Filmmaking is one of the most creative industries in the entertainment industry. It is regulated by federal laws. Filmmakers are given greater liberty as a result of the amendment of the rules, allowing them to express their artistic concepts more freely.
Certain federal laws are stricter if we think about censorship. The music and theatre industries, on the other hand, do not have as many restrictions. Filmmakers and moviegoers’ rights and representation are safeguarded by state and local censorship laws that have been passed in several major cities throughout the United States.
The Motion Picture Association of America is responsible for the promotion, regulation, and development of film industry laws. In the past, films were only permitted to be shown in theatres if they received a certificate from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).
The MPAA was formed in 1922 and had the authority to censor films up until 1968. In 1922, the MPAA rated movies on a scale from A to D. This “A” rating would be given to movies that were deemed as “morally acceptable.” The “D” rating was given to movies that were thought to be morally unacceptable.
In 1968, the MPAA stopped assigning ratings to movies and instead began using descriptors such as “G” for general audiences, “PG” for parental guidance, “R” for restricted, and “X” for adults only. The MPAA stopped using the X rating in 1990 and began using the NC-17 rating instead. The NC-17 rating is given to movies that are too graphic or explicit for audiences under the age of 17.
In order to get a movie rated by the MPAA, the filmmakers could submit their film to the MPAA for review. The MPAA has the authority to cut or edit scenes from a movie in order to receive a rating.
If you want to learn about filmmaking rules, a Los Angeles Intellectual Property lawyer can assist you.
What is Censorship?
Censorship is still very relevant in the present day. It has not gone away and is still practised in different ways. The MPAA’s film ratings system is one way that films are censored. This system rates films according to their content and assigns them a particular rating. G, PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17 are the five ratings that are used.
The MPAA has been criticized for its film rating system. Some people believe that the system is biased and that it does not accurately reflect the content of a particular film. Others believe that the system is too restrictive and that it prevents people from seeing certain films that they might enjoy.
What Is the Hays Code?
The Hays Code was one of two critical regulations passed after the film industry had been subjected to censorship. This was stated to be one of the rules that had a significant influence on the film industry. From 1930 until 1968 the Hays Code regulated how films were censored. The code also outlined how films would be controlled and produced.
The film producer was required to adhere to certain restrictions. Profanity, suggestiveness in nudity, graphic or realistic violence, sexual persuasions, and rape were all prohibited by the code. The obscenity would be measured according to the following criteria:
- What will be the theme of the film and will it be appealing?
- The film must not be offensive to anyone according to the standards maintained by the contemporary community
- The film must be created without creating any serious value for literary, political, artistic, and scientific value.
A number of limitations must be placed. The First Amendment protections of filmmakers were utilized to legitimize these limitations.
What is the Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act?
This act, passed in the year 1988, defined the federal laws of the film industry. It increased the penalties for filmmakers who distributed obscene materials to children. The act also criminalized the distribution and possession of child pornography. As per this act, filmmakers had to keep records of what producers were creating regarding actual and sexually governed material in films.
This was crucial because it allowed for a secure film process. This legislation not only protected the filmmakers’ rights, but also gave federal investigators power. They could now investigate and prosecute anybody who violated the law.
If you have any questions about the federal laws governing the film industry, you may contact The Hollywood Lawyer. If you find yourself in a circumstance where you need legal assistance, The Hollywood Lawyer’s attorneys can help you.
