Film Advisory Board
The Film Advisory Board (FAB) is a crucial entity established in 1968 as part of a new film rating system that replaced the Hays Code in the Hollywood film industry. Its primary mission is to provide parents with necessary information about films, enabling informed decisions regarding what their children view. The FAB assesses various aspects of films, including themes, violence, language, nudity, sensuality, and drug use. The organization comprises parents and individuals associated with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), ensuring that the perspectives of families are included in the rating process. Film ratings are also tagged to all advertising materials, ensuring consistent communication to audiences about appropriate content. While approximately 85 percent of theater owners affiliated with the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) adhere to this system, disputes over ratings can arise, with filmmakers sometimes modifying content to achieve favorable ratings. Surveys indicate that a significant majority of parents find this rating system beneficial, although some films do not undergo the review process. Overall, the FAB plays a significant role in guiding families in the realm of film consumption.
Film Advisory Board
Founded: 1968
Type of organization: American film industry monitoring group
Significance: Created to review and rate films and collateral materials, the FAB has played a role in self-censorship of films
In 1968 the Hollywood film industry created a new rating system to replace the old Hays Code. The new code has been monitored by the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO), International Film Importers & Distributors of America, and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) through the new FAB, whose membership comprises parents and other persons associated with members of the MPAA. The mission of the new rating system was to provide parents with information about films so they could make informed decisions about the films their children view.
For each submitted film, the FAB makes judgments concerning the film’s handling of theme, violence, language, nudity, sensuality, drug abuse, and other areas of parental interest. All advertising for submitted films must be tagged with an “all audience” viewing rating. Therefore, all film tags, print, television, radio, and print advertising matter connected with the film must be inspected. Decisions concerning the criteria for rating films have often brought disagreements. Producers may appeal ratings, but filmmakers have usually been willing to change the content of their films to earn commercially desirable ratings.
Approximately 85 percent of all NATO theater owners use the system. National yearly surveys have indicated that 74 percent of all parents find the system useful to them. Nevertheless, some films are never submitted for review.