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You’d think Hollywood would get the message.
Based on the success of companies that offer sanitized versions of popular movies, you’d think moviemakers would see another opportunity to turn a buck and do it themselves.
But, no! Hollywood has chosen to fight. Directors say they put all of that profanity, nudity and gore in their flicks for good reason, and they don’t want anyone messing with it.
Never mind those high-minded moviemakers already provide edited versions of their films for the airlines, television and overseas consumption. It defies reason for them not to do the same thing for an audience that obviously exists among those who rent and buy for home consumption.
So, it’s off to court for a battle that will make a lot of attorneys rich along a likely path to the Supreme Court.
Because a few enterprising entrepreneurs are cutting crud so families can view top-notch movies without worrying about what they’ll see and hear, the movie moguls say their artistic rights are being violated. They may very well be right. Clipping and snipping for profit raises legitimate First Amendment issues along with serious concerns about censorship.
But, the issue would be moot if Hollywood would simply swallow its collective pride and make available for rental and home sale, edited down versions of their movies. The demand exists, and there is money to be made.
Yes, you’d think they’d get the message.
