Can Kid Actors Do R-Rated Things in Movies?

[TheLancinator]

Can Kid Actors Do R-Rated Things in Movies?
by Leslie Gornstein - E! Online




Have you seen the red band trailer for Kick-Ass [very NSFW - see trailer below]? How can a movie get away with a child actor spewing such filthy language?
—Pocky, Los Angeles

You speak of Chloe Moretz, who catsuits up and plays a li'l purple-wigged assassin fond of the C-word, among other profanity bombs. She is a deadly vigilante who goes by the moniker Hit Girl, and her dad is played by Nic Cage. She filmed it at or around age 12, and this thing is very much rated R.

So will there be any last-minute injunctions or outraged, crusading lawyers trying to shut down the premiere on April 16? Well...

...for the record, I have no idea what Gloria Allred will be doing on the 16th of April, but in general, movies like this are plenty legal and not likely to raise much of a fuss. There is no law disallowing children to cuss in films.

As long as the child's guardians are A-OK with everything—and the underage Moretz doesn't try to sneak into a theater to see the actual film—the show goes on.

"When it comes to R-rated films and foul language, if the guardian approves—which the guardian must and sometimes sign waivers—then the child can be on the set," says Joann Perahia, whose teenage twin sons, Alexandre and Philippe Haussman, played Russian twins in the disaster film 2012. "It is all the parents."

That isn't to say that a kid can do anything on a movie set. Laws protect children from certain flavors of exploitation, particularly of a sexual nature.

According to Toni Casala of the social networking and advice site ChildreninFilm.com, a child cannot, for example, perform a sex scene, even if the sex is simulated. The sex must instead be more implied than explicit, or a body double must be used. That is, that is what child pornography law says; no telling what producers technically get away with on a set, especially if a desperate stage parent gives the A-OK and the on-set tutor doesn't bother to call an authority.

In the barely released movie Hounddog, a then-12-year-old Dakota Fanning performed in a rape scene without a body double. There is no nudity in the scene; the scene is very darkly lit and only Fanning's face and hand are shown.

Still, several Christian groups claimed the scene violated child pornography laws because it appeared to show a child in a sexually explicit situation. Prosecutors in North Carolina, where Hounddog was filmed, reportedly reviewed the movie, interviewed crew members, producers and Fanning. In the end, they found that while some people might find the film "disturbing and distasteful," there was no evidence that the scene constituted sexual activity under North Carolina law.

As for Moretz, early audiences are reportedly loving her and her character; we'll see whether the Christian groups agree.

[Major Tool]

I saw this trailer on tv last night. At first I thought to myself, "Wow, what a kick ass movie!" Then I thought about what I what I was seeing and hearing... then I thought some more and some more... I still can't decide where I stand on this...

At the very least, I hope the foul language was dubbed into the kid's mouth.

[godfather]

I learned the F-word the first day of grade one during Buddy-reading from my best friend all through school.

They seem to protect children very carefully... I remember watching the special features of Super Bad (random I know). They were very careful with the Fogle character because he wasn't 18 yet, during his sex scene they basically had to film it without him moving. No humping action and everything was kosher. Also, the dick-drawing scene showed the kid drawing a picture of a dick, but the actors never actually saw what the scene was referencing.

I've often wondered about what these kids get exposed to though. Case and point the kid from Two and a Half Men. That kid must have known more about sex than his entire school after season 1. Stage parents scare me too... they're willing to whore their kids out for sure, and there are some interviews to prove it

At the same time... 12 year olds see R rated movies, swear, and know plenty about sex. At least I did... So long as there is someone responsible with the child's best interest involved kid actors can certainly be involved or even star in R rated movies.

Didn't know the thing about Dakota Fanning's rape scene

[Lambchop]

Natalie Portman was smoking, swearing and asking the main actor in the film Léon if he would help her lose her virginity at age 12/13. She also trained to assassinate people in the film too. I think they used every taboo in that film.

[Nemowork]

You missed out the families drug connection

[Hal-9000]

Brooke Shields starred as a prostitute in Pretty Baby when she was 12 I believe...

can't be good putting a child into adult situations in movies...kinda reinforces
to them that it's ok

[Hal-9000]

nice trailer


it seems pretty tongue in cheek and the first scene with Cage
made me giggle...


but hearing a 13 yr old use the C-word? hmmmm

[godfather]

Now the C-word... that was one I didn't know until I was older I still never use that word...

[IONr]

Leon was brilliant and remains one of my favorite films. That came from the streignth of the story. The American Cut titled 'The Professional' cut a lot of the sexuality out of the film. Still a good story but not as strong. Leon delt with the sexuality of the situation well. It was not titillating, it was simply part of the story.

This one looks like it is trying to hard to be shocking. The trailer made me not want to see it.

[Hal-9000]

Originally Posted by IONr

Leon was brilliant and remains one of my favorite films. That came from the streignth of the story. The American Cut titled 'The Professional' cut a lot of the sexuality out of the film. Still a good story but not as strong. Leon delt with the sexuality of the situation well. It was not titillating, it was simply part of the story.

This one looks like it is trying to hard to be shocking. The trailer made me not want to see it.

It appears this one took it's lead from Leon (one of my favorite films).

The sexual tension in Leon was handled masterfully...Jean Reno was lonely
and a little slow, but made you feel his attraction and moral discomfort simultaneously.

This new movie seems like it's taken the novelty the wannabe hitgirl and exploited that facet only.
The action scenes look pretty funny to me.

[DelusionsOfGrandeur]

A bit fantastical in the action. It looks like it'll be a good way to waste a couple of hours of life.

The cussing is nothing. I swore far more than that when I was 6 years old. If you don't learn it from tv, movies, or your parents then you'll learn it from other kids at school that learned it from tv, movies, or their parents.

[Hal-9000]

Originally Posted by DelusionsOfGrandeur

A bit fantastical in the action. It looks like it'll be a good way to waste a couple of hours of life.

The cussing is nothing. I swore far more than that when I was 6 years old. If you don't learn it from tv, movies, or your parents then you'll learn it from other kids at school that learned it from tv, movies, or their parents.

The cussing is vulgar you poo poo head!

[RainbowParty]

Originally Posted by godfather

Now the C-word... that was one I didn't know until I was older I still never use that word...

shut the fuck up you cunt.

[RainbowParty]

The trailer looks awesome! Can't wait to see it.

I don't have a problem with it really... I could be convinced otherwise, but noting the movies already referenced in this thread, basically anything with Ellen Page before Juno, etc... tough call...

Kids are pampered on set and under pretty strict guidelines on schedules, schooling etc.

[RainbowParty]

Originally Posted by Hal-9000

The cussing is vulgar you poo poo head!

Originally Posted by RainbowParty

shut the fuck up you cunt.