The Cost of Rating

Re Michael Phillips’ Sept. 18 article about the Dallas Motion Picture Classification Board: One point not made strongly enough was the cost involved in these screenings, which runs into several hundred dollars, plus shipping.

For independently released films, the impact in a market like Dallas can be significant. Beyond that, few independents have the resources to contest the locally applied ratings, no matter how absurd or damaging they may be.

Fortunately for us, the people of Dallas seem to be considerably more enlightened than the chosen few on the censorship committee. Otherwise, Cinecom’s “A Room With a View,” rated “unsuitable,” wouldn’t have played there to packed houses for 50 consecutive weeks.

RICHARD ABRAMOWITZ

Executive Vice President

Sales & Marketing

Cinecom Entertainment Group

New York