egafd.com

"in other words if the Video Recordings Act were repealed and the R18 certification scrapped would British filmmakers be better off"

Yes. In the first instance, simply because there would be slightly less bureaucracy, hassle, and bollocks to contend with. However, films would still have to be submitted to the BBFC - that goes for everyone (everyone who plays the state's game, that is) even Disney. So, it would still cost a packet to certify a film. But on the positive side, producers would be free to sell to umpteen more outlets - which, although there is no great mass of people who are gagging for porn nowadays, and are to dense to get it from all the different outlets already available to them, more units would be shifted simply by virtue of it being under peoples noses. Like at the till in some supermarkets - there?s always a rack of chocolates or wine to temp you, while you wait for the dozy fuckers in front of you to get their carrier-bag packing act together. You're not really bothered about another bottle of wine or a chocy bar, that's not what you came out for, but you stuff another one in your trolley anyway - just seems like something to do while you wait. However, it's probably only the small retailer that would touch hardcore - like yer Mr Patel's - as it would still be beyond the pale for the majority of corporate entities. And prices would probably be forced down further too - (I bought 3 dammed good Hollywood movies from Virgin, at Crimbo. ?20.00 quid, the lot). If it's a commodity that is out there in abundance, then it's worth less, and people find they are less desirous of it. Simple economics 'n' psychology.


Officer Dibble

Why are the art house titles from Tartan more expensive than Warner Brothers?

Officer Dibble,

Pornography became semi legal circa 1979-93. Everyone thought that it was going to be legalised because the Commitee on Obscenity and Film Censorship recommended that it should be. (The American Presidential Commision on Obscenity which also recommended legalisation was also taken into consideration.)

All expert evidence on the effects of pornography were taken into consideration by professor Bernard Williams who chaired the commitee. The report became known as the Williams Commitee.

Soon companies like Rumbelows were approaching my company Videx Ltd and the BVA (British Videgram Association) asked me if Videx would give a ten per reduction for its members. Hotels were also enquiring.

The Video Recordings Act is repressing massive demand for pornography because of the stigma the R18 carries. Most people would not be seen dead in a licensed sexshop.

Mike

I think you have made a very good point 'Most people would not be seen dead in a licensed sexshop' also there is still a large amount of people who do not have access to the internet to buy porn and many who have access do not risk or trust buying porn in cyber space. I have several friends in the US and mainland Europe and they find it hard to believe our rules on porn, hardcore movies are even available in video rental shops. Yes the price of a DVD would probably drop but the market would massively increase.

Trust me Terry, I'm as sceptical as you. I said my source is confident.

Go ahead Joe, deliberately overstate my response. I was responding to a post that suggested that some east european countries were more "liberal" and "democratic" than the UK because you can buy what you want. I was querying how far that should extend.
But of course I'm only a punter so I have no vested commercial interest in a freer market.
If you are calling me a Nazi, apologise or pissoff.

Mart

Would that be the Graham Bright who used to sleep with his teddy bear? his fellow Conservative MPs used to call him Graham Dim.

All politicians are bags of shite, it's got to be said. We don't really live in a democracy and this country certainly isn't run for the benefits of the people or what the majority actually want. It's about big business and poncy upper class arseholes deciding what is good for the rest of us, while they're off screwing their secretary or rent boy but preaching family values and christian gobshite in public.

So, how far should people go? How far should the government be able to prescreen what you want to watch?

How much control do you want from a mindless lying bunch of shit heads?
Are you responsible for your own viewing or is the government?
Why does the government 'know better'?
Are people just mindless automatons?

The people who think they know better and doing it for our 'own good' are the dangerous ones.

Just what do you think freedom is?

Officer Dibble,

You must be naive if you believe that the BBFC is an independent body
There is a department in the Home Office which issues strict definitions of what imagery to allow. The examiners have a list of forbidden ideas portrayed by the moving image.

The Video Recordings Act was a government bill brought in by way of a Private Members Bill. PMB's don't usually stand much chance of becoming law but this one went through unopposed, and without being debated on the floor of the House. I wonder what happened to Graham Bright MP? He tabled his bill after massive amounts of propaganda in the press about Video nasties. Obviously it was well orchestrated.

The Video Recordings Act 1984 is illegal under European law which specifies the free movement of goods and services as a priority in the EC and ought to be repealed.

Mike /