Comments on: Defaming the OFLC?!? http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/29/defaming-the-oflc/ Real Talk About Making Real Sex Erotic Documentaries Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:27:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ms Naughty http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/29/defaming-the-oflc/#comment-8282 Ms Naughty Wed, 30 Aug 2006 11:25:23 +0000 http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/29/defaming-the-oflc/#comment-8282 I despair. I like Meeshka's suggestion. "I shall bend like a reed in the wind", as the saying goes. A quick rundown of Australia's very strange classification system, for anyone who is curious: X-rated films contain non-violent sexually explicit material. Basically, the X-rating is for porn. You can only *buy* X-rated films in two states, but it's legal to *own* them everywhere, and you can buy them online or by mail order. Adult shops in other states do a roaring trade in illegal x-rated films. Technically you're not supposed to import porn into Australia but it's entirely in the hands of the customs department what qualifies as "porn". It's all just a little bit mad. I despair.

I like Meeshka’s suggestion. “I shall bend like a reed in the wind”, as the saying goes.

A quick rundown of Australia’s very strange classification system, for anyone who is curious:
X-rated films contain non-violent sexually explicit material. Basically, the X-rating is for porn.
You can only *buy* X-rated films in two states, but it’s legal to *own* them everywhere, and you can buy them online or by mail order. Adult shops in other states do a roaring trade in illegal x-rated films.
Technically you’re not supposed to import porn into Australia but it’s entirely in the hands of the customs department what qualifies as “porn”.

It’s all just a little bit mad.

]]> By: agoodbadhabit http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/29/defaming-the-oflc/#comment-8251 agoodbadhabit Tue, 29 Aug 2006 19:29:20 +0000 http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/29/defaming-the-oflc/#comment-8251 IME, there's some fights that aren't worth winning. Losing the ability to distribute your films because through bureaucratic vengeance would be a Pyrrhic victory at best. Small comfort for the present, but perhaps more rewarding in the long run. Hopefully the "buzz" created by your efforts so far will help offset the blow to the integrity of your art. In any case, yours is a unique product, and we're sure that lots of folks would be glad to have access to it even in an adulterated form. cheers, Matt and Khym IME, there’s some fights that aren’t worth winning. Losing the ability to distribute your films because through bureaucratic vengeance would be a Pyrrhic victory at best. Small comfort for the present, but perhaps more rewarding in the long run.

Hopefully the “buzz” created by your efforts so far will help offset the blow to the integrity of your art. In any case, yours is a unique product, and we’re sure that lots of folks would be glad to have access to it even in an adulterated form.

cheers,
Matt and Khym

]]> By: Iamcuriousblue http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/29/defaming-the-oflc/#comment-8241 Iamcuriousblue Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:03:34 +0000 http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/29/defaming-the-oflc/#comment-8241 Could you clarify the situation with Damon and Hunter DVD sales in Australia? I know the Australian government has to rate and approve a film before its shown at a public screening, but does this apply to DVD sales as well? What's weird about this is that I own three DVDs by Aussie porn producer <a href="http://shop.abbywinters.com/catalog/" rel="nofollow">Abby Winters</a>, and I see no "rating" or "approval" stamp anywhere on the DVD or the boxcover. The Abby Winter store site takes payment in both US and Australian Dollars, so they must sell them within Australia as well as the US. So if they can sell unrated DVDs in Australia, why can't you? Is it some kind of "don't ask, don't tell" thing, and perhaps you're having problems because you submitted the DVD to the OFLC to begin with? Could you clarify the situation with Damon and Hunter DVD sales in Australia? I know the Australian government has to rate and approve a film before its shown at a public screening, but does this apply to DVD sales as well?

What’s weird about this is that I own three DVDs by Aussie porn producer Abby Winters, and I see no “rating” or “approval” stamp anywhere on the DVD or the boxcover. The Abby Winter store site takes payment in both US and Australian Dollars, so they must sell them within Australia as well as the US. So if they can sell unrated DVDs in Australia, why can’t you? Is it some kind of “don’t ask, don’t tell” thing, and perhaps you’re having problems because you submitted the DVD to the OFLC to begin with?

]]> By: ma meeshka http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/29/defaming-the-oflc/#comment-8232 ma meeshka Tue, 29 Aug 2006 13:58:47 +0000 http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2006/08/29/defaming-the-oflc/#comment-8232 "Maybe enough’s enough. It’s not my country, and It’s not my fight. Maybe it’s time to leave Australia to the Australians. Maybe it’s time for me to move on." It's not your fight, it's every artist's fight. It's not about sales, it's about getting your art into the public domain and bringing insight and inspiration to people. Your film was warmly embraced in Melbourne, and would be embraced even more in Sydney. It's an important film that people actually want to see, that people need to see. If you're forced to make cuts then, instead of tagging it with Footage Removed by Order of the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification, add a disclaimer that says 'Graphic Sexual Footage Removed In Compliance With The Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification Regulations.' And also have a web address for where an uncut copy can be purchased. I think their claim of defamation is based on the connotations of 'Removed by Order of,' when they never actually ordered you to. You're playing their game, but there are many loopholes. “Maybe enough’s enough. It’s not my country, and It’s not my fight. Maybe it’s time to leave Australia to the Australians. Maybe it’s time for me to move on.”

It’s not your fight, it’s every artist’s fight. It’s not about sales, it’s about getting your art into the public domain and bringing insight and inspiration to people.

Your film was warmly embraced in Melbourne, and would be embraced even more in Sydney. It’s an important film that people actually want to see, that people need to see.

If you’re forced to make cuts then, instead of tagging it with Footage Removed by Order of the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification, add a disclaimer that says ‘Graphic Sexual Footage Removed In Compliance With The Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification Regulations.’ And also have a web address for where an uncut copy can be purchased.

I think their claim of defamation is based on the connotations of ‘Removed by Order of,’ when they never actually ordered you to.

You’re playing their game, but there are many loopholes.

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