A movie, also known as a movie trailer, a short movie, musical, or other short film, is a fictionalized presentation of an experience, usually of artistic or dramatic length, intended to convey ideas, emotions, impressions, beauty, or setting via the medium of moving pictures. The term “mock” (anagram for “film”) comes from the practice of attaching a running film to a still photograph so that the audience can view a partially completed filming on the viewing screen. Movie trailers are designed to advertise or sell products or services, while exaggerating the product or service feature in order to create an impression of how the product or service might help the consumer. Movie trailers are usually shot by a third party company or freelancer, with the full consent and approval of the principal actors or directors involved in the project. In the U.S., home video rentals require a DVD copy protection, which are included in all movies sold legally in terms of length, but which is not used in the production of video movies.
Most movies contain some nudity or may contain strong language or violence. Rated R is reserved for those films with strong sex scenes or for violent or foul language. Rated X is reserved for films containing extreme violence or the depiction of drug use or alcoholism. These ratings help keep children and adults from being exposed to inappropriate materials and protect their constitutional rights.
The MPAA (MPAA) rating system divides films into three classes. The first category, for “PG” (or “passably good”), is for those containing only simple and uncomplicated plot, story and basic character development and whose content does not carry any realistic appeal to viewers who have not seen the film. The second category, for “R” (or” comedies”), is for those containing elements that appeal to the adult audience but who may be offensive to younger viewers. The final category, for “X” (or” pornographic”) films, are for those that are both offensive to younger viewers as well as to the older generations.
Video ratings are used by both individuals and parents. Many parents prefer to purchase a movie for their child based on the rating instead of relying on word of mouth or other forms of general audiences. Movie sites provide a list of available films for parents to choose from and often include reviews of the films. DVD rental companies offer a library of videos for purchase as well.
Adults can also use the ratings to help determine whether particular films are worth the time of their children to view. Many movie critics rate films according to a scale that indicates either a thumbs up or a thumbs down depending on various aspects of the movie. These ratings are helpful for parents to make their children’s entertainment choices. Movie audiences also use the movie ratings to help narrow their choices before they begin to look at films. For example, a parent may want to see a particular film in the new release slate but may want to avoid any movies on the actual old reel list because they have a particular preference for the late night viewing experience.
Movie audiences are very different from those of parents. They are more objective in their preferences and often make more informed decisions. The use of ratings has helped to make the video rental service industry more competitive and efficient. Movie ratings are also used by the producers of television programs to gain a wider audience and build their brand name. It is likely that movie ratings will continue to expand as more people begin to be exposed to them. For now, it appears that movie ratings are being used for more than just helping parents make more informed movie choices.