Interview with Arthur Everard, Chief Censor 1984 - 1990.
Tape 1. Side 1.
Discusses how he came to be Chief Censor, mentions Bernie Tunicliff. Recalls the type of films to be censored under the 1983 Films Act and the criteria of film censorship, mentions Brian Fry and Oliver Wendle-Holmes. Recalls Tunicliff’s length of appointment, mentions Ian McClean, Doug Mcintosh, Anthony Hill and Sahra Ingram and the new classifications and classification notes bought in by Tunicliff. Explains the classifications, notes and parent and guardian accompaniments. Talks in depth about the censorship editing process, mentions John Rigg and Jim Smith.
Tape 1. Side 2.
Continues discussing editing. Recalls a preference for classifying rather than cutting. Talks about the type of material cut. Talks about ‘defacto censors’ eg police and customs. Talks in depth about distributor Mark Galloway. Mentions The Williams Report and censoring homosexual acts. Discusses the Film Festival and the Film Society and passing sexually explicit material in the name of ‘art’, mentions ‘Passollini’s 120 Days of Sodom’. Goes on to discuss ‘hard core’ pornography bought in by Mark Galloway , mentions ‘Deep Throat’, ‘Electric Blues’, ‘Peaches and Cream’ and then ‘Hail Mary’ and ‘Last Temptation of Christ’ in relation to protesting against ‘pornography’.
Tape 2. Side 1. [Tape 1. side 2 AUD.1205A]
Discusses the issue of film censorship and ‘artistic merit’, mentions Graeme Lee. Goes on to talk in depth about ‘Once were Warriors’ and the response by prison inmates. Talks extensively about screenings for groups (eg. Rotarians, school kids) to classify films and make decisions on film censorship. Talks about pornography and the views of ‘Women against Pornography’ and the language / terminology used in film censorship. Explains the process of censorship by the Video Recordings Authority.
Tape 2. Side 2. [Tape 1. side 2 AUD.1205A]
Continues discussing the Video Recordings Authoriy. Goes on to talk about the Minister Richard Bassett, Ansley [Witishek], the Video Recordings Authority and the film ‘Last House on the Left’. Goes on to talk about the new act whereby film censors had to be dismissed after 6years due to ‘desensitisation’. Discusses his perspective on differing classifications for films and home movies. Talks about differing perceptions of violence and sex on screen. Talks about the Christian Fundamentalist Right and Women Against Pornography. Talks about Patricia Bartlett and The Society for the Promotion of Community Standards.
Tape 3. Side 1. [Tape 2. side 1 AUD.1205B]
Continues discussing Patricia Bartlett. Goes on to talk about censorship of S & M material as well as sexual violence in mainstream films. Discusses using film / TV as a rationalisation for violence and violent sex etc. Mentions graffitti on his house by censorship protestors. Discusses the difficulty in trying to represent all cultures, ages and genders when clasifying films. Talks about working with the police force. Goes on to talk about the notion of being ‘desensitised’.
Tape 3. Side 2. [Tape 2. side 1 AUD.1205B]
Continues talking about censor ‘desensitisation’. Mentions John O’Shea’s film ‘Ngati’. Mentions film ‘Pretty as you Feel’ and Patricia Bartlett putting a case against the Film Censors due to the denigration of women. Again discusses ‘Ngati’ and the classification notes. Tells story about Patricia Bartlett’s attempt to ban assumed underage people from a film. Talks about ‘video nasty’ material, mentions the Review Board and Trevor Morley.
Tape 4. Side 1. [Tape 2. side 2 AUD.1205B]
Discusses ‘Rock around the Clock’ 1956, mentions ‘The Wild One’. Discusses changing decisions on censorship over time. Talks about parents acting as censors and the reasoning behind violent crimes. Discusses the issue of news violence and censorship. Talks about the old style of violence, mentions ‘sanitised violence’ like ‘Laurel and Hardy’ and early Westerns. Discusses his dismissal.
Recorded 18/10/1999.