Motion Picture Association of America

The Motion Picture Association of America is the source of where movie ratings come from. These ratings are given to a movie after its screening based on the opinions of those analyzing it. Today the MPAA rates movies in the following categories: G (general), PG (parental guidance suggested), PG-13 (parental guidance suggested under the age of 13), R (not suitable for children under 17), and NC-17 (children under 17 are not admitted). The ratings given to a movie clearly impact whom the movie will now be marketable to.  As a filmmaker if I submitted a movie that I was hoping to get a PG-13 rating and it comes back being R, I would now have to face the decision of whether or not to cut material out to make that lower rating, or except the R rating. This may be upsetting news to filmmakers as the market they expected to be able to distribute the film to is now cut in half. In many cases the MPAA ratings system can be a friend or enemy of a filmmaker.

A very interesting fact about the MPAA is that it seems to be very secretive, meaning the officials who rate the movies, their identities are not revealed.  This makes me question how accurate and opinionated the ratings that are placed on films actually are.  The MPAA says that they have guidelines that their voting members must fall into but a documentary called “This Film Is Not Yet Rated” uncovered that they don’t seem like the live up to their standards. What I mean here is that ratings members are supposedly required to have children between the ages of 5 and 17, but through some investigating the documentary found out that this is not entirely true. To me this seems extremely unfair and unprofessional.  How is their supposed to be a rating given accurately if you have older folks on your board that obviously aren’t thinking about it as a parent of a youngster.

Although there seems like there is some flaws in the MPAA’s rating system, they do have a program that I think shows a better side of the MPAA. This program is their Red Carpet Ratings Service. This service is a weekly email that parents can sign up for where they receive the ratings of films that have recently been released. This to me seems like a service that is a great idea. Though again the issue of how accurate the ratings they are sending out is something that I will continue to question.

I do feel that some revisions need to be made to better the ratings that the MPAA is giving films. My biggest concern with the association is why they have to be so secretive. I see no reason for them to act in that manner, as there really is nothing to hide. Something that I can see being beneficial to the ratings system is allowing filmmakers to sit in on the screening. By doing this a rating maybe can be understood better so they can make revisions to meet what they are looking for.

Movies that Matter

Looking through TED.com for a speaker who was related to my industry of interest, I came across a speech given by Jeff Skoll titled “Jeff Skoll Makes Movies that Matter.” Being an aspiring film producer, Jeff shared a lot of knowledge that I can incorporate into my own practice.

As a filmmaker one of the things that should take priority is the content you are producing, and why does it even matter. In the case of Jeff Stoll this seems to be his main objective; producing movies that matter and can help make a difference. Jeff shares in his speech that two of the major calamities in the world today are the opportunity and hope gaps that are present amongst us. The opportunity gap is what he considers the evils around us such as poverty, illiteracy, and illness.  The hope gap is based around the idea that an ordinary individual could not make a difference in the world.

A great concept that I plan to use when establishing my business and in all my endeavors I take on is what Jeff calls the philosophy of change. This incorporates three main concepts: invest, connect, and celebrate. If you see good people doing good things, invest in them, or their business or organization. Connect with these people and organizations through places like TED or other events where you gather. And lastly celebrate, tell the stories of these people to inspire others and help close the gaps.

Jeff uses all these tactics described in his production company Participant Productions. Participant Productions is a pro social media company that focuses on producing entertainment that creates social change. Films they have produced include: An Inconvenient Truth, Muderball, Charlie Wilsons War, The Kite Runner, and Good Night and Good Luck. All these productions focus on both political and social issues with a main goal of producing real change.  It no surprise that with their marketing techniques of creating websites related to these films that tens of thousands of people have visited them and joined advocacy groups related to the films.

With companies like Participant Productions focusing on change the hope gap idea that an ordinary individual cannot make a difference in the word can be closed. These films that Jeff produces open the eyes of many to realize that we all really have the opportunity to make change in one-way or another. Jeff closes his speech by sharing with the audience that our vision of the future is peace, prosperity, and sustainability.  With there not being only one way to make change, we all can be apart of closing the opportunity and hope gaps. If this can be done Jeff shares that future news headlines can include the following: “New AIDS cases in Africa fall to zero, U.S. Imports its last barrel of Oil, and Israelis and Palestinians celebrate 10 Years of peaceful coexistence.”

I plan on using all Jeff’s techniques that made his company successful in my own; as well as making sure the movies and content that I produce really matter. The knowledge that he shared will certainly be useful throughout my career. Jeff Skoll’s speech inspired me to be apart of creating change. I now know that I truly have an opportunity to make change in my own way after listening to Jeff’s story, and it is my goal to make it a point in my career to be apart of closing the gaps of opportunity and hope so that vision of a future full of peace, prosperity, and sustainability can be a reality. 


Link to speech by Jeff Skoll:
http://www.ted.com/talks/jeff_skoll_makes_movies_that_make_change.html