Valenti Opposes Plan for Drug Use Rating for Films

Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Assn. of America, said Thursday that he opposes the creation of a new movie rating subcategory that would warn parents of drug use in films.

Testifying at a Senate Governmental Affairs permanent investigations subcommittee hearing, Valenti said the proposed subcategory, “SA” for “substance abuse,” would be “difficult to implement.”

PG-13 Classification

However, he said, the industry’s Classification and Rating Board’s policy review committee is considering “and will doubtless approve” a new guideline to ensure that films depicting drug use are rated no less than PG-13. That rating suggests that some material may not be suitable for children under 13.

“We’ve got five categories now,” Valenti said. “How many more can it sustain without totally confusing people?”

He said that the existing rating system was not set up to act as a “surrogate parent.”

Sen. William V. Roth Jr. (R-Del.), subcommittee chairman, said that drug abuse is “a very, very serious problem” and “must be deglamorized” by the film industry, since actors are major role models for children.

The proposal for an “SA” rating, contained in a subcommittee staff report, was suggested by the Entertainment Industry Council.

Actor William Shatner, known for his role as Capt. Kirk on “Star Trek,” said the entertainment industry should campaign against drug use. But he said that movies “reflect” real life and are “not meant to project a moral value.”

Several who testified, including subcommittee attorney Barbara Kammerman, showed movie excerpts to make their point. Kammerman showed excerpts from recent box-office hits such as “Poltergeist” and “Desperately Seeking Susan,” in which she said that marijuana smoking was depicted as a fun, everyday activity.