Economic Censorship Takes Its Toll…New Zealand chief censor wonders whether censorship fees are stifling the distribution of niche market films

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See article [pdf] from censorship.govt.nz

New Zealand’s chief censor says that number of DVDs and games being released in New Zealand has significantly declined. He is wondering if censorship fees are making it unprofitable for small market distribution. In a document entitled Statement of intent for the Office of Film and Literature Classification, he says: The market has become increasingly price sensitive, with a greater demand for the Office to exercise its limited discretionary power in applying the fees regulations. These powers are set in regulation, which establish what and how criteria are to be applied when considering waiving fees. As the profit margin for product diminishes, the risk increases that distributors will no longer import material for the New Zealand marketplace, potentially creating a situation of economic censorship. This suggests a fee structure more sensitive to the commercial value of publications submitted for classification would impact positively on submission volumes and voluntary compliance. The current fee structure is unfair, inequitable and inconsistent with the state sector fee setting principles established by the Auditor- General and State Services Commission. Again this suggests that a fair, equitable and principled fee structure may positively impact on submission volumes. But the censor is not solely concerned with New Zealanders missing out on films, he has other concerns too: Staff numbers have been reduced in response to falling submission levels, and to process improvements introduced by the CDA. As a result of reduced staff numbers, the Office no longer needs the floor space currently leased. Priority work is therefore required to determine what drives the volume of commercial submissions. Based on this work, changes to the Office’s cost/revenue model can then be developed to ensure the Office’s funding model is fair and principled, and a range of strategies can be developed to better manage submission volumes. In recognition of the financial position of the Office, the PSA and the Office agreed a collective agreement in 2010 with no general increase in salaries between September 2009 and September 2011. Following discussions with the PSA and staff during September 2011, agreement was reached that there would again be no general increase in salaries. As a result, salaries for management positions have not increased since January 2009 and staff positions have not increased since September 2009. This is not a sustainable strategy if the Office is to retain quality, experienced staff. The number of commercial items classified had dropped from 2276 in 2009/10 to the maximum estimate of 1822 in the 2011/12 year. The minimum estimate is just 1329. Note that films at the lower age ratings with Australian or UK censorship certificates do not need a review by the New Zealand censor, so the actual amount of releases is much higher than these figures indicate. Jack has proposed changing the flat $1124 fee his office charged to classify material so that it was cheaper for products which were less likely to make a profit. Perhaps an issue that the BBFC should consider too, given Third Window’s withdrawal from UK cinema distribution last week citing similar concerns about BBFC censorship fees.

A Serbian Film…Belatedly banned by the New Zealand film censor

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See article [pdf] from censorship.govt.nz US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for: US 2012 Invincible Pictures R1 DVD at US Amazon recently released uncut on 22nd May 2012

It’s taken a while but the New Zealand film censors at the OFLC have just banned the DVD release of A Serbian Film as ‘objectionable’. The submitted running time of 95:23s suggests that the New Zealand distributors had submitted the cut UK DVD version (95:20s) which had already lost 4:12s of footage. The OFLC summarised its reasons for the ban: The feature is an example of extreme cinema from Serbia. The film is about a retired porn star who accepts a role starring in an “art-porn” film. Once shooting begins he is tricked, manipulated and finally drugged into taking part in a catalogue of atrocities which include extreme and brutal acts of sexual violence and violence in association with sexual conduct. Other atrocities he witnesses or takes part in include cruelty, torture, sexual conduct with children and young persons, necrophilia and bestiality. There is a high likelihood that viewers would be greatly shocked and disturbed by the extreme sexual violence and violence in association with sexual conduct, along with sexual conduct with children and young persons, regardless of age. The publication’s sexual violence and violence in association with sexual conduct is concerning in a different way. Research has repeatedly shown that such depictions are likely to reinforce negative attitudes towards women in a number of ways. They have been shown to desensitise viewers to real-life violence, to reduce empathy with victims of sexual violence amongst both men and women, to increase rape myth acceptance, and to increase women’s fear of sexual assault. In the current publication this material is so extensive and extreme that these injuries to the public good are likely to occur regardless of the age of the viewer. The publication is characterised by a significant level of dispute over its claims to merit, value and importance. While the classification places a restriction on the freedom of expression as contained in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, it is a restriction consistent with Parliament’s intention that publications containing such a high extent and degree of sexual violence and violence in association with sexual conduct, along with sexual conduct with children and young persons, be classified as “objectionable” to prevent the likelihood of injury to the public good.

Crawling Along…New Zealand belatedly bans Human Centipede 2

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Thanks to refused-classification.com See article [pdf] from censorship.govt.nz

The New Zealand film censor at the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC). Has banned Tom Six’s Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence). The film was banned as ‘objectionable’ on 4th April 2012. The OFLC summarised its reasons for the ban: The publication is a DVD containing a sequel to a well-known horror film and a number of extra components relating to its development and marketing. The availability of the publication is likely to he injurious to the public good. The feature is an unsubtle portrait of a sexually deranged man who tortures a group of largely anonymous victims in extreme, unflinching detail. Despite the occasional flashes of humour and a degree of sub-textural irony, these elements are overwhelmed by the feature’s sustained, gratuitous focus on victims’ torture, mutilation, forced defecation, rape and murder. These images are linked by a threadbare plot that provides limited narrative justification. While the feature does not promote or support this material, the likely injury to the public good is one of inuring people more generally to cruel, violent and degrading material through its presentation as entertaining, and of eroding the viewer’s ability to empathise with others. This material would disturb and shock most people. Consideration was given to offering excisions in order to remove the strongest images, however due to the pervasiveness of this material excisions were not deemed practical. While the classification is an absolute restriction on the freedom of expression as contained in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, it is a restriction consistent with Parliament’s intention that publications containing such a high extent and degree of torture, violence, cruelty, sexual violence and strongly degrading, dehumanising and demeaning material can be classified as objectionable to prevent the likelihood of injury to the public good.

Old Time Censors…New Zealand unbans the book Bloody Mama and hopefully apologises for all the police hassle caused to an innocent book seller

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See article from entertainment.msn.co.nz

The book Bloody Mama by Robert Thom was banned in New Zealand in 1971 on grounds of supposed indecency. Apparently it contains references to rape, incest, prostitution, cruelty and violence. A second-hand copy of the book Bloody Mama at Wellington second-hand booksellers Book Haven, was anonymously snitched up to the Department of Internal Affairs in November. The book, which canvasses the true life story of 1930s gang leader Kate Ma Barker and her sons, had been for sale for about a year, despite being banned by the now defunct Indecent Publications Tribunal. This week the modern day book censors at the Office of Film and Literature Classification have reclassified the book as ‘Unrestricted’. The censor commented that the adult content was restricted to one or two pages and readers would be mature enough to handle it. Book Haven owner Don Hollander said the ruling was marvellous. The book would be returned next week and he would frame it to hang in the shop as a talking piece, he told NZ Newswire. The book was made into a low-budget film starring Robert de Niro, that was also ludicrously banned in 1971. However, it was later reclassified R16 in 1981.

Megan is Objectionable…New Zealand film censor bans Megan is Missing

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See article from censorship.govt.nz

The New Zealand Office of Film and Literature Censorship has banned a US film titled Megan is Missing by Michael Goi. The film censor found the film to be ‘objectionable’. In the US the film is MPAA Unrated on DVD and it has not been submitted to the BBFC. Perhaps a few clues about the reason for the ban in the promotional material: On January 14th, 2007, 14-year-old Megan Stewart disappeared. Three weeks later, her 13-year-old best friend Amy Herman also vanished. Assembled from video chats, webcam footage, home videos and news reports, this is what happened in the days immediately before — and after — Megan went missing. From writer/director Michael Goi comes this unblinking depiction of internet predators and child abduction as seen through the eyes of two North Hollywood teens. Their language is blunt. Their behavior is shocking. And their fate is absolutely horrific. Amber Perkins, Rachel Quinn and Dean Waite star in this disturbing and often explicit drama about a real-life world of risks and danger that every teen must know…and no parent can afford to miss.