Title
Guidelines for Movie and TV Trailers Content
Law
Mtrcb Memorandum Circular No. 93-014
Decision Date
Jul 30, 1993
MTRCB establishes strict guidelines for movie and television trailers, prohibiting excessive violence, explicit sexual content, drug abuse, and obscene language to protect impressionable audiences, particularly minors.
A

Prohibition of Excessive Violence in Trailers

  • Trailers must not include excessive violence.
  • Specifically prohibited are scenes such as:
    • Frontal shootings and stabbing.
    • Torture scenes.
    • Hostage situations involving firearms or knives threatening victims.
    • Graphic explosions with mutilated, mangled, or blown-off bodies.
    • Suicide acts including slashing wrists, gunshots to the temple or mouth.
    • Karate chops causing visible blood or broken bones.
    • Child abuse.
  • The impact of falling bodies hitting the ground shall not be shown.

Ban on Overall Violent Impact in Trailers

  • Trailers that do not show specific prohibited violent scenes but convey an overall impression of violence are also not allowed.

Prohibition on Depiction of Drug Use and Abuse

  • Any depiction of drug-taking and drug abuse in trailers is strictly forbidden.

Restrictions on Sexual Content

  • Explicit and suggestive sexual content is prohibited in trailers.
  • Examples of disallowed scenes include:
    • Sexual pumping movements.
    • Frontal nudity and breast exposure.
    • Torrid kissing.
    • Fondling of any body parts.
    • Sexual aberrations.

Prohibition of Obscene and Offensive Language

  • Use of obscene language, curse words, and "double extender" words is not allowed.
  • Examples of prohibited curse words include:
    • "shit", "fuck", "leche", "putang ina", "ulol", "gago", "tarantado", "sirang-ulo", "walanghiya".
  • Such language has no place in trailers classified as General Patronage (fit for all ages).

Institutional Authority and Adoption

  • The guidelines were adopted on July 30, 1993.
  • They were promulgated by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).
  • The Chairperson at the time of adoption was Atty. Henrietta S. Mendez.

Summary

  • The guidelines emphasize protecting the public, especially minors, from exposure to excessive violence, explicit sexuality, drug use depiction, and obscene language in movie and television trailers.
  • These rules maintain the appropriateness of trailers seen by general audiences classified for all ages.
  • Cooperation from producers and distributors in adhering to these guidelines is expected and mandated.

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