Video recording act

Copyright law:
Why is it important to have copyright within the film industry? Because without
copyright one company could make millions of a script for a film and then
another company could then use that script and just put more money into it and
make more money from it than the original.
What is its purpose? To protect the property of one individual for example
Sylvester Stallone owned the original rocky script and if he hadnt have
copyrighted it and protected it and a box office of $225 million could have been
potentially stolen and in a court of law nothing could be done.
Who does it protect? Copyright protects creators of original works, such as songs,
books, articles, scripts, films, software, art and photos. Anyone who republishes,
reproduces or redistributes a copyrighted work without the owners' permission is
guilty of copyright infringement, although there are a few important exceptions
to this rule. Copyright infringement is a federal offense, and the laws governing
copyright infringement, including penalties, are contained in Title 17 of the
United States Legal Code.
What happens if it is broken? If the holder of the copyright has registered her
work with the United States Copyright Office (USCO), then she can sue you for
damages and compensation in civil court. If you are found guilty of copyright
infringement, you can be ordered to pay damages. The amount of damages
depends on the amount of lost profits from the infringement and the number of
times you infringed on the copyright. You may also be ordered to pay legal fees.
The court can also impose statutory damages of between $200 and $150,000.
Penalties above $30,000 are generally awarded only for wilful infringement.
Examples of when it has been broken and the outcome?

What is the films act?

The film must be made by a British or British controlled company

Studio scenes must be photographed within a film studio in the British

Empire/Commonwealth

The author of the scenario or the original work the screenplay was based
on must be a British Subject

At least 75% of the salaries must be paid to British Subjects excluding the
costs of two persons at least one of which must be an actor (This caveat
refers to the fact that a British film could engage a highly paid
international star, producer, or director whilst still being regarded as a
British film)

Why is it relevant to the film industry? The British films act helps to protect the
integrity and originality that it started out with, also its not being just an easy
option for any foreign citizens to just have as a job and not respect or enjoy. It is
relevant because without it I think the dedication and hard work that goes into
films could be lacking and it would affect the films being produced.
Does it help or hinder the film industry? I think it helps the British film industry
due to the fact that it helps to keep the original image and class that it started
out with. But it has been blamed for the quota quickies where production
companies would just produce low budget low quality films just to make the
money and follow the annual quota.
Importance of ethical issues

Use of language in the film industry the use of language is very ranged
because any film can use whatever language in the film they want as films are
rated as to what age ranges should be listening to them. For example wolf of
Wall Street with the record for using the F-word the most times in a film with 506
F-words in total plus all the sexual references and actual sexual scenes.
Equal opportunities The BBFC is committed to the development and expansion
of positive policies to promote equal opportunities in life regardless of
individuals gender, marital status, creed, colour, race, ethnic origin, religious or
political beliefs, sexual orientation, disability or age. However, please note that
the BBFC is unable to employ anyone under the age of 18 on account of their
possible exposure to age -restricted material while working here.
Encouraging diversity production companies trying to encourage people with
different backgrounds and experiences to be in the film industry and they would
do this by having apprentice opportunities or events where youths can get
involved at an early age.
What ethical issues should be considered when making a film? Ethnicity seems
to be a large factor of ethical issues when it comes to making films, for example
Michael bay received a few complaints due to two of the characters being
represented with African American voices and then the characters were quite
simple and couldnt read.
Sexism also seems to be a large issue as to how a female character is
represented in a film. For example the typical female role in a film a damsel in
distress an utterly useless, weak, dumb but beautiful character needing to be
saved by a big strong and courageous man. This really does limit the way
filmmakers can represent a woman in a film.

Representation of gender- How are men and women represented in films?

There are the typical stereotypes that men and women are mostly represented
as, for example men in films are mostly represented as being the strong and
brave hero who has a big noble cause and comes along miraculously to save the
day. Then women typical stereotype would be the good looking, not very smart
and clumsy girl and also seems to always get in trouble. Then they always need
saving by the leading male role. Recently though production companies
Are they seen as strong or weak?
Following the stereotypes women are thought of as weak and men are thought of
as being strong, but the modern film industry is now trying to change the
stereotype and trying to show women as being strong and brave and also trying
to humble the male image through comedies humiliating a man for his body and
his image for the laughs so its a little bit less clear like it used to be.

Indiana jones being the typical male stereotype of strong, brave, courageous,
suave, smooth, bachelor and sort of mysterious.

Georgia Robinson being the typical female stereotype and all she is thinking
about is fashion, boys and growing up as a girl with all different processes at that
age.
Representation of religious beliefs
Well generally in the film industry any religious beliefs are covered very fairly
and correctly even if its not a big part of the film it just covers them from attack
if they get something wrong. So if they either mix up religions or whilst focusing
on the opinion of one religion they for the sake of the film insult and disregard
other religions and when doing this it can end badly through reviews or public
opinion.

How should men and women be represented?

I personally think that the stereotypes are correct, for example in Indiana jones
temple of doom he is an adventurer strong and brave with a past that has given
him skills and abilities. The female role Willie Scott is a rich, upper class and frilly
singer in a nice club so the reason so its not a sexist stereotype just because he
is a man he is better in this case she is completely out of her depth whereas he
is in his comfort zone. That film was 31 years ago and modern films now are
making women even more equal and strong by giving them roles in action films
and gory shoot em ups. So we are now starting to see women be just as able to
be a badass so in my opinion its fair.
Does your chosen studio represent people fairly in their films?

I think every major film company produces equally represented films due to the
pressure and competition between the other companies so they all have to be
fair and equal.