Juvenile delinquency (1955)

juvenile: delinquency 221 Rut because it is a subject that requires patience anrl an alerting of national attention, this Senate committee is doin,^ a in-aiseworthy job witli its licarin;;s in dramatizing- the situation and examining what aiiptar to be contributing causes of juvenile delinquency. In a different wny, we in the American motion picture industry have sought to talve strong affirmative steps in coping with the problem. As we look back we know we have made substantial progress. We look forv.ard conlldent that we are on the right track. We welcome advice, suggestions, and counsel from every responsible source, and in fact much of our program is based on the help of the representatives of literally millions of members of public-spirited organizations and groups wlio for years have been an integral part of our policy of providing decent, moral family entertainment. This policy is actively expressed through, and is constantly enforced en- hanced, and bulwarked by, five basic activities, which I shall deal with in some greater detail hereafter. Briefly described, they are: 1. The quarter-century-old self-enforced production and advertising codes through which the companies conform to acceptable moral and social standards in both content of pictures and type and kind of advertising. 2. The classification of our pictures by outside, wholly independent viewing groups into what they regard as suital)le for different age grouiis. 3. The selection by outstanding educational leaders of pictiu-es of social cul- tural, and patriotic values for use in the classroom as an educaliojial r..edium 4. The development of local community programs throughout die Nation under the auspices of many national organizations which regularly use pictures with special significance for children and adolescents. 5. The pioduction by our individual companies of hundreds of pictures specifi- cally intended to stress high moral values with the purpose of making the scieen a force for education and good living as well as entertainment. The first four activities are the day-by-day concern of our association We have departments staffed with employees who devote their full lime to these activities. They are under the supervision of the production code administra- tion here in Hollywood, the advertising code administration in New York and Hollywood, the title registration bureau in New York, the community service department in New York, and the educational services department in Washington. The operations of these departments of the association in- volve the cooperati(m of and clo.se liaison with scores of national organiza- tions, and the fulfillment of thousands of requests from tho-e who \vant the help whicli motion pictures can give to their particular needs and programs. Now, to discuss the specific activities : 1-2, THE PRODUCTION AND ADVERTISING CODES Mr. Geoffrey Shurlock, who is responsible for the administration of the produc- tion code, and Mr. Gordon White, who is responsiI)le for the administration of the advertising code, will describe to you in detail the proceduies by which these codes are applied to motion picture production and advertising 3. THE FILM ESTIMATE BOARD OF NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS In addition to the production and advertising code operations, there exists a national motion picture previewing group made up of and controlled and oper- ated by the representatives of 1,3 universally respected nationwide organizations with a national membership of many millions. They are : American Association or University Women, American Jewish Committee, American Library Associa- tion, Children's Film Library Committee, National Societv Daughters of the American Revolution, National Federation of afusic Clubs. National Federation of Women's Clubs, Girl Scouts of the USA, National Council of AVomen of the U.b., Protestant Motion Picture Council, National Congress of Parents and Teachers, Schools Motion Picture Committee, and the United Church Women I think the committee may be interested in just how these organizations screen and classify motion pictures. Each has its own nationnl previewing cbaiiinan who appoints a motion picture previewing committee. This results in the establish- ment ()f 13 previewing groups with a large combined memb;>iship. Then the combined membersliip is divided into numerous subcommittees each having a complete ci-oss-sectiou representatic.n of all 13 participating organizations The subcommittees screen, judge, and rate pictures in the following categories- \ for adults over 18 years; F for family all ages; YP for young people over 12 C4765—53 15