NO CENSORSHIP in Florida film incentives program

I could use you guys (and gals) taking a moment and spreading the word as this could in the long run affect us all.

Florida like many states has an incentives program for filmmakers and they are in the process of revising it to offer even greater benefits however one of the new provisions is quite disturbing. The verbiage of this provision goes something like this

"A certified production determined by the Commissioner of Film and Entertainment, with the advice of the Florida Film and Entertainment Advisory Council, to be family-friendly…Family-friendly productions are those that have cross-generational appeal; would be considered suitable for viewing by children age 5 or older…and do not exhibit or imply any act of smoking, sex, nudity, nontraditional family values, gratuitous violence, or vulgar or profane language. Under the current incentive program, review of the final release version is not required and nontraditional family values, gratuitous violence, and implied acts do not exclude a film from receiving this additional credit."

The really disturbing portion is the "nontraditional family values" which when questioned several State House representatives have concurred does include Gay characters and could also apply to Non-Married, Divorced and single parent families.

House Rep Stephen Precourt said he wants to encourage cinema that depicts life from the 1960's "Think of it as Mayberry" and when asked directly about whether projects featuring Gay characters would be eligible he said, "That would not be the kind id say that we want to invest public dollars in."

To put it in perspective, of the 10 best picture nominees for the Academy Awards this year, only 1 would qualify.

This affects more then just filmmakers and can set a dangerous precedent that could lead to further censorship of our medium. This law HAS NOT passed yet.

If everyone could just take a few moments to sign the petition (which also allows you to leave comments regarding your feelings) I'l make sure every House Rep in Florida sees it.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/no_florida_film_censorship/

Thanks
Tizzy

Mood: Angry

brewsky99 at 06:13 PM Mar 09

There is a term used a lot outside the US its "Only in America" i laugh cause it seems to me that the US is the most immoral moral country in the world.One minute your selling sex to kids,the next minute censoring what adults can watch.Don't get me wrong i like america but its just strange how sometimes you seem to be leading the way and the next left back in the last century.I think family values are great but they should be family values of 2010 not 50 years ago.I'm sure you will have success with the petition good luck.