Eric SamulskiWho censored that
July 8th 2007 23:44
Censored
People are always stopping me in the street and asking what I think about censorship. Perhaps there’s this perception that because of the type of films Duke and I make I’d be against it. I’m not. I’m against banning films, but I’m all for a ratings system.
Film is the most powerful medium I can think of; now with awesome sound all you need is to add smell - they’re working on that. You only have to look at film in propaganda campaigns to see its effectiveness. When was the last time someone had an abortion or got divorced in a Disney film?
And on the subject of Americans – the US film industry gives us the greatest irony in censorship. On one hand you have the mainstream mums and dads flickerfest that’s so afraid of sex and nudity. It’s what we now concider the normal English-speaking film concept – show no flesh. And it filters into the way we make films.
Even the latest version of the Aussie Holden Sandman show car complete with sexy murals had to be toned down before it was shipped to the States.
I’m going to be sick.
Then you have the US porn industry that churns out hard-core like a desalination plant saving a dried-up city from drought. No rules, sick as you can get. There’s even flag waving tributes to 9/11 victims before the adult-fun starts. Totally scary. The way the two run together in the same place spins me out.
It’s the hysteria that surrounds porn that causes the problem. Many people are scared of it. But it’s about the punters that watch it rather than IT. I’ve met some scary people who are into porn but a lot more normal ones. I’m no more scared of porn than I am of citizens who live in caravans.
At least with a ratings system you can find a balance between the moral book-bashing and the give ‘em what they want eye-wank. The film-maker decides where they want their film to sit and there’s a system to filter who gets to see what. There are rules about what’s acceptable and that includes porn.
Everyone’s a winner.
I’m comfortable with who watches what as per our ratings system.
Until next time and happy film-making.
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