Katy Butler, 17, a high school student, from Ann Arbor, Mich., poses by the petitions she delivered to the Motion Picture Association of America, Wednesday March 7, 2012, in Los Angeles. Butler is urging the MPAA to change the "R" rating to a "PG" for the "Bully" film. With her petition, Butler said that she was speaking out for all students who suffer every day from bullying.
(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Parents Television Council likes `Bully' rating
Katy Butler, 17, a high school student, from Ann Arbor, Mich., poses by the petitions she delivered to the Motion Picture Association of America, Wednesday March 7, 2012, in Los Angeles. Butler is urging the MPAA to change the "R" rating to a "PG" for the "Bully" film. With her petition, Butler said that she was speaking out for all students who suffer every day from bullying.
(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
March 9, 2012
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LOS ANGELES—A petition urging the film-ratings board to overturn the "R" rating it gave to the teen-centric documentary "Bully" has garnered more than 250,000 signatures, but at least one organization is OK with the decision.
The Parents Television Council praised the Motion Picture Association of America for maintaining the rating despite pressure from the public and the film's distributors to lower it to "PG-13."
An "R" rating means moviegoers under 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The group says its position is based on the language reportedly used in the film. The MPAA also cited language as the reason for the rating.
The council called for increased public involvement in the ratings process.
A Michigan teenager met with MPAA officials this week as part of the campaign to lower the film's rating after collecting signatures online.
She argued that a lower rating would allow more young people to see the film.
The Parents Television Council and the MPAA say the "R" rating is meant to inform parents of the film's content, not serve as a commentary on its value.
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Online:
Parents Television Council: http://www.parentstv.org/
MPAA: http://www.mpaa.org/
"Bully": http://thebullyproject.com/
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