because of the context of manner in which the words are used or because the use of those words in the motion picture is inconspicuous.
- An R-rated motion picture, in the view of the Rating Board, contains some adult material. An R-rated motion picture may include adult themes, adult activity, hard language, intense or persistent violence, sexually oriented nudity, drug abuse or other elements, so that parents are counseled to take this rating very seriously. Children under 17 are not allowed to attend R-rated motion pictures unaccompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Parents are strongly urged to find out more about R-rated motion pictures in determining their suitability for their children. Generally, it is not appropriate for parents to bring their young children with them to an R-rated motion picture.
So, why do I bother bringing all this up? Because yesterday I was informed that April Showers would be receiving a R rating by the MPAA. I hit the roof, because throughout filming my cast, crew and I were all well aware of the MPAA’s guidelines and rules and were making April Showers in, what we thought, was accordance to a PG-13 rating. After screening the film for a number of Hollywood people as well as professional movie critics and reviewers we were constantly being told PG-13 no problem. So imagine my surprise yesterday when Jenna informed me we received an R.
I asked for the MPAA’s reasons behind the R-rating as was giving four points.
1. An R-rating would encourage parents to view April Showers, a high-impact, moving drama about real life, with their children so they could take a more active role in what their child may or may not being going through in their life or at school.
2. The SWAT team depicted in the film do not appear to help dead or dying students.
3. A main character dies on screen.
4. A main character carries a person who may or may not already be dead.
That was it. When we asked if they felt the violence was gratuitous or if there was harsh language they replied no. It was because the film was deeply moving and depicted real life that the impact of our violence was deemed harsh enough for an R-rating.
To which I must say BS. An R-rating on April Showers is not only unfounded and utter BS, but it potentially curbs our ability to bring the film to our core audience which is high school aged students 15-18 thus also hindering our ability to help schools.
To point one for the R-rating I must say I like the idea of this, but to give a film an R-rating for no other purpose than to "force" parents to watch content with their children is absurd.
To address point two, the SWAT team in the film is real and acts in accordance with their policies and tactics. SWAT teams are not first responders when it comes to treating the wounded they are first responders to the threat of danger to themselves and to others. They call in wounded and even, at times, provide escort or cover to medical personnel to assist the wounded but this is NOT their primary function and/or job. The SWAT team that was present at Columbine brought able bodied students to safety and secured the building, just like they do in April Showers.
Point three, are you kidding. A character dies, in a non gratuitous way on screen. You can name more than a dozen movies where this occurs and the film has gotten a PG-13 or even a PG. Darth Vader (played by Hayden Christensen) has his arms and legs cut off by Obi-Wan’s light saber in the final Star Wars prequel and that was rated PG.
Finally, point four. Allow me to illustrate.
This is the scene in question, specifically the shot, the MPAA has issue with. This garners an R rating.
These three frames come from the Disney film Pearl Harbor which was rated PG-13. The above scene features a character carrying a MAIN CHARACTER who has died (on screen) during a real life event that featured over an hour of persistent violence handled in a realistic way. This scene depicts death, confusion, high drama, violence, strong language (including racial slurs) and a real life story, just like April Showers and it received a PG-13 rating and we got an R.
So what do we do? Well, we’re going to appeal to the Rating Board (who ever they are) to lessen the rating to a PG-13 which is what we feel it deserves and should be rated. We may win our appeal we may not, for the appeal has rules.
1. You must PAY to appeal. By the way, you have to PAY to get a rating. It’s expensive for an independent production trust me.
2. I will be given 15 minutes to make my case.
3. The MPAA will have 15 minutes to rebut my case.
3. I am only allowed to appear with one other person from the film to help make my case.
4. I can not reference any other films, nor past MPAA decisions as a basis for my case. So my Pearl Harbor example above is out the door.
5. a two thirds majority vote must be had in order to reverse a rating.
The MPAA says they speak for the everyday family conscious American yet their raters/officials are not elected by citizens, in fact all the hiring is done and handled by one person and she lives a very nice lifestyle in a posh home paid by her ridiculous salary. The people that rate movies are largely republican (not that their is anything wrong with that), non homosexual, female, middle aged with grown kids (18+) or no children at all. What cross section of America does that truly represent? Well to do, white women with grown or no children at home, and perhaps (though not always) married.
Furthermore, the standards I listed above are arbitrary and not for public scrutiny. Legal counsel doesn’t help in my appeal for it is not legally binding in any way. My appeal is not before my original "accusers." And I can not document my appeal in any way. There is no regulating body nor has their ever been for the MPAA.
This appeal will be happening in the next seven days (so I’m told) so stay tuned…
Andrew
Note: An R-rating does not mean April Showers will not be released in theaters. It simply ties our hands a bit in being able to get teens involved with the film in the ways that we would like them to be for we feel the film and it’s potential outcomes can be very positive for the one demographic the MPAA is restricting.
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April 3rd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I find it interesting that the new movie, Haunting in Conneticut, can be a PG-13 rating, but April Showers is rated R when you have followed their guidelines.
This is extremely baffling to me and makes me quite angry.
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:18 pm
Just another example of all that is slowly degrading our core philosophy of democracy and constitutional rights in America. It’s all about money, power and exploitation. People in higher places make all the decisions without input from those who it will affect. To me this misrepresentation by those in power is part of the underling problem so many people are struggling with in America today. There appears to be an ongoing war between the haves and the haves not. What is the MPAA afraid of if you show examples of other pictures more brutal that have PG-13 ratings. Could it be that it might possibly affect some of the big boys negatively . For this to be a legitimate rating system it should be governed not by the leading studios but by a board of elected individuals chosen by the public. It should also be subject to legal appeal. This is very disheartening and bogus to say the least. It sounds like the underdog Indie artists are getting a little strong arming from the big dogs. You must be a real threat to them. I can say personally that there was absolutely nothing in the film that would make it an R rating. Certainly it portrays a real life tragedy but due to your more than diligent concentration on not making the movie about the gruesome details or showing more graphic scenes I think their judgement is totally absurd. For goodness sake the daily news or crime shows on TV are many times worse than what your film shows. Well Andrew I am sorry to hear this but in a way it doesn’t surprise me. History has shown that those who are not afraid to live in non-conventional ways are always subjected to ridicule and control by those in power. But then that’s what is also great about our country in that we can still, at least at this point, put our 2 cents worth in and even occasionally get recognized for having done something worthwhile. Those that have followed you through this know the real truth. That cannot be denied. So in my mind you have already accomplished a great amount and I’m sure it can only get better. If nothing else maybe it will force some parents to get out there and spend some quality time with their children. Good luck on your appeal!
Dan
April 5th, 2009 at 12:15 am
andrew i must speak up, as my last name is also mcclure, and so is everyone else on this post so far.
your message, motivation, and technique are all great.
The man (MPAA) is VERY VERY afraid of you and what you represent to their established business plan.
I applaud your efforts and wish you the best. Let me know if I can personally help, lobby or make a phone call/email to get your film shown and help others show their films to everyone who wants to see it!
Rhett McClure (Nebraska Independent Film Projects) Nifp.org
April 7th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
[...] are the reasons, according to Robinson, his film earned an R [...]
April 10th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
OK. I think the MPAA just wants to prevent teens from seeing it. That is just plain pointless. Plenty of teens go see R-rated films overyday, so I’m hoping it wont stop a lot of people. I find it pathetic that they give April Showers an “R” rating.