Feature Films for Families
Encyclopedia
Feature Films for Families (FFFF) is a privately held entertainment company based in the United States
. According to the company, Feature Films for Families makes films that reinforce traditional family values and morality, are suitable for all ages and contain no profanity
, sexuality
, violence
, or vulgarity
. The founder of the company believes that rated R movies have a negative impact on society, and that few other alternatives are offered.
Feature Films for Families was based out of Murray, Utah
. It initially distributed films that were in the public domain
such as It's A Wonderful Life
. It then moved to buying distribution rights. The first film it produced that won an award was Season's of the Heart.
Feature Films for Families has been largely staffed by Latter-day Saints members and many of the actors, directors, producers and other individuals involved in its productions have been from this religious group. Its films promote values that resonate with Latter-day Saints but do not necessarily involve characters who are identified as members of this faith. Some of its films were based on stories that originally had clearly and identifiably Latter-day Saint characters. These LDS specific characters were removed or altered to be a generalized Protestant form. This action is viewed by some within the religion as an unfortunate abandonment of cultural specificity, a view that was expressed by Richard Dutcher
at a forum on Mormon Filmmaking at BYU in 2000.
Feature Films for Families has had so many Latter-day Saints working as directors, producers and in other developmental capacities such as screenplay writers and cinematographers that it is included in the Mormon Literature Database run by BYU
.
Feature Films for Families has produced more than twenty movies. They have been awarded at various film festivals nationwide. In 1996, the company acquired an animation studio in Hungary
. Since then, more than fifteen animated films have been produced. On average two films are produced a year.
Feature Films for Families often purchases the rights to the content and production of various movies. This gains Feature Films for Families the right to remove any debatably objectionable content in the film. Since beginning to purchase rights, Feature Films for Families has amassed a collection of more than 100 films. Hoosiers
is included in this collection. The company has worked with producers such as Trevor Albert and James Keach
to remove the profanity from the film, Waiting for Forever
.
In 1995 Feature Films for Families created the company Copyright Technologies. This company manufactures more than 3.5 million DVD
s and Videos and ships approximately 70,000 units weekly.
movies. Included are titles such as The ButterCream Gang
, Rigoletto
, The Velveteen Rabbit, Picture Perfect
, and The Retrievers
.
Films by Feature Films for Families have received honors at numerous film festivals, including; the Chicago International Film Festival
, the Houston International Film Festival, and the International Family Film Festival. Other awards won by films include the Director’s Gold Award, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Director, and the Liv Ullman Peace Prize.
paid $70,000 together to the Merchandising Practices Revolving Fund. Feature Films for Families had created an alliance with the Dove Foundation, a non-profit foundation which is known for its activities of rating, reviewing, and endorsing films. FFFF worked with the Dove Foundation as part of a Nationwide campaign to promote the Dove Foundation’s non-profit organization. The two companies worked together via telemarketing, but because Feature Films for Families is a for-profit corporation, this allegiance violated Missouri
’s No Call law.
In 2010, Verizon Wireless
filed suit against Feature Films for Families after the company allegedly placed nearly 500,000 illegal automated telemarketing
calls in ten days to the mobile phones on Verizon's network. The calls were recorded advertisements for the FFFF film "The Velveteen Rabbit". The Justice Department
, acting for the FTC
, filed a complaint in US District Court
charging Feature Films for Families, Inc., its owner Forrest S. Baker III, and two other companies owned by Baker with "waging deceptive and illegal telemarketing campaigns pitching movies and soliciting for donations, including calls to more than 16 million phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry." The complaint seeks "a court order to permanently bar the defendants from violating the FTC Act
and the Telemarketing Sales Rule, as well as civil penalties, and disgorgement of their ill-gotten gains."
In May 2011, the Justice Department
, acting for the FTC
, filed a complaint in US District Court
charging Feature Films for Families, Inc., its owner Forrest S. Baker III, and two other companies owned by Baker with "waging deceptive and illegal telemarketing campaigns pitching movies and soliciting for donations, including calls to more than 16 million phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry." The complaint seeks "a court order to permanently bar the defendants from violating the FTC Act
and the Telemarketing Sales Rule, as well as civil penalties, and disgorgement of their ill-gotten gains."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. According to the company, Feature Films for Families makes films that reinforce traditional family values and morality, are suitable for all ages and contain no profanity
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
, sexuality
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
, violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
, or vulgarity
Vulgarity
Vulgarity is the quality of being common, coarse or unrefined. This judgement may refer to language, visual art, social classes or social climbers...
. The founder of the company believes that rated R movies have a negative impact on society, and that few other alternatives are offered.
History
Feature Films for Families was established in 1988 with 2 major arms of business. One part of the company was the production of family films. The other was a distribution system for both films they produced and films produced by others which they had purchased the distribution rights of. Feature Films for Families conducts business with more than 8 million families worldwide, and has grossed over 1 billion over the past 20 years. The company focuses primarily on the families nationwide with small children, which is estimated to be approximately one-fifth of the population.Feature Films for Families was based out of Murray, Utah
Murray, Utah
Murray is a city situated on the Wasatch Front in the core of Salt Lake Valley in the U.S. state of Utah. Named for territorial governor Eli Murray, it is the state's fourteenth largest city. According to the 2010 census, Murray has approximately 46,746 residents.Murray is close to Salt Lake City,...
. It initially distributed films that were in the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
such as It's A Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra and based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" written by Philip Van Doren Stern....
. It then moved to buying distribution rights. The first film it produced that won an award was Season's of the Heart.
Feature Films for Families has been largely staffed by Latter-day Saints members and many of the actors, directors, producers and other individuals involved in its productions have been from this religious group. Its films promote values that resonate with Latter-day Saints but do not necessarily involve characters who are identified as members of this faith. Some of its films were based on stories that originally had clearly and identifiably Latter-day Saint characters. These LDS specific characters were removed or altered to be a generalized Protestant form. This action is viewed by some within the religion as an unfortunate abandonment of cultural specificity, a view that was expressed by Richard Dutcher
Richard Dutcher
Richard Alan Dutcher is an American independent filmmaker who produces, writes, directs, edits, and frequently stars in his films. Well known among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for his early Mormon-themed productions, Dutcher has been called “The Father of Mormon...
at a forum on Mormon Filmmaking at BYU in 2000.
Feature Films for Families has had so many Latter-day Saints working as directors, producers and in other developmental capacities such as screenplay writers and cinematographers that it is included in the Mormon Literature Database run by BYU
BYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
.
Feature Films for Families has produced more than twenty movies. They have been awarded at various film festivals nationwide. In 1996, the company acquired an animation studio in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. Since then, more than fifteen animated films have been produced. On average two films are produced a year.
Feature Films for Families often purchases the rights to the content and production of various movies. This gains Feature Films for Families the right to remove any debatably objectionable content in the film. Since beginning to purchase rights, Feature Films for Families has amassed a collection of more than 100 films. Hoosiers
Hoosiers
Hoosiers is a 1986 sports film about a small-town Indiana high school basketball team that wins the state championship. It is loosely based on the Milan High School team that won the 1954 state championship....
is included in this collection. The company has worked with producers such as Trevor Albert and James Keach
James Keach
James Keach is an American actor, producer, and director. He is the younger brother of actor Stacy Keach, Jr., and son of actor Stacy Keach, Sr.-Background:...
to remove the profanity from the film, Waiting for Forever
Waiting For Forever
Waiting for Forever is a 2010 American romance film directed by James Keach, starring Rachel Bilson and Tom Sturridge. The film had a limited theatrical release beginning February 4, 2011. It was shot in Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah.-Plot:...
.
In 1995 Feature Films for Families created the company Copyright Technologies. This company manufactures more than 3.5 million DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
s and Videos and ships approximately 70,000 units weekly.
Produced and distributed movies
Feature Films for Families has made several direct-to-videoDirect-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
movies. Included are titles such as The ButterCream Gang
The ButterCream Gang
The ButterCream Gang is a 1992 children's direct-to-video film produced by Feature Films for Families, with music by Kurt Bestor.-Plot:Pete Turner is the leader of a good-deed-doing group, the ButterCream Gang, in the small rural town of Elk Ridge...
, Rigoletto
Rigoletto (film)
Rigoletto is a1993 musical fantasy/drama produced for Feature Films for Families and has been compared with Beauty and the Beast, The Man Without a Face, and The Phantom of the Opera.-Plot synopsis:...
, The Velveteen Rabbit, Picture Perfect
Picture Perfect (1995 film)
Picture Perfect is a film by Feature Films for Families and was first telecast October 14, 1995 on ABC. It's about two families and Ernie Barrett , owner and CEO of Barrett's Natural Soda...
, and The Retrievers
The Retrievers
The Retrievers is a 2001 television film starring Robert Hays, Mel Harris, Alan Rachins, Alana Austin, Taylor Emerson, Betty White and Robert Wagner. It was directed by Paul Schneider and written by Larry Ketron.-Plot:...
.
Films by Feature Films for Families have received honors at numerous film festivals, including; the Chicago International Film Festival
Chicago International Film Festival
The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America....
, the Houston International Film Festival, and the International Family Film Festival. Other awards won by films include the Director’s Gold Award, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Director, and the Liv Ullman Peace Prize.
Kids First
Feature Films for Families belongs to the Kids First Coalition, which is a collaboration of concerned adults. The coalition endorses and recommends media which they feel is respectable and constructive. This non-profit organization was founded in 1991 with the initial plan of teaching children critical viewing skills. The coalition is a voluntary collaboration.Controversies
In 2009, Feature Films for Families and the Dove FoundationDove Foundation
rightThe Dove Foundation is a registered United States tax deductible non-profit organization based in Grand Rapids, Michigan known among other programs for its activities of rating, reviewing and endorsing films and for campaigning against the portrayal of sexual activity and violence in Hollywood...
paid $70,000 together to the Merchandising Practices Revolving Fund. Feature Films for Families had created an alliance with the Dove Foundation, a non-profit foundation which is known for its activities of rating, reviewing, and endorsing films. FFFF worked with the Dove Foundation as part of a Nationwide campaign to promote the Dove Foundation’s non-profit organization. The two companies worked together via telemarketing, but because Feature Films for Families is a for-profit corporation, this allegiance violated Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
’s No Call law.
In 2010, Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, is one of the largest mobile network operators in the United States. The network has 107.7 million subscribers as of 2011, making it the largest wireless service provider in America....
filed suit against Feature Films for Families after the company allegedly placed nearly 500,000 illegal automated telemarketing
Telemarketing
Telemarketing is a method of direct marketing in which a salesperson solicits prospective customers to buy products or services, either over the phone or through a subsequent face to face or Web conferencing appointment scheduled during the call.Telemarketing can also include recorded sales pitches...
calls in ten days to the mobile phones on Verizon's network. The calls were recorded advertisements for the FFFF film "The Velveteen Rabbit". The Justice Department
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
, acting for the FTC
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
, filed a complaint in US District Court
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida is the federal United States district court with jurisdiction over the northern part of the state of Florida....
charging Feature Films for Families, Inc., its owner Forrest S. Baker III, and two other companies owned by Baker with "waging deceptive and illegal telemarketing campaigns pitching movies and soliciting for donations, including calls to more than 16 million phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry." The complaint seeks "a court order to permanently bar the defendants from violating the FTC Act
Federal Trade Commission Act
The Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 started the Federal Trade Commission , a bipartisan body of five members appointed by the president of the United States for seven-year terms. This commission was authorized to issue “cease and desist” orders to large corporations to curb unfair trade...
and the Telemarketing Sales Rule, as well as civil penalties, and disgorgement of their ill-gotten gains."
In May 2011, the Justice Department
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
, acting for the FTC
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
, filed a complaint in US District Court
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida is the federal United States district court with jurisdiction over the northern part of the state of Florida....
charging Feature Films for Families, Inc., its owner Forrest S. Baker III, and two other companies owned by Baker with "waging deceptive and illegal telemarketing campaigns pitching movies and soliciting for donations, including calls to more than 16 million phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry." The complaint seeks "a court order to permanently bar the defendants from violating the FTC Act
Federal Trade Commission Act
The Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 started the Federal Trade Commission , a bipartisan body of five members appointed by the president of the United States for seven-year terms. This commission was authorized to issue “cease and desist” orders to large corporations to curb unfair trade...
and the Telemarketing Sales Rule, as well as civil penalties, and disgorgement of their ill-gotten gains."
See also
- Censorship in the United StatesCensorship in the United StatesIn general, censorship in the United States, which involves the suppression of speech or other public communication, raises issues of freedom of speech, which is constitutionally protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution....
- Re-edited filmRe-edited filmA re-edited film is a film that has been edited from the original theatrical release.-Types of re-editing:Films edited for format, length, and content....
- Clean FilmsClean FilmsClean Films was a company in the United States that edited the content of DVDs to remove profanity, nudity, violence, crude language, and other unwanted content. They purchased original copies of DVDs for every edited one they produced...
- CleanFlicksCleanFlicksCleanFlicks is a Utah-based business which produced edited versions of films to remove content that they considered inappropriate for children or that viewers might otherwise find offensive. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were its predominant market...