We’re In The Movies

The Texas Senate has passed out HB 1634 which would hopefully provide incentives to keep filmakers in Texas, rather than losing them to other states; however, there is one interesting provision in the bill, which was mentioned at Capitol Annex and the San Antonio Express-News:

The office is not required to act on any grant application and may deny an application because of inappropriate content or content that portrays Texas or Texans in a negative fashion, as determined by the office, in a moving image project. In determining whether to act on or deny a grant application, the office shall consider general standards of decency and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the citizens of Texas.

Now, it leaves the determination on content up to the Texas Film Commission. The question then essentially being, “What would the TFC deem to be ‘innappropriate’ content or content which ‘negatively’ portrays Texas?”

I can’t say that I see the need for any real concern that movies such as Grindhouse, Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the remake should have been prohibited for being a POS, but that’s neither here nor there), or even Pirahna would be prohibited from being filmed in the state. I know that many fundies have their way in this state, but I have seen nothing from the Flim Commission which would suggest they would construe this provision in such a way that it would prohibit legitimate films from receiving these grants. I don’t suspect they would allow porno movies to receive them, but ho hum.

There was something about an amendment to add video gaming to the bill, but they have not posted the Journal for today, so I can’t find anything about it at the moment, but as soon as I do, I’ll post it.

Who’s Afraid of the MPAA?

If you have already seen the movie, This Film Is Not Yet Rated, you already know what a bunch of douchebags the MPAA already is (as if we needed a movie to tell us that), and if you haven’t seen it, go out and get it.

However, it seems the MPAA is intent on being nominated for Biggest Douche in the Universe.

“Why?,” you ask.

Because they are now going to consider smoking as a factor in their ratings system:

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) today announced that the rating system is enhancing the amount of information provided to parents on the issue of smoking in films. In the past, illegal teen smoking has been a factor in the rating of films, alongside other parental concerns such as sex, violence and adult language. Now, all smoking will be considered and depictions that glamorize smoking or movies that feature pervasive smoking outside of an historic or other mitigating context may receive a higher rating.

Our idiocy seemingly knows no bounds. They even note at the end of the press release that parents have noticed a decline in smoking scenes and cannot recall a smoking scene which was objectionable. So why is this necessary?

The MPAA’s justification for this is that parents want information. Well guys, your ratings system isn’t worth crap in terms of information. There are plenty of critics and information on movies in this day and age, often at the click of a mouse. If a parent needs information about a movie, then they can look it up.

If you need a list of family friendly critics, I’ll be more than happy to provide it to you, as well as several sites which provide information on movies (just e-mail me), but some people just won’t be sated:

“Movies with smoking should get an automatic R rating,” said Laurie Ambrose, President of the Lung Cancer Alliance.

An ‘R’ rating for the sole act of smoking? These people are out of their absent minds. Not only is this simply idiotic, it doesn’t prevent kids from seeing smoking. We have some marvelous inventions that the people at the LCA might not know about. Did you know that you can download movies through the tubes of the internets? And watch them on your computer? It’s the parents’ responsibility ensure their children do not see objectionable material, not the job of the FCC or the MPAA. Furthermore, kids aren’t dumb. As with most topics, if you honestly discuss these topics with them, they’ll understand.

So, I have one message for the MPAA and people like those at the Lung Cancer Alliance, and any saps who fall for their bull. Kiss it.

There’s some good commentary on this subject at The Philadelphia Inquirer and the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Delicious Irony

Anti-smoking ads banned

That’s right folks. Complaints have been launched against a British anti-smoking campaign, and the ads have been pulled:

An anti-smoking poster campaign from the Department of Health (DoH) that featured images of people with fish hooks in their faces has been banned following a slew of complaints.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) told the DoH not to repeat the campaign after receiving complaints that the images used in the posters were offensive, frightening and distressing – with 152 people complaining the adverts had upset their children.

The watchdog said the addicted smokers looked ‘distressed and in pain’ and although the posters had not been placed near schools they had appeared in places where they could easily be seen by children.

The ASA also found that TV adverts featuring the hooks breached advertising rules by being broadcast when older children could be watching, but ruled against complaints about the adverts on the internet, in magazines and papers.

They got rid of cigarette ads, because they appealed to children, and now their ads are being pulled because they’re harmful to children. Awesome.

Now, if we can only get rid of those ridiculous unTruth ads here in the States.