More Than A Movie: Ethics In Entertainment / Edition 1

by Miguel Valenti

Overview

In More Than a Movie, producer and entertainment attorney F. Miguel Valenti presents a compelling argument for the creative community to consider the consequences of its products, from movies to TV to the Internet. Valenti refrains from attacking the industries in which he himself works, but argues for reflection on the part of those who create media. More Than a Movie takes a pioneering first step toward outlining the issues in an insider fashion, and provides the tools to make ethical decisions about creating for the big and small screens. Edited by veteran media writer Les Brown and media consultant Laurie Trotta, More Than a Movie is written to stimulate debate in professional and academic arenas, and for the enjoyment of everyone who loves entertainment. The book contains a foreword by noted author and director Peter Bogdanovich, and commentary from producers Christine Vachon and David Brown. Mediascope, a Studio City, California-based media policy organization, commissioned the book upon discovering that ethical discussions seldom occur in film and television schools, although they are staples for studying law, medicine, business and journalism. Issues range from ethnic and gender stereotyping to excessive and gratuitous violence."It's not about censorship — it's about having a responsibility for what we do," says author Valenti (no relation to MPAA's Jack Valenti). "The book outlines how we are helping to shape societal values and individual behavior with the artistic choices we make." A team of writers from across the nation offer essays: Neil Hickey, editor, Columbia Journalism Review ; Annette Insdorf, Columbia University; Ted Pease, professor and columnist; Jack Pitman, Variety; Martin Koughan, Emmy Award-winning documentarian. The essays in More Than a Movie are interspersed with stories of actual ethical dilemmas told by noted screenwriters, directors and other practitioners in interviews by Manhattan writer Laura Blum.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813390758
Publisher:	Westview Press
Publication date:	10/31/2000
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	308
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)
Lexile:	1370L (what's this?)

About the Author

F. Miguel Valenti is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker, talent manager, and entertainment attorney. He created and taught two film courses at Yale College, and has lectured and written on the entertainment industry. His most recent credits include Vig (aka The Money Kings) with Peter Falk, Lauren Holly, Timothy Hutton and Freddie Prinze, Jr., and the award-winning Master of the Manor.

Table of Contents

Foreword (Peter Bogdanovich), Acknowledgments, Introduction, I. Does Media Influence Society?, II. Does Influence Imply Responsibility?, III. Ethics, A Practical Primer 61, IV. All You Need to Make a Movie Is a Girl and a Gun, V. Documentary and Reality-Based Programming, VI. Children’s Programming, Appendices, Appendix A — Bibliography, Appendix B — Filmography, Index

Editorial Reviews

As Peter Bogdanovich asks in the foreword to this work, Do filmmakers have a moral responsibility in their professional work? This series of readings, authored primarily by producer Valenti (with contributions and asides from the film community throughout), strives to nurture an "ethical choice reflex" in filmmakers, a means of keeping them thinking about moral choices without preaching a specific code. The collection is not, however, a study of business ethics but rather of "content ethics," offered with the realization that one is often a direct result of the other. The nonacademic writing style will attract thoughtful general readers (Valenti's primary audience) interested in issues of stereotyping, violence, explicit sex, substance abuse, and children's programming. As no other recent work covers quite the same territory so broadly and even-handedly, this book comes highly recommended for all academic and public libraries.--Anthony J. Adam, Prairie View A&M Univ. Lib., TX Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

Valenti, a Los Angeles-based producer, manager, and entertainment attorney, presents real ethical issues confronted daily when producing works of film. He engages social responsibility in filmmakers, encouraging them to become aware of the possible consequences of the images and attitudes they choose. Written as a tool for discussion and debate in professional as well as academic arenas. Includes material by other film-industry contributors. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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