Movie moguls went head-to-head with marketers of do-it-yourself movie editing software on Capitol Hill today, as a House subcommittee pondered whether the practice should be protected.
Film industry representatives claim editing a film beyond what takes place in the studio is a violation of the filmmakers' creativity.
"Would Michelangelo be OK with putting a pair of shorts on the statue David?" Robin Broonk, executive director of The Creative Coalition asked.
John Freehery, of the Motion Picture Association of America, said directors hate it when their films are edited for those purposes and others. "Ask Steven Spielberg how he feels about a stranger creating and marketing their own versions of "Saving Private Ryan" and "Schindler's List," and I believe you will get some of the flavor for the concern that exists on this issue.
However, Rep. Clifford Stearns (R-Fla.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection said many films are already edited for TV and for airlines.
The mostly-conservative committee members generally gave short shrift to the filmmakers' pleas.
"If you want to stand there in front of the camera, say whatever you want, stand naked and pour chocolate over yourself, that's fine. But we should be allowed to edit that," said Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas).
They were more kindly disposed towards Bill Aho, CEO of Clearplay, Inc..
Aho said the technology his company markets "can be implemented into consumer electronics devices, such as DVD players, televisions and cable set-top boxes, to help parents control media in their homes."
"The movie industry is responding to marketplace demand for family friendly films," Freehery continued. "Any attempt by Congress to permit unauthorized editing of movies to produce 'family friendly' versions will either encourage family unfriendly versions as well, or run afoul of Constitutional protections of free speech."
Although nothing much happened -- or, for that matter, is likely to happen -- as a result of the hearing, it provided an interesting look at the surprising capabilities of Aho's Clearplay.
Clearplay allows the user to play a normal DVD -- or watch a film on digital cable -- and select filters that can control language as well as sex, violence, gore and other attributes and activities.
As an example, Aho showed a clip from Mel Gibson's "The Patriot." When he activated Clearplay, a violent battle scene was not completely erased, but scenes of blood splattering and a soldier being decapitated were automatically edited out.
Aho has sold about 100,000 units and it works by having preset "flags" that know what sort of language and scenes to edit based on user preferences. Currently the technology is only available online, at www.clearplay.com and a few other online retailers.
The players start at $69. The user needs an annual membership of about $70 that will allow him or her to download those preset "flags," Aho said.
