The Bully Project Gets an R Rating — Students Petition for PG-13
The Weinstein Co’s doc, The Bully Project, which follows students of bullies for one year, was given an R rating for the use of the word “fuck” throughout. Now, for fear of youngers not being able to see the film, the students are pleading with the MPAA to have them change the rating to PG-13. Well, whether the story exists to generate publicity for the film or not, it’s a subject worth taking a look at. When they gave Shame a really unfair rating of NC-17 it was worth getting mad about; that was an R rated film. Looking back on it now, the whole thing seems silly, doesn’t it?
But The Bully Project is a different thing. I guess I wonder why the Weinstein Co. doesn’t do what they agreed to with The King’s Speech, to edit out the word “fuck” for PG-13. Or bleep it, at any rate. The story needs to be told – why does it have to be told with the word “fuck” said throughout? I would want all kids at all schools to be able to watch it and there’s no way parents will allow that with the word “fuck” — my favorite word, which I am repeating here because it’s such a great word, in it.
Either way, I’m happy to help them spread the word, raise awareness and drive their publicity machine — so if you’d like to sign the online petition, you can do that here. I signed it. The takeaway here should be, who cares what they’re doing to rum up publicity – it’s a cause worth fighting for – getting the doc out there.
29 Comments
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
- The Conversation: Who Thinks the ‘Bully’ Debate is Out of Hand? - [...] doing to rum up publicity – it’s a cause worth fighting for – getting the doc out there. - Sasha ...
- The Conversation Who Thinks the Bully Debate is Out of Hand | | HaLaPicHaLaPic - [...] The takeaway here should be, who cares what they’re doing to rum up publicity – it’s a cause worth ...
- The Conversation Who Thinks the Bully Debate is Out of Hand Free movie - HaLa MovieHaLa Movie - [...] The takeaway here should be, who cares what they’re doing to rum up publicity – it’s a cause worth ...
- The Conversation: Who Thinks the ‘Bully’ Debate is Out of Hand? | Video Zone - [...] The takeaway here should be, who cares what they’re doing to rum up publicity – it’s a cause worth ...
Leave a Comment
Tracker Pages
Recently on AD
Follow Us!
Tags
Gallery
Signed.
The self-designated idea that the MPAA is designed to protect children by banning them from seeing a movie where kids their own age use the word “fuck” is totally ridiculous. If this were a fiction film yeah, I might see the point, but this is a documentary. A documentary about a subject that is both about and designed for the very people prevented from seeing it. This is a clear indication that the fact that the content MPAA looks at to determine a rating based on quantity and not context prevents them from giving an accurate and appropriate rating.
I’m reminded of the famous story where Olivia Hussey was unable to see “Romeo and Juliet” in a theater because it showed boobs… her OWN boobs.
signed, sealed, delivered
Signed. Don’t even need to think about it. This is ridiculous.
Harvey Weinstein is a genius with this sort of thing. What a brilliant way to get the word out on this movie. Good lord. Having just read Down & Dirty Pictures I find this fascinating.
Fuck it, kids are using that word already and it’s not because of movies. This sounds like a movie that could help people. Signed.
Signed! Thanks for passing it on.
Damn good word, too. Most of you have probably seen these compilations of the best uses of “fuck” in film. Very cathartic two days after, well, you know…
Part One – not embeddable, use YouTube signon
http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?next_url=/watch%3Fv%3DTjrusKatMWs
Part Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OzBAlkNDIk
The ratings system is a joke. Say fuck a couple of times and it must have an “R”, but show a man getting killed and it’s ok for PG-13.
And on a slightly different tangent, why was The Artist given the rating of PG-13?
Every kid should be able to see it of course. My question is a technical one however based on the “rules” as they are right now.
Haven’t movies been released without a rating before? Meaning can’t the studio just decide to take no rating instead of the one they’re given?
And on a slightly different tangent, why was The Artist given the rating of PG-13?
Uggie was naked the whole time.
Take Shelter‘s R rating, strictly for language, was equally stupid.
Antoinette – I might be wrong, but if a movie remains not rated then doesn’t that just default it to being adults-only admission?
I signed it after seeing this article – having a R rating will make it more difficult for the demographic it’s supposed to be for to see it, and it has an important and relevant message.
Fuck is not really a rude word anymore. It’s really not even a word…more of a sound, it’s replaced the groan.
It’s a gro-noun, a gro-verb, etc…
Like trying to put your pants on when your sitting down.
Thinking about this, I believe the importance of getting the film seen by as many kids as possible outweighs the language issue here. Kids are use to having hearing their songs played with skipped lyrics and their TV shows bleeped, so insert some bleeps and be done with it. They’ll get it – they’re probably smarter than the ratings board, anyway.
Good marketing move, though.
LOL. I went to public schools my whole life and kids have been saying the word “fuck” since the fourth grade. I’m 24 now, so I can only imagine that word is even more prevalent with it being all over the Internet. Why doesn’t the MPAA infiltrate the Internet?
I will sign this. It looks good. I do hope that it doesn’t shine the problem as being on the teachers though (in the trailer sometimes it looks like it does, sometimes it looks like it doesnt). As an educator issues of bullying are some of the hardest to deal with because a) quite often you dont know about it. b) its very difficult to get anyone to admit to. c) sometimes it honestly is just kids being kids and d) its a much wider issue than ‘things that happen at school’ and yet the onus seems to be entirely on the school to solve it when its much more societal than institutionalised. I’ll be interested to see how they handle it and hope that the natural narrative of the film doesn’t just feel the need to create villains while trying to avoid blaming it on the kids themselves (not that I’m saying that it IS their fault…but some of it is).
http://blogs.indiewire.com/leonardmaltin/explaining-dujardins-greeting#
Thought you might be interested in a nice little story about Jean Dujardin’s Best Actor acceptance speech.
I’ll sign. But Shame deserved its rating. The sex was realistic and plenty of penis was seen.
Saw this movie at Tribeca last year. Never even considered it would get an R rating…just didn’t really think of it in those terms actually. Not sure how I feel about it though. Maybe this is a real case for a PG-13 version. Maybe not.
Signed. Pretty ridiculous.
PS: Thanks Mik. I was wondering about who Melissa was. Now his win makes me even happier.
Signed. That’s one Harvey Co. movie that I really want to support.
Signed. Been waiting for this for some time. Whatever needs to be done to get this film to be seen by as many possible kids and adults should be done. And it would only be redundant for me to say: F*&k you, MPAA. Oops, I’m redundant.
A ” bully” in my eyes is a coward, a punk that cannot stand himself. Prey on the weak, shall make the ignorant feel better..I think not. Reality is a huge wake up call for all. Its simple..love one another, judge not. As one day, you will have to take along look at yourself and wonder why you were so full of hate.
Munro202 I don’t know. But in this case wouldn’t a doc have only really played in art houses anyway?
Signed
Signed. They irony of this rating boggles my mind! Remove the R rating now!
Signed with pleasure.
signed mpaa made a mistake
i havent even seen the movie and i have already organised 2 schools in australia where i am to show their students if australia can get a lower rating
Comment