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The Business

Film Rating Advisors, Inc.

The Motion Picture Association of American doesn’t like to reveal much about the workings of the ratings board that assigns those PG-13’s and R’s and sometimes the dreaded NC-17’s to films.

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By Kim Masters • Aug 2, 2014 • 1 min read

The Motion Picture Association of American doesn’t like to reveal much about the workings of the ratings board that assigns those PG-13’s and R’s and sometimes the dreaded NC-17’s to films.

Now, two former members of the MPAA ratings board have left their posts and formed Film Ratings Advisors, Inc.

Barry Freeman and Howard Fridkin say that instead of taking a movie straight to the MPAA and possibly coming away with an undesirable rating, filmmakers can come to them for advice.

Kim Masters talks to Freeman and Fridkin about why the MPAA rating board’s decisions can sometimes seem arbitrary, and what a filmmaker has to gain by going to an outsider first.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Kim Masters

    partner/writer at Puck News, host of KCRW's “The Business.”

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Kaitlin Parker

    Producer, 'The Business' and 'Hollywood Breakdown'

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    Barry Freeman

    Film Rating Advisors, Inc.

  • KCRW placeholder

    Howard Fridkin

    Film Rating Advisors, Inc.

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