The Motion Picture Association (MPA) represents companies that produce and distribute some of the highest quality and most popular creative content.
As the leading advocate of the film, TV and streaming sector around the world, the MPA have been proudly working with Childnet on projects like the Childnet Film Competition and Safer Internet Day for more than three years.
In this blog, Stan McCoy, President & Managing Director MPA EMEA, explains why that partnership feels so special…
Tomorrow’s storytellers
When I was first asked by Childnet if the MPA would like to support its Film Competition and Safer Internet Day four years ago, of course, I couldn’t decline. Children are tomorrow’s audience and tomorrow’s storytellers. I know from watching my own children that they are voracious but vulnerable content consumers.
Childnet gets that. Through its UK and international film competitions, Childnet is supporting the drive for greater safety and respect online. The vision and values behind that effort fit perfectly with those of the MPA.
We’re interested in empowering future generations of filmmakers and consumers, while educating them about legal ways to enjoy a wider range of creative content then ever before.
“You must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from.” – Gusteau in the movie Ratatouille, Walt Disney Pictures & Pixar Animation Studios
Film and media careers
But don’t just take it from me. Take it from the participants themselves. For example, Keith Chirozva, the 2015 winner, explained at the MPA’s 2021 Childnet Film School Friday event that – before the film competition – he didn’t know what he wanted to do later in life. It was developing an idea for the contest that made him realise he wanted to work in animation.
One of last year’s winners, Rosalyn Harper, said that, in her school, there was never any mention of film or media as a possible career path for young people. Again, it was the film competition that opened her eyes to this possibility.
This is particularly important for the MPA and our members because we need more skilled workers in our industry, as outlined in this recent report by ScreenSkills.
Inspiring young people through competitions like the Childnet Film Competition and Film The House, a film competition organised by UK MPs that the MPA also supports, is an excellent way to give young people of all backgrounds a sneak peek into our industry.
Participants gain not only inspiration, but also respect for the hard work that goes into creating a finished film, which then helps them develop a better understanding of the harm that engaging in piracy causes to creators.
“It’s up to you how far you’ll go. If you don’t try, you’ll never know.” – Merlin in the movie The Sword in the Stone, Walt Disney Productions
Online safety knowledge
Childnet is also instrumental in organising Safer Internet Day in the UK, which we are proud to support. By addressing the issues of online safety, respectful behaviour online and cyberbullying, children learn to enjoy the online space with care.
Safer Internet Day research shows that many young people are faced with decisions on the trustworthiness of online content daily. That’s why it is so critical to empower them with the knowledge and tools to identify unreliable, unsafe and illegal content – for their own welfare and so they can look out for their peers.
It’s all about helping young people grow up to be safe, savvy, and inspired consumers of content. This is why Childnet’s work is important, and why the MPA is so grateful for the opportunity to support their activities.
I hope that there will be many future occasions to continue that collaboration to help children navigate the internet with confidence and give them a closer look at the wonderful world of filmmaking.
Helpful links:
2021 Childnet Film School Friday: https://www.motionpictures.org/event/film-school-friday-our-future-storytellers
ScreenSkills report: https://www.screenskills.com/media/5258/high-end-television-workforce-research-2021-22.pdf
Safer Internet Day research: https://saferinternet.org.uk/blog/safer-internet-day-2022-research-findings-revealed
