recap - R you rated?
When it comes to making films, there are a lot of “little things” to do. However, one thing that many filmmakers overlookundefinedbecause of lack of budget, forethought or careundefinedis having their film rated. So, if you’ve got a film project in the works (or completed), here’s why you should consider adding having your film rated to your “to-do” list…
Movie ratings are a means for determining whether or not film content is suitable for certain audiences. Basically, a group of parents watch films and decide how appropriate they are for various age groups. Their goal is to enable parents to make choices for their family’s viewing and to alert moviegoers overall to the level of maturity of a film’s subject matter. From the filmmaker’s perspective, however, the ratings are a tool that is often necessary to gain distribution. Therefore, whether your film is rated or not and how it’s rated, can certainly determine revenue impact and the success of your film.
Did you know that the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO [TC1] ) represents more than 26,000 movie screens in all 50 US states with additional theaters in more than 40 countries globally and functions in concert with the MPAA[TC2] and CARA[TC3] in support of this voluntary ratings system. Well, they do.
Did you know that most theaters won’t show unrated movies? Well, they won’t.
Do you plan on distributing online or DVD sales rather than going for a big theatrical release? Well, guess what? Many of those distribution channels require (or prefer) rated films too.
So, if you want to up your odds of gaining domestic distribution, you must have your film rated. Now, to clarify, whether you have your film rated or not is your choice. It is possible to get distribution without being rated, but opportunities may be harder to find because of the widespread support for film rating. According to FilmBug.com[TC4] , “…few mainstream producers outside the pornography niche decline to submit to the rating system due to potential effects on revenues…so the system has a de facto compulsory status in the industry.”
If you decide to have your film rated, take solace in knowing that, even though adding ”Get film rated” to your to-do list may be a pain, the process isn’t. Just download the CARA “Agreement to Submit Motion Picture for Rating[TC5] .” After that, follow the instructions to submit your film and pay the rating fee. The cost will be anywhere between $2,500 and $25,000, depending on your film’s category and negative cost; for a better cost estimate, see the fee schedule included in the agreement’s appendix.
By the way, if you who are planning to take your film international, check with the local government for ratings requirements. Rules vary country to country.
