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APRIL NEWSLETTER
Kia ora koutou
Do you have a childhood memory of seeing a movie at a sleepover that you probably shouldn't have? This month we're spotlighting the almost universal experience of sleepover peer pressure. We worked with our Youth Advisory Panel to develop our latest parental controls animation and highlight a situation when we might watch something before we're ready (and how to avoid it). Parental controls are your safety hack to help keep you, your mates and your rangatahi safe.
In the past month we've restarted our Censor for a Day experience for media studies students, and we've launched a Request for Proposals for our next research project on body image in conjunction with Netsafe. Do get in touch if either of those topics are something you'd like more information on.
Our newsletters generally talk about topics like sex, drugs, and the media content landscape. Our aim is to have difficult conversations and shine a light on ways to reduce harm for New Zealanders. If you know someone who should receive these updates, please share our newsletter or encourage them to subscribe here. Be sure to follow our socials too.
Aroha atu, aroha mai, tātou i a tātou
Let’s look out for each other
— Chief Censor Caroline Flora
#Mātakitahi #WatchTogether #Kōrerotahi #TalkTogether
Image: St Bernard's student Edward O'Sullivan at the first of our Censor for a Day sessions, pictured at The Hutt Pop-Up by Reading Cinemas.
Censor for a Day back on the giant screen
Students in the Wellington region were the first in the country to join us for the Censor for a Day immersive experience in March. They were our first in-cinema education sessions since May 2021 due to Covid pandemic restrictions. We've missed being able to host students in person where we screen a new release movie and then take them through the steps to classify the film.
We travel to the South for Term 2 where screenings are taking place in Dunedin, Christchurch and Nelson. We have reached capacity for our Nelson session but still have a few places available in each Dunedin and Christchurch. If you or your school might be interested in our Censor for a Day experience please get in touch at info@classificationoffice.govt.nz.
Image: A Wellington Girls' College student at one of the first of our Censor for a Day sessions, pictured at The Roxy Cinema.
Should sleepovers be censored?
What's your sleepover story? Did you see a movie that you've never forgotten? We so often hear of these childhood experiences that caused nightmares, long term fears or sleepless nights. Every one of us has a story! If only parental controls had saved us back then. We love parental controls. They are your safety hack. Check out our latest animation, and our up-to-date parental controls resource here.
RFP for our next round of research on body image
Netsafe and the Office are seeking assistance in developing qualitative research with rangatahi. The research will explore young people's experiences and views about media content, online behaviour, and the potential impacts on body image and associated health and wellbeing issues. We have published a Request for Proposals (RFP) on GETS:
The submission closing date is 1 May, 2023. Please share this with your networks. If you're interested in submitting a proposal, check out the RFP on GETS (see link above). You can also email us directly if you would like to see a copy of the RFP document: consultations@classificationoffice.govt.nz.
The Conjuring changed me: when sleepovers go bad
A member of our Youth Advisory Panel shares her real life story of a teenage sleepover that changed her.
"When I was younger a sleepover typically consisted of ‘Just Dance Two’, late-night chats about who was crushing on whom, and ended with my most dreaded sleepover activity of them all — a good ol’ horror movie...
Everyone has their line, and everyone is different, and that is okay. For some people the intentional scares of a good horror give them the thrill or the high. For others it’s a thrill not worth seeking. Checking the rating, know Your rating."
The dark side of being a child star:
Brooke Shields’ Pretty Baby and underage images
The two-part documentary Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields provides a chilling example of how the objectification of a child’s beauty can lead to exploitation and harm. As a child Shields was described as a “work of art” and a “beautiful painting”. She was pushed into modelling by her mother and treated as a sexual object in films from a young age.
This serves as a stark reminder that images from our past can resurface at any time, and once they are out of our control, it becomes impossible to determine who will view them and how they can be exploited.
Read more on the blog about what we can do to protect our children from the risk of being exploited online.
Why did Mafia Mamma get this classification?
R16: Violence, sexual references and offensive language
In this American crime comedy, Kristen Balbano (Toni Collette) travels to Italy to attend her estranged grandfather's funeral, hoping for her own "Eat Pray Love" adventure.
However, her trip takes a shocking turn when the funeral turns bad and Kristen learns that her grandfather wanted her, as his only living heir, to take over as boss of the most powerful mafia family in Calabria.
This film was classified by the Office and received an R16: Violence, sexual references and offensive language. Read our Quick Take for a breakdown of the classification.
Why did Red, White and Brass get this rating?
PG: Parental guidance recommended
Maka, a superfan of the Tongan rugby team, will do whatever it takes to get tickets to the Tonga v France Rugby World Cup game – even if that means promising to deliver a brass band for the pre-match entertainment. Only problem is, the band doesn't exist and Maka has four weeks to make one.
This film was rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body and received a PG. Read our Quick Take for a breakdown of the rating.
Why did MH370: The Plane That Disappeared get this rating?
M: Offensive language, suicide themes
The latest Netflix docuseries attempts to uncover what really happened on March 8, 2014 and how a Boeing 777 plane could just vanish into thin air. Along with the plane, 239 passengers and crew to this day have not been found, which has fuelled conspiracy theories and challenged experts across the globe.
This film was self-rated by Netflix and received an M: Offensive language, suicide themes. Read our Quick Take for a breakdown of the rating.
Because our work involves a broad knowledge of the vast online landscape, we consume a lot of media in the office. Here are just a few of the things we’ve found relevant and informative over the past month. Take a break, with these media lunch items.
Think Before Sharing (UNESCO)
We Need to Talk (just as soon as I consult ChapGPT) (The New York Times)
The teen mental health crisis: A reckoning for Big Tech (NZ Herald)
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