Keeping Society Civilised?…David Cooke speaks of the cuts to The Hunger Games

Read more Latest UK Cuts at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from huffingtonpost.co.uk by David Cooke

Before the film’s formal UK classification, Lionsgate, the UK distributor of The Hunger Games, approached the BBFC for classification advice. Lionsgate made clear that they were looking for a 12A classification which would enable many children who had read and enjoyed the book to see the film. However, it was clear that the film shown to us at this early stage went some way beyond the BBFC’s Guidelines at 12A. The level of detail of some of the violence and gore, such as the tending of bloody wounds, required the 15 category. We also considered at this early stage whether the theme and overall tone of the film were appropriate for 12-year-olds. Although the concept of children and young people being forced to fight and kill one another is potentially disturbing, we concluded that the futuristic and fantastical nature of the setting distanced the sense of threat from reality. The film is also alive to ethical questions and we believed young teenagers were likely to understand that the film, like the novel, is a critique of violence and of media manipulation. Indeed, it vividly invites its viewers to use and develop their media literacy skills. The story has some similarities to The Lord of the Flies, which is taught in schools to the same age group. If anything, the latter takes a bleaker view of human nature. Having concluded that the issues of theme and tone were appropriate for 12-year-olds, we suggested how the distributor might be able to secure the desired 12A classification by reducing the level of violence, blood and gore. Lionsgate returned with another version of the film for advice, which took account of some of our suggestions. However it was still some way off the 12A criteria. Scenes with emphasis on injuries and blood remained, going against what the public, through our research and consultations, have told us is acceptable at this relatively junior category. We again offered advice as to what Lionsgate should remove for the film to be contained at the 12A category. When the film was finally submitted for formal classification we required a further seven seconds of cuts to the most violent and bloody sequence, which takes place as the game begins, as well as the digital removal of some bloody effects. In all, Lionsgate removed around 20 seconds of the most violent, threatening and gory content and digitally removed other bloody effects. This was their choice. The BBFC did not require Lionsgate to make any cuts at all. We offered a 15 classification without cuts. …Read the full article

Killer Nun…Video nasty released on US region free Blu-ray

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See trailer from youtube.com

Killer Nun is a 1978 Italian horror by Giulio Berruti. With Anita Ekberg, Paola Morra and Alida Valli. See IMDb. US: The US release is uncut and MPAA Unrated for: US 2012 Blue Underground R0 Blu-ray via UK Amazon and at US Amazon just released on 24th April 2012 Previous Uncut Releases UK: Passed 18 uncut with cuts waived for: UK 2011 Shameless Slasher Nasties Triple Bill R2 DVD at UK Amazon UK 2006 Argent/Shameless R2 DVD at UK Amazon The BBFC commented in their 2006 Annual Report: Killer Nun had required cuts to remove some scenes of sadistic torture on video in 1993, but these now appeared dated and lacked the power to shock or harm and so it was passed without cuts. US: The US release is uncut and MPAA Unrated for: US 2004 Blue Underground R1 DVD at US Amazon Summary Review: Well worth checking out Anyone familiar with nunsploitation will recognise this as a stand out film. There are some very atmospheric set pieces in the film Anita Ekberg’s flashbacks and the giallo inspired murder of the old woman. The dubbing detracts from the power of the film by having cheesy actors do the overdubs. Some of the editing is a bit sloppy but Italian exploitation fans are well used to this. The gorgeous Paola Morra is worth the price of the film alone. Well worth checking out. Previously cut by the BBFC UK: Passed 18 after 13s of BBFC cuts for: UK 1993 Redemption VHS The BBFC required the following cuts: A scene was cut showing the torture of an old woman, including a close up of a needle piercing an eye and a scalpel cutting into her bandaged flesh. Previously a Video Nasty UK: Released uncut for: 1981 Techno Film VHS Released on  pre-cert video by Techno Film in April 1981. It was listed as a video nasty in August 1984 but was dropped by July 1985

Torchwood: Miracle Day…BBC Trust dismisses appeal in support of whinge about gay sex scene in Torchwood

Read more BBC and BBC Trust Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

Thanks to Nick See article [pdf] from bbc.co.uk

Torchwood – Miracle Day, BBC One, 25 August 2011 A complainant said that a sex scene in episode seven of the BBC One drama series Torchwood was inappropriate for its target audience (which the complainant considered to be children under 16 years of age). The complainant said that, although the programme was shown after the watershed, it would attract 13-15 year olds who watch Doctor Who. The complainant also complained about the existence of a link between the Doctor Who and Torchwood websites. The Committee concluded: that the sexual content was appropriately handled taking into account the lead-up to the scene and that the development of the scene gave no doubt as to the ultimate outcome. that the scene itself was not prurient or exploitative and was not sexually explicit. that most viewers are aware of the 9pm watershed and, given the nature of the drama and its scheduling, the scene did not exceed audience expectations. that, given the ultimate outcome of the scene was clear for some time, carers and parents were able to decide to switch off if they wished. that, while specific content advice regarding the sex scene would have been useful, the development of the scene and the established context of the programme meant that viewers would have had sufficient information to decide whether they wished to view the programme. that, taking into account the information provided online about any challenging content, and the scheduling of the series, the Committee did not consider that a link between the Doctor Who and Torchwood websites was of sufficient concern in encouraging children to watch this post-watershed drama. The complaint was not upheld

Blurring and Bleeping…Not enough to save Girls of Playboy Mansion from Ofcom censure for daytime viewing

Read more Ofcom Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article [pdf] from stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk

Girls of the Playboy Mansion E! Entertainment, 27 December 2011, 10:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 21:00 Girls of the Playboy Mansion is a reality television series, filmed in the USA home of Hugh Hefner, the American magazine publisher and founder of the adult entertainment company Playboy Enterprises. It features the day to day activities of a group of women who live with Hugh Hefner in his house, known as the Playboy Mansion. The series was broadcast on the cable and satellite television channel E! Entertainment. During routine monitoring, Ofcom noted various episodes (each of about thirty minutes duration) of the Girls of the Playboy Mansion broadcast consecutively throughout the day and evening on E! Entertainment on 27 December 2011. The programmes featured: at 10:54 a male stripper wearing a pouch thong (his buttocks were blurred and genitals covered) thrusting his buttocks into the face of the mother of one of Hugh Hefner?s girlfriends during a lingerie party at the Playboy Mansion with the accompanying comment: she needed a good ass in her face (this scene and comment were also broadcast as part of a preview at the start of the episode); a number of sequences showing women and female glamour models, posing and being photographed during casting sessions for the 55th anniversary Playmate cover (with naked breasts, genitals and buttocks blurred) in consecutive episodes broadcast between 16:00 and 21:00; and numerous examples of bleeped and masked offensive and most offensive language. Ofcom considered Rule 1.3 of the Code, which states: Children must be protected by appropriate scheduling from material that is unsuitable for them. NBC Universal on behalf of the Licensee apologised for the inappropriate scheduling of this material. It explained that as soon as the Licensee was alerted to Ofcom’s concerns about the content, E Entertainment placed a post-22:00 scheduling restriction on the entire series of Girls of the Playboy Mansion until it was fully re-complied and re-edited where necessary. Ofcom Decision: Breach of Rule 1.3 In Ofcom’s opinion these episodes of Girls in the Playboy Mansion were clearly unsuitable for children. They included prolonged sequences of nudity (albeit with breasts, buttocks and genitals blurred), particularly during the consecutive episodes showing the search for the 55th Playboy glamour model. These sequences featured numerous scenes of the models being filmed as they posed and were photographed during casting sessions for Playboy magazine. In addition, there was a sequence of the lingerie party at the Playboy Mansion which featured numerous scantily clad Playboy glamour models posing for the cameras; and shots of a male stripper wearing a thong thrusting his buttocks in the face of the mother of one of Mr Hefner?s girlfriends, with a commentary: she needed a good ass in her face. The episodes also featured repeated bleeped and masked offensive language throughout, which (taken together with the scenes of nudity) demonstrated in Ofcom’s opinion that these programmes contained themes of an adult nature and were aimed at an adult audience. Ofcom noted that various episodes were broadcast consecutively at various times during the day on a Bank Holiday during the Christmas period when it was likely that children, some unaccompanied by an adult, might have been watching. Also no announcement whatsoever was made before the start of, or between, any of the programmes to warn viewers in advance about their content. In Ofcom’s view this material was clearly not scheduled appropriately. These broadcasts were therefore in breach of Rule 1.3. Ofcom recently found that on two separate occasions in September 2011 the Licensee broadcast programmes that breached Section One of the Code3 . In the second of the two recorded breaches in Bulletin 195, Ofcom stated that it had put E Entertainment on notice that it is particularly concerned about the Licensee’s compliance procedures and will proceed to consider further regulatory action should any similar incidents occur. Ofcom therefore puts the Licensee on notice that we will consider this breach for the imposition of a statutory sanction.

Fucking Morality Censors…ASA whinges at student event flyer on grounds that casual sex is ‘potentially unsafe’

Read more ASA Watch at MelonFarmers.co.uk

See article from asa.org.uk

A leaflet, distributed around Aberdeen University campus on behalf of The Pearl Lounge, stated VALENTINES FU*K FEST THURSDAY 16TH FEBRUARY GO HOME WITH A STRANGER! 70P BROKE BOMBS GET YOUR NUMBER AT THE DOOR LEAVE YOUR MESSAGES SEE MORE FU*KING THAN DAVID ATTENBOROUGH COULD HANDLE!. Issue Aberdeen City Council and a member of the public challenged whether the leaflet was: offensive, because it featured sexually explicit material; and irresponsible, because the text GO HOME WITH A STRANGER encouraged potentially unsafe practices. The Pearl Lounge said they did not support the message communicated in the leaflet. They also said it was not the promoter’s intention to cause harm or offence but to create a tongue in cheek promotion aimed at students. They said the event was cancelled and all promotional material had been withdrawn. They also said they had since worked closely with Aberdeen City Council and student bodies to ensure similar risky promotions did not run again and that all future material for external events was proof read by the venue. ASA Assessment: Complaints upheld 1. Upheld The ASA welcomed the advertiser’s assurance that similar promotional material would not be distributed in future. We noted the ad stated VALENTINES FU*K FEST… SEE MORE FU*KING THAN DAVID ATTENBOROUGH … and considered that, because it was clear from the use of asterisks in the words FU*K and FU*KING that they represented swear words, the ad was likely to cause serious or widespread offence to some readers. On this point the ad breached CAP Code rule 4.1 (Harm and offence) 2. Upheld We considered that the text GO HOME WITH A STRANGER, in conjunction with the text VALENTINES FU*K FEST and SEE MORE FU*KING THAN DAVID ATTENBOROUGH … was likely to been seen as encouraging readers to go home with a stranger to have sex. We considered that, because this was a potentially unsafe practice, the ad was socially irresponsible. We therefore concluded that it breached the Code. On this point the ad breached CAP Code rules 1.3 (Social responsibility) and 4.5 (Harm and offence).