Regulating Hollywood’s sex scenes

Scott Tong Jul 20, 2006

TEXT OF STORY

TESS VIGELAND: New requirements for TV and movie studios could be on the way. Today the US Senate considers a bill that, among other things, requires new reporting from Hollywood with regard to those steamy sex scenes. Marketplace’s Scott Tong reports.


SCOTT TONG: You know those shall we say “grownup” scenes on the big and small screen?

Congress wants to make sure the actors are indeed grownups. The bill tells studios to prove they’re tallying everyone’s age.

John Feehery of the Motion Picture Association of America isn’t big on new regulation, but to him it’s better than a previous proposal which would have required films and TV shows with sex scenes to file affidavits to prove actors’ ages. It also carried tough penalties for cheaters.

So he can live with this version.

JOHN FEEHERY: It includes just a certification requirement that is not as onerous as the earlier amendment had been. And so while we don’t think we have to go through these hoops, at least it’s better than it was.

The language is attached to a popular bill meant to track sex offenders.

There’s a good chance it’ll become law by next week.

In Washington, I’m Scott Tong for Marketplace.

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