WE WILL TALK WITH AN
OUTSPOKEN OPPONENT OF ANY
FORM OF CENSORSHIP, FRANK
ZAPPA, AND TIPPER GORE,
AUTHOR OF THE BOOK, "RAISING
PG KIDS IN AN X RATED
SOCIETY."
>>> HIBEST KNOWN GROUP WAS
THE MOTHERS OF INVENON.
IN ADDITION TO HIS MUSICAL
CAREER, FRANK ZAPPA HAS BEEN
AN OUTSPOKEN CRITIC OF THE
MOVEMENT TO REQUIRE CONTENT
RATING FOR LP'S.
HE IS IN OUR LOS ANGELES
BUREAU.
JOINING US IN WASHINGTON IS
TIPPER GORE, ALONG WITH HER
HUS■AND, ALBERT GORE OF
TENNESSEE.
SHE SADOWN TO LOOK AT SOME
OF THE NEW MOVIES RECENTLY
AND DID NOT LIKE WHAT SHE
SAW.
FRANK ZAPPA, LET ME START
WITH YOU.
YOU ARE■ A FATHER.R■
DO YOU MIND IF YOUR KIDS
WATCH THAT STUFF.
>> MY TWO OLDER CHILDREN,
MOON AND DWEEZIL SAW FACES
OF DEA.
THE NET RESULT WAS AFTER
WATCHING THIS THEY WERE SO
SICKENED BY IT THEY BECAME
VEGETARIANS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
■rUSING.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, THERE CAN BE
OR DO YOU FEEL THERE CAN BE
NEGATIVE EFFECTS TO WATCHING
SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
>> WHY DOES SAY OBVIOUSLY.
I DON'T THINK THAT HAS BEEN
PROVEN BY ANYONE.
>> TIPPER GORE?
>> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF
STUDIES RESEARCHING T
VIOLENCE OTELEVISION AND
AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR AMON
CHILDREN.
A PROFESSOR AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
RESEARCHED SEXUAL VIOLENCE
AND CONCLUDED THAT IT
DES■NSIZES ATTITUDE TOWARD
RAPE VICTIMS, TOWARD THE ACT
OF RAPE ITSELF WHO SEE
SCENES OF RAPE REPEATEDLY.
THE PTA CONDUCTED HEARINGS
IN 1978 IN WHICH THEY
DETAILED CASES OF MORE
AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR AMONG
CHILDREN THEY FELT THE
CH■LDREN WERE IMITATING
VIOLENCE THEY SAW IN
TELEVISION.
THE AMICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL
ASSOCIATION HAD A REPORTUT
LAST SEPTEMBER IN WHICH THEY
SAY THAT VIEWING VIOLENCE ON
TELEVISION IS DIRECTLY
LINKED TO MORE AGGRESSIVE
BEHAVIOR AMONG CHILDREN.
THERE ARE A LOT OF STUDIES
THAT TALK ABOUT THE EFFECTS
VIEWING VIOLENCE.
>> FRANK ZAPPA, A LONG LIST
OF STUDIES.
>> BUT NO CONCLUSION.
>> TIPPER SAID DESENSITIZES.
WHEN YOU SEE A YOUNG GIRL AS
A MOMENT AGO STANDING IN A
VIDEO STORE, SAYING I LIKE
THE BLOOD, WHAT IS YOUR
REACTION?
>> THE ISSUE MAY BE
DESENSITIZING RATHER THAN
THE CONTEN.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS
PEOPLE CAN SEE ON TELEVISION
OR IN THE MOVIE THAT IS
DESENSITIZE YOU BUT THE MOST
DESENSITIZING THING IN THE
UNITED STATES TODAY IS THE
IRAN-CONTRA HEARINGS BECAUSE
THAT IS DESENSITIZING US TO
HONESTY TO THE CONSTITUTION
ITSELF.
THAT IS AN ISSUE.
THIS IS NOTHING.
>>LL RIGHT.■&
TIPPER, LET ME COME BACK TO&
THAT.
-- TO THE QUESTION OF THE
STUDIES, WHAT IT CAN DO0.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO
ADVOCATE AS A SOLUTION?
ARE YOU GOING TO TALK ABOUT
A DIFFERENT RATING FOR THESE
MOVE EASE?
>> WELL, THAT'S NOT
NECESSARILY A BAD IDEA TO
DISCUSS IT BECAUSE IF THESE
HOME VIDEO CASSETTES OR THE
RENTAL CASSETTES DO NOT GO
THROUGH THE MPAA SYSTEM THEY
ARE NOT RATED.
THEY ARE IN THE STORES
R■AILABLE TO KIDS OF ANY
AGE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN
INDUSTRY INITIATIVE WHERE
THE INDUSTRY TAKES
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING
CONSUMER INFORMATION TO
PARENTS, OTHERS WHO ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT SADISTIC
SEXUAL SAVAGE SCENES IN SOME
OF THESE MOVIES AND THE
AVAIL BUILT TO YOUNG
CHILDREN.
THE ANSWER TO THAT IS
CONSUMER INFORMATION.
>> DOESN'T A RATING MAKE
THEM MORE ENTICING?
>> THEARE ALREADY       C
ENTICING.
YOUR SHOW IS ABOUT T LARGE
APPETITE AMONG KIDS FOR
THESE MOVIES.
THE QUESTION IS FOR RENTAL
AWARENS.
THE KEY IS MOST PARENTS ARE
NOT AWARE THE CONTENTS ARE
AS BAD AS THEY ARE.
IT'S THERE RESPONSIBILITY
BUT THEY NEED GUIDANCE --
GUIDANCE FROM THE INDUSTRY.
VOLUNTARY RATINGS ARE VERY
APPROPRIATE.
>> FRANK ZAPPA, YOU ARE
ABOUT TO GO INTO THE MOV
DISTRIBUTION BUSINESS.
WOULD YOU -- IF SOMEBODY
BROUGHT IT TO YOU, WOULD YOU
DISTRIBUTE SOMETHING CALLED
SPLATTER UNIVERSITY?
>> NO.
>> WHY NOT?
>> GOOD FOR YOU.
>> IT'S NOT THE STYLE OF
STUFF THAT WILL BE ON MY
LABEL.
I STARTED A LABEL CALLED
HONKER HOME INDIVIDUAL YOFMT
IT PROVIDES STATE OF THE ARD
WEIRDNESS BUT NOT THAT TYPE
OFATERIAL.
>> IF YOU WOULDN'T
DISTRIBUTE IT, YOU HAVE SOME
OBJECTION TO IT?
>> IT'S NOT MY IDEA OF
ENTERTAINMENT.
THE MATERIAL ON MY LABEL IS
GOING TO BE THINGS THAT
WOULD ENTERTAIN ME.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THERS  QUESTION THESE
MOVIES HAVE BECOME MORE
POPULAR.
THERE ARE MORE OF THEM.
WE WILL TALK ABOUT WHY THEY
HAVE BECOME SUCH A
PHENOMENON.
>>> WITH US NOW LIVE IN OUR
ICAGO BUAU IS GENE
SISKEL, WITH ROGER EBERT
HOSTS THE PROGSISK■L AND■
EBERT AT THE MOVIES.
YOU ARE NICE TO JOIN US THIS
EVENING.
WE HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH A LOT
OF YEARS WITHOUT THESE KINDS
OF MOVIES.
YBE I SUFFER FROM TERMINAL
AGE NOW.
WHEN I THINK OF FRIDAY
FRIGHT NIGHT AT THE MOVIES
THERE WAS A VAMPIRE WITH A
BIG BLACK CAPE.
THESE THINGS HAVE PROGRESSED
A LONG WAY.
WHY HAVE THEY?
>> IT HAS PROGRESSED A LONG
WAY.
IT TASS A BIGGER SHOCK --
ONCE YOU GOT USED TO A LEVEL
OF SCK, EVEN IF IT IS
ELECTRICAL SHOT -- SHOCK, IT
TAKES A BIGGER SHOCK TO GET
ONE OUT OF YOU.
>> TO FOLLOW THROUGH TO ITS
CONCLUSION IT GETS WORSE?
>> WHEN YOU SHOW, I SPIT ON
Y■UR GRAVE, I HAVE TO KEEP
UP TO DATE WITH THIS STUFF,
THAT'S THE BAD OLD DAYS.
NOW, IT'S FACES OF DEATH.
I USED TO BE ASKED WHAT WAS
THE WORSFILM OF ALL TIME.
IT WAS■ I SPIT ON YOUR G■AV.
NOW, IT IS FACES OF DEATH.
NOW THEY HAVE FACES OF DEATH
III.
IT'S A HIGH RENTER.
I CALLED SOME STORES IN
CHICAGO.
FACES OF DEATH III■ IS
RUNNING QUITE WELL.■r
IT IS GETTING ROUGHER.
THOSE FILMS ARE NOT FAKED AS
THE MAGAZINE PUBLISHER WAS
TALKING ABOUT.
THOSE ARE SHOWING
MUTILATIONS, ACTUAL FOOTAGE
THAT WOULDN'T GO ON
BROADCAST NETWORK SHOWG
MORGUE SHO■S, KILLINGS, SOME
OF IT TRICKED UP, WHERE
THERE'S A SECOND CAMERA,
SHOWING A CAMERA
PHOTOGRAPHING A MUTILATION
BY ALL I GATOR OR BEAR,
SOMEBODY FALNG FROM■■ A
BUILDING.
■-IS STUFF IS GETTING
ROUGHER.
>> TIPPER GORE, THMAET
IS THERE.
IF THE MARKET IS THERE, IF
PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THEM,
THERE'S REALLY NO WAY YOU
CAN STOP THAT, IS THERE?
>> I DON'T ADVOCATE OPPING
THAT.
WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ARE
THE NUMBER OF RENTAL THAT IS
ARE UNRATED.
EY ARE ASSESSIBLE TO KIDS
OF ANY AGE, PRETEENS AND
YOUNG ADOLESCENTS.
PARENTS NEED TO MAKE A
JUDGMENT.
>> FAIR COMMENT.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY YOU
WANTED TO STOP IT.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A RATING
OR SOME SORT OF DIFFERENT
WARNING FOR WARRANTS OR
WHATEVER, BASICALLY IF THE
MARKET IS THERE, PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO GO AND SEE THEM
WHETHER YOU RATE THEM, PUT
ANY RESTRICTION ON THEM,
THEY ARE GOING TO SEE THEM.
>> THE REAL KEY IS
EDUCATION.
THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION SHOULD
BE FRAMED ON THE ARGUMENT OF
THE REAL VIOLENCE IN OUR
SOCIETY.
THE YOUTH HOME SIDRATE HAS
GONE UP 250% SINCE 1950.
ONE KID UNDER 21 A DAY WAS
SHOT.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY.
WE OUGHT TO DEBATE IT■
PUBLICLY AND A IS IT HEALTHY
TO GLORIFY VIOLENCE TO T■E O
GRAPHIC DEGREE WE DO?
■rIS IT HEALTHY WOMEN ARE■
ALWAYS SHOWN AS THE VICTIM?
>> LET ME RAISE THAT
QUESTION.
ONE OF THE CRITICS IN THE
PIECE DI
IT IS A TERRIBLE PROBLEM FOR
MEN BECAUSE EY BASICALLY
SHOW AN AWFUL LOT OF
AGGRESSION AGAINST WOMEN.■
>> ONE OF THE REASONS THEY
DO SHOW AGGRESSION AGAINST
WOMEN IS BECAUSE THERE'S A
MARKET FOR FILMS THAT SHOW
AGGRESSION AGAINST WOMEN.
>> TIPPER, GO AHEAD.
>> IT IS THE PROBLEM WITH
THE MARKET PLACE.
THEY DETERNE WHAT THEY
WANT TO SEE.
THERE'S A SENTIMENIN THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT DEMANDS
TO SEE WOMEN BEING TREATED
IN THIS WAY.
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM NOT A
PROBLEM OFABELING AN
OBJECT.
>> IT'S A CHEAP INDUSTRIAL
INGREDIENT.
IT IS STRIP MINING.
YOU ARE SELLING SEX AND
VIOLENCE TO TES AND     E
PREENS.
THE MPANIES SHOULD BE
RESPONSIBLE.
IT'S LIKE JUNK FOOD.
>> GENE, AREN'T WE DOWN TO
THE QUESTION WE ALWAYS GET
INTO IT?
IT BECOMES A FREE SPEECH
QUESTION.
IF THERE'S A MARKET THERE
FOR THAT KIND OF MOVIE --
>> THE KEY CONCEPT HERE IS
GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT.
I THINK THAT THE BROADCAST
TONIGHT -- THE ULTIMATE GOOD
OF IT IS TO INDICATE TO
PARENTS IT IS NOT -- YOU
SHOWED "FRIDAY THE 13TH."
THAT ISN'T IN THE0 LEAGUE
THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT■&
HERE THAT PEOPLE ARE SO
CONCERNED ABOUT.■ç
THAT IS ALMOST BENIGN
COMPARED TO SOME OF THE
BRUTAL MERIAL.
FRANK ZAPPA SAID IT'S NOT MY
IDEA OF ENTERTAINMENT.
THE MOST DAMAGE DONE IS NOT
A ONE FOR ONE ACT.
I DON'T EXPECT PEOPLE TO GO
T AND HAVE TOOBOX
RDERS AFTER THEY SEE IT.
THERE'S A CONFUSION THAT
COMES UP IN THE MIND.
THAT IS THIS.
THA■ IN THE NAME■■ OF
ENTERTAINMENT YOU WATCH A
TOOL BOX MURDER.
IT'S LABELED AS FUN, AS A
GOOD TIME.
EVEN FRANK ZAPPA ADMITS IT'S
NOT HIS CUP OF           oSN
ENTERTAINMENT.
I THINK FROM A CULTURAL
LEADER LIKE FRANK ZAPPA TO
SAY IT'S NOT HIS KIND OF
ENTEAINMENT IS GREAT TO GO
ACROSS THE NATIONAL
■IRWAVES.
IT'S NOT MINE EITHER.
>> DO YOU NEED TO EDUCATION
PEOPLE ON A MOVIE CALLED
"BLOODSUCKING FREAKS"?
IT IS SELF EVIDENT WHAT IT
IS.
>> I TKED TO TWO STORE
OWRS TONIGHT.
THEY TOLD ME AN AMAZING
STORY WHICH IS THEY NOTE■
AGES AND NOTE ON CARDS NOT
TO RENT -- PARENTS SAY,
DON'RENT TO MY KIDS.
THEY HAD PARENTS KBAOJ AND
SAY YOU ARE NOT RENTING TO
MY KIDS.
I WANT THEM TO SEE THIS.
I ASKED ONE GUY.
I SAID DO YOU THINK THESE
PARENTS KNOW WHAT IS IN THE
FILM■
HE SAID NO.
THEY THINK IT IS "FRIDAY THE
13THOR THE OLD VAMPIRE
STUFF.■&
THEY ARE NOTWARE HOW ROUGH
>>> WITH US AGAIN NOW FRANK
ZAPPA, TIPPER GORE, AND NE
SISKEL.
GENE, IN GETTING READY FOR
THE PROGRAM WE LKED TO
SOME PEOPLE WHO OWN CHAINS
OF THE VIDEO RENTAL STORES.
SOME SAID THEY MAKE AN
EFFORT TO RESTRICT THE AGE
OF KIDS.
IS THERENY SIGNS THEY ARE
DOING IT?
>> BLOCK BUSTER INDIVIDUAL
YORKS A LARGE CHAIN WHICH
HAS MONSTER STORES OF 13,000
TITLES -- A NATIONAL COMPANY
OUT OF THE TEXAS, -- THEY
HAVE A CODING SYSTEM IN THE
MPUTER WHERE IT WILL -- A
PARENT CAN CALL AND SAY DO
NOT RENT R RATED FILMS TO MY
CHILD, MILDER THAN WHAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT.
A LIGHT WILL GO OFF.
THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
RENT TO KIDS.
>> ARE TY THE EXCEPTION OR
THE RULE?
>> PROBABLY THE EXCEPTION.
T■E TREND IS TOWARD BIGGER
STORES.
THERE ARE MANY MOM AND POP
STES RENTING CASUALLY AND
SOME THAT ARE TRYING TO RENT
RESPONSIBLY.
>> FRANK ZAPPA, YOUR
REACTION TO THAT, STORES
LIMITING WHAT KIDS CAN TAKE
AND THE IDEA OPUTTING A
RATING ON A MOVIE THATOULD
GUIDE THE STORES TO WHAT
THEY DO?
>> THE FILMS BEING RELEASED
ON VIDEO CASSETTE THAT ARE
ACTUAL FILMS THAT WERE IN
RELEASE IN THEATER ARE R
RATED.
THAT RATING SYSTEM ITSELF
HAS BEEN A DISMAL FAILURE.
THE NET RESULT IS TO ALERT
PEOPLE THAT U KNOW YOU
WANT TO SEE THE R BECAUSE
ñrTHAT'S WHERE THE ACTION I.
I THINK RESTRICTING ANY KIND
OF ACCESS FOR ANY AGE GROUP
FOR ANKIND OF MATEñOAL IN■
HOME VIDEO WHICH IS THE LAST
FRONTI OF FREE INFORMATION
IN A PICTORIAL SENSE, WHERE
YOU CAN CHOOSE IT, BRING IT
INTO YOUR HOME -- IT DOESN'T
HAVE TO BE ABLAND AS
TELEVISION, THERE SHOULDN'T
BE ANYTHING TO INTERFERE
WITH IT.
>> TIPPER GORE, DOOU SEE
ANYTHING WHICH POINTS TO AN
ABATEMENT OF THIS PHENOMENA?
 NO.
IT WILL GET WORSE.
WHAT WE HAVE IN THE MARKET
P]ACE IS SOMETHING AKIN TO
VIDEO ANARCHY
WHAT THEONSUMER WOULD BE
BEST SERVED BY WOULD BE A
VOLUNTARY SYEM WITHIN THE
INDUSTRY TO PROVIDE
CONSISTENT INFORMATION, SO
PEOPLE CAN MAKE INDIVIDUAL
CHOICES IN THE MARKET PLACE.
>> ALL RIGHT, TIPPER GORE,
FRANK ZAPPA, GENE SISKEL,
THANK YOU FOR BEING
