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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Topic: What would you do about a controversial film?
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Randy Stankey
Film God
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Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 02-19-2003 02:37 PM
We are playing the movie, "Secretary" this evening. Yesterday, I built the film and screened it, etc. The boss watched it and thought that it might be to controversial for some of our audience members.
Yeah, yeah, I know what you're going to say... Maybe somebody should have gotten a "screener" and actually watched the film before booking it. I don't book the films. Besides, it's too late for that. The film goes off at 8 PM tonight.
Certain suggestions have been made such as:
- Making an announcement before the film starts to the effect that the content is more "graphic" than we had anticipated. If anybody feels this might be a problem, please come forward and we will issue a rain check/refund.
- There should be an "accident" that causes the film to break just seconds before the offensive material. (Where James Spaeder masturbates.)
Oh! One more bit of information... This is a Catholic College. Although we were founded by The Sisters of Mercy who preach tolerance and acceptance of other points of view, there are some who feel that this film goes too far. (Masturbation is immoral in the eyes of the Catholic Church.) Neither I, nor my boss feel that there is anything in this movie that really "goes too far". After all, there is only one real graphic sex scene and the rest is, for the most part, innuendo and suggestion. We have shown movies with brief nudity in them before... even full frontal... without any criticism.
We have even shown "Lolita". (The 1997 version with Dominique Swain and Jeremy Irons.) Not a word was said about it.
Frankly, I see no problem with this. We have shown much worse movies (in both senses of the term) and have had less controversey. I just think there are one or two people who have a bug up their ass about something.
I'm inclined to just let the film roll and give anybody who complains a rain check or refund if they so choose.
So... What would you do?
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Randy Stankey
Film God
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Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 02-19-2003 03:23 PM
We're going with the first option... Warn people and offer refunds to people who come forward early on. If they watched more than 1/2 the movie before they decide they don't like it they will only get a rain check.
The only reason the second option was mentioned was that when I built the print yesterday, there was some significant film damage in reel #5, the one with the "nasty scene", that caused the projector to shut down. (Had to order replacement reel from T.E.S.) We hypothesized that somebody who had this print had had an "accident" right before the nasty part. Personally, I don't think it's a good idea... for several reasons. Just somebody else mentioned it to me. That's why I said it in my post.
John, Some of the movies that we have shown in the past have had the Bishops' highest rating of "Offensive". (Or is that LOWEST?? ) "Lolita" is one. Few, if any people complained about that one. I, personally, thought that movie sucked! Made me sick to the stomach! On the other hand, I don't fault anybody else's right to watch it.
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Randy Stankey
Film God
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Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 02-19-2003 04:02 PM
No, we're not going to say much about the plot of the movie unless people ask. The statement is going to be to the effect, "This movie has turned out to be more controversial than we had anticipated."
We DO hand out printed synopses and reviews of all our movies to each parton who wants one as they enter the theater. (Right at the ticket taker's podium.) This particular film is listed as, " Rated R -- Restricted for sexuality, language and depiction of abnormal behavior." It's printed right on the sheet.
I have spoken to a couple people this afternoon as they were buying tickets. Nobody that I have talked to seems to think this is going to be a problem.
Yes, I also agree that the website (and the reviews contained therein) is a crock. However, I think that might provide our "Out", in a manner of speaking. Other movies we have shown have had the "O" rating (Lolita) and nobody has complained about them. If people didn't complain about THAT movie, why are they complaining about THIS movie?
I just think there are one or two people who are trying to "stir up a hornet's nest", so to speak.
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Randy Stankey
Film God
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Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 02-21-2003 08:57 AM
There are some movies that have been vetoed even before they got off the ground. There have been 3 or 4 movies that were vetoed. The only one I can think of off the top of my head would be Cyclo, a film from Thailand or some place like that which depiced the life of a street thug who made his living off drugs, prostitution and violence.
There were even a few movies that never even got out of the gate. The list of candidates was submitted and they were simply crossed out even before they were booked.
Here's a funny story:
((Background -- My job here at the college is Technical Director for the Performing Arts Center. We have three stages here and I'm in charge of lights, sound, etc for these venues.))
This weekend, there was a performance of The Vagina Monologues scheduled at one of the other venues on campus. The day after the Secretary played we got a note that V.M. would be postponed indefinately.
<Boring historical background>
Although this is technically a Catholic School, it's pretty liberal. We were founded by the Sisters of Mercy, an order of non-cloistered nuns. They are very much into tolerance and helping the poor, etc. All students who go here must complete a certain number of hours of community service in order to graduate. You don't have to be Catholic to work or study here but there is an implicit promise that you will "behave yourself" (ifyouknowwhatimean) while you are on campus.
Throughout the history of the Sisters of Mercy, they have gotten a lot of "flack" about their "liberal" policies. Catherine McAuley, the founder of the order didn't even really want to be a nun. She ran a "boarding house" for young underprivileged girls but the Catholic Bishop told her that if she wanted to continue running such a place it would have to be a convent.... So she went to a convent, herself, and became a nun. When she returned she turned her house into a convent and founded an order. Thus the reason it's non-cloistered.
</Boring Historical Background>
Like I said before, I think there was one or two people who were stirring things up. Now I think you can guess who they were without me having to go into details. Frankly I don't think this movie was all THAT bad! We have shown ones that I think were a lot worse. (Some were just plain BAD movies!)
Oh, well! It'a all over now. We're none-the-worse for the wear! We'll just lay low for now. Next week's movie is Bowling for Columbine!
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Don Bruechert
Mmmmmmmmm, bird!
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Posts: 340
From: Manitowoc, WI, USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 02-21-2003 09:06 AM
I guess, to put it bluntly, they're all big boys and girls and they can decide for themselves what they want to watch. One would assume they have seen a trailer for the movie - if not, and they come out in a reasonable period of time, we will let them see something else. If they ask our opinion at the box office we will tell them how others have reacted to it, or what WE think if we've seen it.
We had considered putting out a notice for Gangs of New York that it was very violent, but we decided to just let the chips fall where they may - although we did challenge parents with children that the movie was very violent and they may wish to consider not bringing their kids. No one complained about the movie at all that I am aware of.
Because we only have 6 screens we don't get to show everything, and we have a pretty good feel for what will or won't sell in our town, so unless we get forced into it by the distributor we can easily pass on some of the "less popular" titles, and then bring them in later on if there seems to be demand for them.
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