Post by Clouseau on Sept 21, 2007 4:07:08 GMT
i found an article discussing censorship of foreign TV series and films in Iran, and i thought it was interesting...
i have quoted the beginning of the article, because i found it the most relevant for us, but you can read the full article here if you're interested in more info:
www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/111313.html
anyway, you can comment on that article, or you can comment on other ways Panther films may/may not have been censored in other countries - whatever you like - i just wanted to post that bit in case someone was interested in it...
Tehran - Television producers in Iran have a difficult task and are under fierce pressure to compete with international broadcasters while placating the Islamic clergy. Almost half of the 70 million Iranians have access to more than 500 foreign satellite channels that provide severe competition to Iranian produced stations. The clergy expects the country's homegrown channels to confront the satellite channels by providing entertaining programmes that also observe Islamic norms and maintain ideological loyalty.
"Sometimes, this task turns indeed into a Mission Impossible," an Iranian TV producer said.
One of producers' main problems is the obligatory Islamic dress code and headscarves for women. In addition to maintaining proper dress, actresses are not allowed to touch their male colleagues - let alone embrace or even kiss - often harming the dramaturgy.
In one example, a son returns after many years from the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, but his mother is not allowed to take him in her arms. Instead, she is forced to show her emotions without physical contact.
Also a declaration of love can only be dramatized in the form of short eye contact or a smile. Even simple scenes such as falling asleep must show women doing so wearing a scarf in blatant contrast to real life.
In foreign TV series or feature films the "immoral" scenes are simply censored, causing the viewer to frequently lose track of the story as scenes and the dialogue are cut.
To avoid this problem, scenes with "indecently-dressed" women are refilmed from a screening of the original as close-ups to keep the outfit from being seen.
Another method simply paints extra fabric onto the actresses' body. A black blouse was painted over the low-necked dress of US actress Beyonce Knowles in the recent Pink Panther movie.
"This camouflage was funnier than the film itself," said Azin, a 28-year-old who had already purchased the DVD from the black market and seen the film. Persian websites widely discussed the camouflage and made fun of the new initiative.
"Sometimes, this task turns indeed into a Mission Impossible," an Iranian TV producer said.
One of producers' main problems is the obligatory Islamic dress code and headscarves for women. In addition to maintaining proper dress, actresses are not allowed to touch their male colleagues - let alone embrace or even kiss - often harming the dramaturgy.
In one example, a son returns after many years from the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, but his mother is not allowed to take him in her arms. Instead, she is forced to show her emotions without physical contact.
Also a declaration of love can only be dramatized in the form of short eye contact or a smile. Even simple scenes such as falling asleep must show women doing so wearing a scarf in blatant contrast to real life.
In foreign TV series or feature films the "immoral" scenes are simply censored, causing the viewer to frequently lose track of the story as scenes and the dialogue are cut.
To avoid this problem, scenes with "indecently-dressed" women are refilmed from a screening of the original as close-ups to keep the outfit from being seen.
Another method simply paints extra fabric onto the actresses' body. A black blouse was painted over the low-necked dress of US actress Beyonce Knowles in the recent Pink Panther movie.
"This camouflage was funnier than the film itself," said Azin, a 28-year-old who had already purchased the DVD from the black market and seen the film. Persian websites widely discussed the camouflage and made fun of the new initiative.
i have quoted the beginning of the article, because i found it the most relevant for us, but you can read the full article here if you're interested in more info:
www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/111313.html
anyway, you can comment on that article, or you can comment on other ways Panther films may/may not have been censored in other countries - whatever you like - i just wanted to post that bit in case someone was interested in it...
