[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 138 (Saturday, October 28, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      MOVIE MAKERS RESPOND WEAKLY

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                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 26, 2000

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member encourages his colleagues to 
read the following editorial, from the October 9, 2000, edition of the 
Norfolk Daily News. This editorial highlights the insufficient answers 
from the film industry about targeting younger audiences with 
inappropriate film content.

                 [From the Daily News, October 9, 2000]

                      Movie Makers Respond Weakly


   Congressional concern produces less than satisfactory answers by 
                                industry

       The movie industry's responses to congressional concern 
     about targeting younger audiences with inappropriate film 
     fare is unsatisfactory. The practice of using young test 
     audiences is reprehensible.
       While Jack Valenti, the veteran political operative who 
     speaks for the Motion Picture Association of America, 
     promised the industry would change the objectionable 
     practice, it is not enough. Ratings ought to change and 
     entertainment ought to be lifted from the gutter.
       Mr. Valenti did say that ``inappropriate'' targeting of 
     children for R-rated movies would stop. That practice has 
     found some filmmakers attempting to appeal to youngsters 
     whose age would disqualify them from viewing.
       The Internet figures in this problem as well. For the 
     industry's teen Web sites can be utilized, and there were no 
     promises that marketing of R-rated films would be entirely 
     barred from them.
       The president of Sony, parent company of Columbia Pictures, 
     termed the marketing of a violent PG-13 film to a younger 
     audience ``a judgment lapse.'' It would more properly be 
     called a stupid error demanding far more prompt attention 
     than it received. That company is far from alone, however.
       Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, expressed the sentiment 
     of many Americans when she responded to the recent testimony 
     from film executives: If the industry doesn't take steps to 
     keep violent films away from young children, she said, 
     ``you're going to see some kind of legislation.'' There are 
     others who feel just as strongly about the portrayals of 
     casual sex and use of obscene language as they do about 
     gratuitous violence.
       The legislative powers seem limited, however, even though 
     the Supreme Court has indicated ``community standards'' can 
     be allowed to prevail in the contests between pornography and 
     free expression, especially where young people are concerned.
       In this situation, with movie complexes overbuilt and 
     family movie nights rare, a rational reaction would find the 
     industry doing all it could to tell interesting stories with 
     at least a little less violence and graphic sex. It was 
     possible in the earlier days of television and films.
       The industry ought to find a way to reverse the trend 
     toward coarseness and crudity. It could start by raising its 
     standards, revising its inaccurate and unreliable ratings, 
     and leaving more to the viewers' imaginations.

     

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