Cinema Canada (Dec 1981)

Ontario Censors strike again, hitNFB’sNotaLove Story TORONTO The Ontario Censor Board has turned down an appeal by the National Film Board of Canada to permit the commercial release of NotA Love Story, the controversial NFB documentary about the pornography industry. The Censor Board's summary report on the NFB appeal classified the film as “not approved for public exhibition.” The Censor Board’s official statement in the report read: “Application for unlimited exhibition not approved. The original Board recommendation stands: — that the film be made available through the National Film Board library for private screenings by such organizations that request it, and that permit for public exhibition be issued under conditions stipulated in the October 20th, 1981 Board minute and followed in the November 10th screening at the St. Lawrence Centre.” A Censor Board member who heard the NFB appeal, and who wished not to be ’ Charlton Hesto Executive Producer Director 2nd Unit Director: Joe Canutt Location Manager: Gordon Mark 1st Assistant Director: Don Granbery 2nd Assistant Director: Jacques Hubert 3rd Assistant Director: Matthew O’Connor Producer / Writer ....... identified, told Cinema Canada that the Board “totally supported” the screening of the film in a suitable forum as an educational and _ social concern, but rejected commercial release of the film on the grounds that its explicit, hardcore material might be exploited for financial gain. The Board member pointed out that the film was not banned, but merely restricted from commercial release. “The Board totally supports the screening of this film ina responsible’ context, and would be completely cooperative in issuing permits for public screenings, as we did for the Festival of Festivals and St. Lawrence Centre,” said the Board member. “But let’s face it, this is not Saturday night entertainment.” The Censor Board did issue special permits for one screening only to the Toronto Festival of Festivals for September11andtothe NFBfora November 10 screening at the St. Lawrence Centre, with the understanding that the age “ee ee eeerneeen eee eee eee we ee ee 1st Assistant: Sandy McCallum 2nd Assistant: Bruce Ingram Stillsman: Chris Halcermanas-Benge 2nd Unit: Peter Snell Fraser C. Heston Chariton Heston Director of Photography: Peter McLennan, requirements for a ‘Restricted’ classification lie, 18 years and over) would be strictly enforced. Both screenings played to full houses. In a personal report on the Not A Love Story appeal, one Censor Board member wrote : “Controlled screening of this film is imperative. Fundamentally, it communicates its concerns exceptionally well. Use of hard-core footage is not gratuitous and, within the context of the film’s meaning, justified. The chief concern I have is that this isa film about exploitation which, under general distribution, could itself be exploited. Paradoxically, “this film could be shown for its hardcore footage, which transgress the guidelines, in venues which promote pornography... Unless distribution and screenings are controlled, and the film viewed within a responsible context, its message (the justification for making it) may be abused. “Part of its benefit will bein its Capacity to elicict response, concern and action of a posi AND ON BUDGET CONGRATULATIONS TO Production Manager .... Production Accountant Production Designer ..... Richard Leiterman, C.S.C Scenic Painter: Guenther Bartlik Greensman: Paddy Holleyweoll Key Grip: John Dillard Brinson 2nd Grp: James Hurford Dolly Grip: David Gordon tive nature if correctly channelled after viewing through open forum discussion Sroups. I recommend its screening in conjunction with open discussion afterwards.” Produced by Dorothy Todd Hénault and directed by Bonnie Sherr Klein, Not A Love Story was produced by Studio D of the NFB’s English Production branch. While the Censor Board maintains that its treatment of the film is in line with all the other provinces except Quebec (where the film opened commercially October 30 at the Cineplex in Montreal with six shows daily) in that screenings were arranged on a special permit basis, the film has subsequently passed the British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba censor boards and will open commercially at Winnipegs Towne Cinema November 20 and in Edmonton December 1. Because public screenings of Not A Love Story in Ontario are by invitation only and cannot be advertised, the MOTHER LODE ON TIME ef *# ee @& @ er ee oe @ o filrm’s accessability to the average viewer is limited. After the St. Lawrence Centre screening, the NFB held seven private screenings at its Toronto office’s screening room (capacity 75) for those unable to get on the St. Lawrence invitation list, a task which regional officer John Boundy said required “every film officer | had.” The film can also be purchased by any interested party from the NFB library for private, unadvertised use. After the Censor Board's Nov. 18 decision to reject the appeal, officials at the NFB's regional office in Toronto declined comment on the matter. However, Deputy Government Film Officer Francois Macerola had commented before the appeal decision that pornography “is a serious social problem we can no longer afford to ignore. For this reason the National Film Board regrets the Ontario Censor’ Board's ‘original) decision which, by restricting public access to the film, prevents a much needed examination of the issues.” Kim Basinger, Nick Mancuso Les Kimber ee James Westwell ..... Douglas Higgins Wardrobe Assistant: Linda Langdon Editor: Erle Boyd-Perkins 1st Assistant Editor Jack Milton 2nd Assistant Editor: Michael Robison Head Special Effects Joe Day Assistant Special Effects John Thomas Effects Man Lee Routly, Michael Clifford Stunt Pilot Helicopter: Harry Hausa Stunt Pilot Cessna’ Beaver Joe Hughes Stunt Pilot Chipmunk: Art Scholl Pilot: Malcolm Falconer Transportation Coordinator Jake Caliihoo Driver Captain. Brian Boyer, lan (Moss) Urquhart Script Supervisor: Penelope Hynam Praduction Coordinator: Catherine Howard Assistant to Producers: Marilyn Heston Assistant to Director: Carol Lanning Assistant Controller: Lisa Richardson Canadian Publicity: Holly Levine American Publicity: Murray Welssman Unit Publicist: Marllyn Heston Publicity Journalist: Orin Borsten Camera Operator: Robert Saad Grip: Arthur Collier Gatfer: David Anderson Best Boy: Leonard Wolfe lst Lamp: John Scott 2nd Lamp: Duncan McGregor Generator Operator: Barry Reid Sound Mixer: Willlam Nelson Boom Operator: Ralph Parker Makeup Artist: Jamie Brown Wardrobe Head: Maureen Hiscox Tony Westman Operator: David Butler Assistant: Tom Fillingham, Tim Sale Studio Art Director: Michael Bolton Location Art Director: James H. Chow Apprentice: Lynn Trout Property Master: Grant Swain Props Assistant: Gail Irvine Head Set Decorator: Jim Erickson Assistant Set Decorator: Della Johnston MOTION PICTURE GUARANTORS Executive Officers: Douglas Leiterman, Philip S. Hobel 43 Britain Street, Toronto, Canada M5A IR7 Tel: (416) 361-1664 Cinema Canada/December 81-January 82/0