task 2

I will be creating a report investigating the legal and ethical issues of some films.

The interview by columbia pictures (owned by Sony) was a very controversial film and was in the media a lot due to many different issues with the film. I am going to look at media legislation, ethical issues and legal issues all surrounding this film.

The Interview is an action comedy staring James Franco and Seth Rogen who in the film run a popular TV show called "Skylark Tonight." When they discover that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is a fan of the show, they get an interview with him, their plans then change when the CIA recruits them to assassinate Kim Jong-un.

Sony executives considered making the ending less violent. In an email they said “There is no face melting, less fire in the hair, fewer embers on the face, and the head explosion has been considerably obscured by the fire, as well as darkened to look less like flesh.”

Copy right is the exclusive legal right, given to the a person who created something to print, publish, perform, film or to have for musical material. If a person was to then use this copyrighted material they would need permission from the creator to use it. A problem that Sony encountered with this film is that they unlawfully used an unlicensed song in “The Interview.” by a Popular K-pop singer called Yoon Mi-rae's. Her song “Pay Day” appears in the film however Sony never paid for the rights. 

A lawsuit was also held due to Sony and Columbia pictures being accused of putting the actors in this film in danger. This was classed as an infringement of human rights. 

Another film that has had trouble with the law is "A Serbian film". 

This film is about an ageing porn star who is struggling to provide for his family therefore agrees to make a film that, however he is not aware the the film contains themes of pedophilia, necrophilia and may end with his death.

The film did not conform to the Obscene Publications Act of 1959. 

It was decided that a lot of cuts would be made before the film could be rated 18.  Their were many issues with this film. The main issue being scenes of sexualised violence and scenes juxtaposing images of sex and rape with images of children. The makers of the film did however make the effort to avoid showing the children doing anything classed as disturbing or indecent and had offered to show evidence of dummies and props used in the film's most difficult scenes, however portrayals of children in a sexualised or abusive context would still need to be cut from the film. 

LAWS

Official secrets act 1989: its an offence for a Crown servant, Government contractor or member of the public who has official information in their possession, to disclose official information if the disclosure is made without lawful authority or is damaging.

Broadcasting act 1990: An Act to make new provision with respect to the provision and regulation of independent and sound programme services or other services on television or radio. 

Obscene publications act 1959: Its an offence to publish any content that will tend to "deprave and corrupt" those likely to read. This could include images of extreme sexual activity such as bestiality, necrophilia, rape or torture.

Films act 1985: Laws concerning the finance of films and defining British films.

Video recordings act 1984: An Act to make provision for regulating the distribution of video recordings. 

Race relations act 1976: This is to prevent discrimination on the grounds of race. Items that are covered include discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic and national origins in the fields of employment.

Human rights act 1998: Rights that belong to every person.

Licensing act 2003: This only applies to England and wales: to ensure broadcasters avoid any infringement of privacy in programmes

Privacy law: The right to be left alone and to keep you're own information to yourself.

Copyright and intellectual property law: Protects a persons work from being copied. Another person must have permission to use another persons work. 

Libel law: Slander and defamation cannot be aimed at one particular individual or group.