History Film / ThisFilmIsNotYetRated

* GayPanic and GetBackInTheCloset: The film dedicates a brief section to how the MPAA often rates scenes with explicit gay content higher than scenes with explicit heterosexual content, even if the straight version is more explicit than the gay one (e.g. a lesbian masturbating through her bedclothes in ''Film/ButImACheerleader'' risks an NC-17, but Kevin Spacey miserably whacking off in the shower in ''Film/AmericanBeauty'' gets an R).

* ExecutiveMeddling: A majority of the film documents filmmakers' gripes about the rating system all but telling them what they can and can't show in a film, especially if it's a film that's meant to be seen by adults.

* ThrowItIn: Kirby Dick did this with the inclusion of his submission of the film-up-to-that-point to the MPAA. The documentary received an NC-17 for "showing instances of what could cause a film to gain an NC-17 rating". Dick considered this bit just as interesting as the main part of the documentary, so he added it into the now forever-unrated theatrical release.

Oh, and here's the kicker: the filmmakers then submit that version of the documentary to the MPAA ratings board. Though it received an NC-17 rating, the final version of the film ended up released as (and will forever remain) unrated.

* BlatantLies: The filmmakers managed to snag two members of the MPAA appeals board who would speak on camera; one of them insisted on anonymity. The film intersplices the two interviews, which give completely contradictory explanations on how the process works. Guess which of the two offers up a more sympathetic description of the process.
* DoubleStandard: The film points out plenty of them -- sex versus violence, male sexuality versus female sexuality, homosexuality versus heterosexuality...

* ExecutiveMeddling: A majority of the film documents filmmakers' gripes about the rating system all but telling them what they can and can't show in a film.
* ExplicitContent: Well, duh.
* GayPanic: The film dedicates a brief section to how the MPAA often rates scenes with explicit gay content higher than scenes with explicit heterosexual content, even if the straight version shows more than the gay one (e.g. a lesbian masturbating through her bedclothes in ''Film/ButImACheerleader'' risks an NC-17, whereas Kevin Spacey whacking off in the shower in ''Film/AmericanBeauty'' gets an R).
%%* GetBackInTheCloset
* GettingCrapPastTheRadar - How ''Film/TeamAmericaWorldPolice'' and ''WesternAnimation/SouthParkBiggerLongerAndUncut'' managed to get away with what they did.
* InsistentTerminology: The MPAA ratings board wants you to know that they do not consider themselves censors.

* OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness: The film tries to show the MPAA as a RealLife example with an emphasis on vagueness. According to other sources, filmmakers can try to hazard a guess as to why their film received a particular rating and edit accordingly, but...well, to use a popular stereotype as an analogy, the MPAA is like a woman telling her boyfriend that if he doesn't ''know'' what he did to piss her off, he doesn't deserve to be told.

* DoubleStandard: The film points out plenty of them -- sex versus violence, homosexuality versus heterosexuality...

'''''This Film is Not Yet Rated''''', a 2006 documentary film directed by Kirby Dick, explores the film rating policies in the US in exhaustive detail -- and [[ExecutiveMeddling how those policies affect a film's distribution and overall content before its release]]. (For the record: a ratings board managed by the Motion Picture Association of America handles the US film ratings system.)

* {{Documentary}}

* GayPanic: The film dedicates a brief section to how the MPAA often rates scenes with explicit gay content higher than scenes with explicit heterosexual content, even if the straight version shows more than the gay one (e.g. a lesbian masturbating through her bedclothes in ''ButImACheerleader'' risks an NC-17, whereas Kevin Spacey whacking off in the shower in ''AmericanBeauty'' gets an R).
* GetBackInTheCloset

* MediaClassifications: A considerable portion of the film deals with how the MPAA gives these out to films -- with a distinct focus on the NC-17 rating.

---

A documentary by Kirby Dick which goes into considerable detail over the rating policies in the US and [[ExecutiveMeddling how in turn they affect a film's distribution and the ways in which it may be changed before release]]. This film contains several interviews with filmmakers along with scenes that have been removed or adjusted prior to release. The documentary points out that the identities of the people who handle the ratings are kept in secrecy - and then also documents the process of investigating who they are, and reveals them, then submits that version of the documentary to them.

!!Tropes:

* BlatantLies: The filmmakers got two members of the MPAA appeals board to speak on camera. One insisted on anonymity. Cue a scene with the two interviews interspliced, giving completely contradictory explanations on how the process works. Guess which of the two gave a more sympathetic description.

* DoubleStandard: Many, including how depictions of sex versus depictions of violence are treated, how depictions of homosexuality versus depictions of heterosexuality are treated, etc...
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: As that the released version of this documentary was not presented to the MPAA (it only takes 1 second's worth of difference), this film has not been rated by the MPAA.
* ExecutiveMeddling - Oh boy...
* ExplicitContent - Inevitable, given the subject matter.
* GayPanic - A brief section of the film is dedicated to how the MPAA often rates scenes with explicit gay content higher than scenes with explicit heterosexual content, even if the straight version is more explicit than the gay one (compare: a lesbian masturbating through her bedclothes in ''ButImACheerleader'' risking an NC-17, whereas Kevin Spacey whacking off in the shower in ''AmericanBeauty'' gets an R).

* InsistentTerminology: The MPAA ratings board would like you to know that they are definitely not censors.
** There's also numerous clips of Jack Valenti asserting that the members of the board are "neither gods nor fools, just parents" and that they represent the average family. Cue Jamie Babbit, the director of ''ButImACheerleader'', wondering if that meant that gay and lesbian parents such as herself were represented. [[ForegoneConclusion You can probably guess the answer.]]
*** The other problem with this sort of logic is that this 'average family' is something that ''really'' can't be defined in America because of all the different cultures that co-exist here. Unless the MPAA is referring to 'anything that can't be construed as mentally or physically abusive under US law' then their defintion can't make sense given everything that ''isn't'' allowed in an R-rated movie.
* KangarooCourt - According to Dick, he was not allowed to cite past MPAA decisions during the appeals process, even if they contradicted the decisions that affected his film.
* MediaClassifications - A considerable portion of the film deals with how these are attributed, especially the NC-17 rating.
* {{Media Watchdog}}s - Certainly puts a spotlight on them.
* MoralGuardians - The MPAA supposedly says it has no religious affiliation. Dick's account of his appeals process, however, says that there were a priest and a Presbyterian minister present for no reason that was really made clear.
* OmniscientCouncilOfVagueness - The film argues that the MPAA is eerily close to a RealLife example.
** Emphasis on vagueness - according to not-this-documentary sources, filmmakers can try to hazard a guess as to why their film got a particular rating, and edit accordingly, but to use a popular stereotype as an analogy, the MPAA is a woman telling her boyfriend that if he doesn't ''know'' what he did to piss her off, he doesn't deserve to be told.
*** And according to Trey Parker he got this treatment with the independent comedy ''Film/{{Orgazmo}}'', but when he and Matt Stone submitted the big studio-backed ''WesternAnimation/SouthParkBiggerLongerAndUncut'', he got an itemized list of what needed to be tweaked.
* OneJudgeToRuleThemAll: According to many interviewed, MPAA president Jack Valenti had - and used - absolute veto power when it came to ratings decisions.
* ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections: A section of the film talks about how harsh the ratings are for independent films, as compared to those given to the big studio productions.
* ThrowItIn - The inclusion of the submission of the film-up-to-that-point to the MPAA. Unsurprisingly, the ''documentary itself'' got an NC-17 for "showing instances of what could cause a film to gain an NC-17 rating". Dick thought that this portion was just as interesting as the main part of the documentary, and added it into the now forever-unrated theatrical release.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: This is one interpretation of the MPAA ratings board put forward in the film.

----

*** And according to Trey Parker he got this treatment with the independent comedy ''{{Orgazmo}}'', but when he and Matt Stone submitted the big studio-backed WesternAnimation/SouthParkBiggerLongerAndUncut, he got an itemized list of what needed to be tweaked.

* MediaWatchdogs - Certainly puts a spotlight on them.

* RefugeInAudacity

* ItGotWorse: Just a few years later the MPAA tried to get SOPA/PIPA passed.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar - How ''TeamAmericaWorldPolice'' and ''WesternAnimation/SouthParkBiggerLongerAndUncut'' managed to get away with what they did.

*** And according to Trey Parker he got this treatment with the independent comedy ''{{Orgazmo}}'', but when he and Matt Stone submitted the big studio-backed SouthPark movie, he got an itemized list of what needed to be tweaked.

* Explicit Content - Inevitable, given the subject matter.

* ExplicitContent - Inevitable, given the subject matter.

A documentary by Kirby Dick which goes into considerable detail over the rating policies in the US and [[ExecutiveMeddling how in turn they affect a film's distribution and the ways in which it may be changed before release]]. This film contains several interviews with filmmakers along with scenes that have been removed or adjusted prior to release. The documentary points out that the identities of the people who handle the ratings are kept in secrecy - and then also documents the process of investigating who they are, and reveals them. Then submits that version of the documentary to them.

* MoralEventHorizon - During the movie the major defense that members of the MPAA used for their organization was that they are not a governmental organization so it doesn't violate the Constitution. A few years later the MPAA was one of the major players in trying to get SOPA/PIPA passed. These bills would have violated the first and fifth amendment as well as have them work hand-in-hand with the government to shut down websites without due process. Hindsight is a bitch, ain't it?

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar - How ''TeamAmericaWorldPolice'' and ''Film/SouthParkBiggerLongerAndUncut'' managed to get away with what they did.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar - How ''TeamAmericaWorldPolice'' and ''SouthParkBiggerLongerAndUncut'' managed to get away with what they did.

* InsistentTerminology: the MPAA ratings board would like you to know that they are definitely not censors.

A documentary by Kirby Dick which goes into considerable detail over the rating policies in the US and [[ExecutiveMeddling how in turn they affect a film's distribution and the ways in which it may be changed before release]].
This film contains several interviews with filmmakers along with scenes that have been removed or adjusted prior to release.
The documentary points out that the identities of the people who handle the ratings are kept in secrecy - and then also documents the process of investigating who they are, and reveals them. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Then submits that version of the documentary to them]].