| Fighting Indecency and Pornography |
|
In reference to talks given
by Bruce Newbold and JoAnn Hibbert Hamilton, in Women's Conference,
2002, on fighting indecency and pornography, please feel free
to consider any of the following information:
For parents concerned about the content
of a film, and what their children may be seeing in the theatres,
go to:
ScreenIt.com
This web page offers a weekly review
of the newest releases in film production, both on the site
itself, and via email subscriptions. Go there and sign up.
Every Friday a critique of the latest movie releases comes
directly to you. In these conservative and specific critiques,
plot, acting, writing, and other essentials are discussed
briefly. Also, within each article, is listed the reasons
for the rating-including coverage of profanity, nudity, sexuality,
and violence-and what to watch out for.
For parents concerned about the history
of what has been seen via the Internet, and what their children
may have been exposed to, go to:
www.contentwatch.com
This site contains a brief download
that reads the history of your computer files, then reports
back to you every file that contains potentially harmful references
(i.e., where profanity, pornography, or violent content may
be found). At your discretion, you can search out the files,
find out where they came from, and delete them.
(Content disclaimer: Envision
Entertainment does not control the content of or guarantee
the safety of any programs downloaded from other sites. Use
of any downloaded file is done at your own risk.)
Nationally:
To add your concerned voice to thousands,
and potentially millions, of others, visit:
onemillionmoms.com
We also invite you to email us regarding
the questionable content of any program on television. If
offensive scenes appear, and you can stand to remained tuned-in
until the commercials, make note of the companies that sponsor
the program, look up the sponsors' addresses on the Internet,
and email the information to us at Envision
Entertainment. (Be as specific as possible regarding the
offensive material, so that others writing may be able to
reference the same material.)
As examples come in to the site, we will list the programs
and their sponsors, so that all pertinent information is available
to those who wish to write to the sponsors, and express their
concerns about the supporting of offensive material.
Other links:
strengthenthefamily.net
In Your Own Community:
We have found wonderful success in
the simple effort of approaching grocery store managers, and
expressing concerns that magazines with inappropriate covers
and/or articles be placed out of the sight of children. In
every case, so far, managers have been willing to comply,
either covering the questionable magazines, or placing them
in the highest rows, and out of the view of children.
Note: You may know of other web sites, or organizations, dedicated
to this cause. We invite your comments, ideas, and information.
Email us at:
Bruce Newbold - bnewbold@envisionentertain.com
JoAnn Hibbert Hamilton - jhhamilton@envisionentertain.com
Cecelia Benson - cbenson@envisionentertain.com
To Question, or Express Concern For,
the Ratings of Movies
Write to:
Jack Valenti
c/o Motion Picture Association of America
15503 Ventura Blvd.
Encino, CA 91436
The ratings board is a group of twelve
people, from varying political, religious, and social backgrounds.
They are sincerely trying to do a good work in our behalf.
If you choose to write them, it is recommended (by a member
of the ratings board) that we mention our remarks come from
a "concerned parent."
Specific comments could be made regarding the fact that extreme
profanity, and certain cases of "non-sexual" nudity
can now be allowed in a PG-13 film. If enough voices express
a concern for the material found within a PG or PG-13 film,
they will feel the pressure to act more conservatively, and
be more family-friendly.
Also check out the following web sites
for related information on film rating and distribution:
NATO (National Association of Theatre
Owners)
www.natoonline.org
MPAA (Motion Picture Association of
America)
www.mpaa.org
CARA (Classification and Ratings Administration)
www.cara.org
These sites are solely for information.
Though they do offer email addresses, a letter to MPAA (as
listed above) will serve the most good.
FILM
PRODUCTION
The following is a list of motion picture studios, and their
CEOs in charge of film production. Please remember that their
single greatest motivating factor in producing a film is to
make money. If films of a particular nature sell well at the
box office, they will continue to produce them. Our letters,
for or against the production of certain film-types, may have
limited impact on producers, if box office figures show monetary
results to the contrary. Certainly letters expressing gratitude
for uplifing films are genuinely appreciated.
Disney Productions
Richard Cook, CEO
500 S. Buena Vista
Burbank, CA 91521-0001
20th Century Fox
James Gianopulos and Tom Rothman, CEOs
10201 West Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
Universal Pictures
Stacey Snider, CEO
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608-1085
Warner Brothers Pictures
Lorenzo di Bonaventura
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522-0001
Columbia Pictures
Amy Pascal - Chairman
10202 W Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
Dreamworks SKG
David Geffen, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Steven Spielberg
1000 Flower St.
Glendale, CA 91201
MGM Studios
Alex Yemenidjian - Chairman
2500 Broadway
Santa Monica, CA 90404-3061
Paramount Pictures
Sherry Lansing - Chairman
5555 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90038-3197
Sony Pictures
John Calley - Chairman
10202 W Washington
Culver City, CA 90232
If studio heads are aware of the thousands
who desire more family-friendly movies, and oppose the production
of film that promote immorality or violence, they will produce
them. (According to business considerations, one letter is
equivalent to 10,000 people who have the same opinion, but
have chosen to remain silent.)
TELEVISION PROGRAMMING/SPONSORING
Regarding the advertising that sponsors television programs,
and how best to comment upon the content and/or support of
such programming, please visit www.parentstv.org. This is
an excellent vehicle that lists all the programs on television,
their production networks, and their sponsors. It also details
the progress being made to curtail television's sponsoring
support for the graphically violent, profane, and sexual content
being aired. The site includes the listings of companies,
names, addresses, and phone numbers. Please use this commendable
site for gathering information needed to express your concerns.
Again, letters expressing gratitude for family-friendly programming,
are appreciated by producers.
|
