Comments on: Removed by Order of the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/23/removed-by-order-of-the-australian-office-of-film-and-literature-classification/ Real Talk About Making Real Sex Erotic Documentaries Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:42:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: tony http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/23/removed-by-order-of-the-australian-office-of-film-and-literature-classification/#comment-8301 tony Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:25:05 +0000 http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/23/removed-by-order-of-the-australian-office-of-film-and-literature-classification/#comment-8301 Anastasia, there are a lot of things I might say in response to your post, but I have no desire to engage you in a debate as to whether Australia is more tolerant than the US, or whether Australian censorship laws create a more or less restrictive envionrnment than US obscenity laws. There are a wealth of resources you can availe yourself to online and you can come to your own conclusions. But I do have a question for you about this "sell it on the internet" idea of yours. Can you find any films anywhere that are available only on the internet that are shot on film? I don't think you'll be able to find anyone who is making their money excusively through internet sales that shoots on film. Why do you suppose that might be? Anastasia, there are a lot of things I might say in response to your post, but I have no desire to engage you in a debate as to whether Australia is more tolerant than the US, or whether Australian censorship laws create a more or less restrictive envionrnment than US obscenity laws. There are a wealth of resources you can availe yourself to online and you can come to your own conclusions.

But I do have a question for you about this “sell it on the internet” idea of yours. Can you find any films anywhere that are available only on the internet that are shot on film? I don’t think you’ll be able to find anyone who is making their money excusively through internet sales that shoots on film. Why do you suppose that might be?

]]> By: Anastasia http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/23/removed-by-order-of-the-australian-office-of-film-and-literature-classification/#comment-8274 Anastasia Wed, 30 Aug 2006 09:08:12 +0000 http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/23/removed-by-order-of-the-australian-office-of-film-and-literature-classification/#comment-8274 Tony, you'd still have a media furore in the states if a graphic film like that was shown in theatres in the US. My understanding is that it would be the equivalent of an X rating here in Australia? X rated here, is classifed pornography. But more importantly, the reality is that porn can be marketed over the web, each country has it's own laws that are to be respected. We're not complete prudes here, we have a free to air TV channel that features a lot of nudity, sex and sexual themes in the context of a story, and when films veer more toward pornography, then they're subjected to the censors to edit the film. You'd have the same issues in the United Kingdom, because a large amount of the pornography that is bought in sex stores there is R rated, not X rated. So if you look to release this in the UK, in theatres, and you come across issues there, what are you going to post 'narrow minded Brits?'... In other parts of the blogosphere, some coalesce to put forth 'one view' about this issue. I've read many sentences that rave on about Australian censorship, which implies that we're heavily censored (and we're not), to 'Australian apathy' and those of you who put forth this view have a motivation as well, and that's profit, that's natural because it takes many efforts to produce a film, but from what I understand is that any X rated film can be marketed on the web, and that enables freedom from censorship as well. I'd really like to see this film distributed in mainstream theatres in the United States, not health centres or educational centres, and then I'd be interested to see the level of responses among a mixed audience, particularly in the current climate where religious right groups are concerned. But to freak out about Australia, because of a procedure that is standard, has been in place for years (when plenty of highly graphic sexual films are legal to purchase online or in Canberra/Northern Territory) is a little over the top. That's what I think because I've lived here my whole life, and I'm not going to sit there and digest rubbish (that others have stated regarding our 'strict' censorship where some shows of the 70's wouldn't make it past censors now -cos that's fiction) just because people have an agenda to promote a film for money, and I know - because I live here - that as a society we're not frigid, and our laws aren't frigid in terms of film. It's just that all pornography has to comply to federal laws, just like it does in the United States. Tony, you’d still have a media furore in the states if a graphic film like that was shown in theatres in the US. My understanding is that it would be the equivalent of an X rating here in Australia? X rated here, is classifed pornography.

But more importantly, the reality is that porn can be marketed over the web, each country has it’s own laws that are to be respected. We’re not complete prudes here, we have a free to air TV channel that features a lot of nudity, sex and sexual themes in the context of a story, and when films veer more toward pornography, then they’re subjected to the censors to edit the film. You’d have the same issues in the United Kingdom, because a large amount of the pornography that is bought in sex stores there is R rated, not X rated. So if you look to release this in the UK, in theatres, and you come across issues there, what are you going to post ‘narrow minded Brits?’…

In other parts of the blogosphere, some coalesce to put forth ‘one view’ about this issue. I’ve read many sentences that rave on about Australian censorship, which implies that we’re heavily censored (and we’re not), to ‘Australian apathy’ and those of you who put forth this view have a motivation as well, and that’s profit, that’s natural because it takes many efforts to produce a film, but from what I understand is that any X rated film can be marketed on the web, and that enables freedom from censorship as well.

I’d really like to see this film distributed in mainstream theatres in the United States, not health centres or educational centres, and then I’d be interested to see the level of responses among a mixed audience, particularly in the current climate where religious right groups are concerned. But to freak out about Australia, because of a procedure that is standard, has been in place for years (when plenty of highly graphic sexual films are legal to purchase online or in Canberra/Northern Territory) is a little over the top. That’s what I think because I’ve lived here my whole life, and I’m not going to sit there and digest rubbish (that others have stated regarding our ’strict’ censorship where some shows of the 70’s wouldn’t make it past censors now -cos that’s fiction) just because people have an agenda to promote a film for money, and I know - because I live here - that as a society we’re not frigid, and our laws aren’t frigid in terms of film. It’s just that all pornography has to comply to federal laws, just like it does in the United States.

]]> By: tony http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/23/removed-by-order-of-the-australian-office-of-film-and-literature-classification/#comment-8059 tony Fri, 25 Aug 2006 19:16:05 +0000 http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/23/removed-by-order-of-the-australian-office-of-film-and-literature-classification/#comment-8059 Anastasia, perhaps there would be a reation, but I don't think we'd have the same reaction here in the States. Unlike Australia our governement is not empowered to block the screening of a film in a theater. Our previous films have played at festivals in the US, and D&H will make its US debut in a festival later this Autumn. Ms.Naughty, the best way to "fund the fight" is to let people know what's going on, and let people know that buying one of our DVDs is a purchase they won't regret. Sara, it is a quandary, this sex vs. violence thing. The un-cut version is available on DVD, either directly from us, or at any number of retailer. Check the Where to Buy page in the nav bar. Anastasia, perhaps there would be a reation, but I don’t think we’d have the same reaction here in the States. Unlike Australia our governement is not empowered to block the screening of a film in a theater. Our previous films have played at festivals in the US, and D&H will make its US debut in a festival later this Autumn.

Ms.Naughty, the best way to “fund the fight” is to let people know what’s going on, and let people know that buying one of our DVDs is a purchase they won’t regret.

Sara, it is a quandary, this sex vs. violence thing. The un-cut version is available on DVD, either directly from us, or at any number of retailer. Check the Where to Buy page in the nav bar.

]]> By: Sara http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/23/removed-by-order-of-the-australian-office-of-film-and-literature-classification/#comment-8040 Sara Fri, 25 Aug 2006 02:33:43 +0000 http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/23/removed-by-order-of-the-australian-office-of-film-and-literature-classification/#comment-8040 I always have to wonder (and worry) that so many societies with which I am familiar would rather show 24/7 explicit graphic violence than one single hour of explicit, graphic sex. Is there any way to distribute unrated versions? I know I'd pay for one. I always have to wonder (and worry) that so many societies with which I am familiar would rather show 24/7 explicit graphic violence than one single hour of explicit, graphic sex.

Is there any way to distribute unrated versions? I know I’d pay for one.

]]> By: Ms Naughty http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/23/removed-by-order-of-the-australian-office-of-film-and-literature-classification/#comment-8014 Ms Naughty Thu, 24 Aug 2006 12:12:09 +0000 http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/23/removed-by-order-of-the-australian-office-of-film-and-literature-classification/#comment-8014 I feel like we need a fighting fund for you but I don't know how to set one up. Suggestions? I feel like we need a fighting fund for you but I don’t know how to set one up. Suggestions?

]]> By: Anastasia http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/23/removed-by-order-of-the-australian-office-of-film-and-literature-classification/#comment-8011 Anastasia Thu, 24 Aug 2006 10:10:30 +0000 http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/23/removed-by-order-of-the-australian-office-of-film-and-literature-classification/#comment-8011 I think that you'd have similar reactions in the UK and the United States if any push was made for it to be released into cinemas, it's not just Australia. We have the most famous Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in the world, so we're not that backward. I think that you’d have similar reactions in the UK and the United States if any push was made for it to be released into cinemas, it’s not just Australia. We have the most famous Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in the world, so we’re not that backward.

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