The Code consisted of moral guidelines regarding what was acceptable to include in films. In 1930, the MPPDA introduced the Production Code, sometimes called the Hays Code. Again, despite Hays's efforts, studios largely ignored the "Don'ts and Be Carefuls", and by the end of 1929, the MPPDA received only about 20% of Hollywood scripts prior to production, and the number of regional and local censorship boards continued to increase. Hays also created a Studio Relations Department (SRD) with staff available to the studios for script reviews and advice regarding potential problems. This list outlined the issues that movies could encounter in different localities. In 1927, Hays oversaw the creation of a code of "Don'ts and Be Carefuls" for the industry. This effort largely failed, however, as studios were under no obligation to send their scripts to Hays's office, nor to follow his recommendations. "The Formula" requested that studios send synopses of films being considered to the MPDDA for review.
In 1924, Hays instituted "The Formula", a loose set of guidelines for filmmakers, in an effort to get the movie industry to self-regulate the issues that the censorship boards had been created to address. In 1929 more than 50 percent of American moviegoers lived in a location overseen by such a board. This resulted in negative publicity for the studios and decreasing numbers of theater goers, who were uninterested in films that were sometimes so severely edited that they were incoherent. Thus, in certain locations in the US, films were often edited to comply with local laws regarding the onscreen portrayal of violence and sexuality, among other topics.
Īt the time of the MPPDA's founding, there was no national censorship, but some state and municipal laws required movies to be censored, a process usually oveseen by a local censorship board. Large portions of the public both opposed censorship, but also decried the lack of morals in movies. įrom the early days of the association, Hays spoke out against public censorship, and the MPPDA worked to raise support from the general public for the film industry's efforts against such censorship. Finally, the code sought to protect American film interests abroad by encouraging film studios to avoid racist portrayals of foreigners. The MPPDA also instituted a code of conduct for Hollywood's actors in an attempt to govern their behavior offscreen. The main focus of the MPPDA in its early years was on producing a strong public relations campaign to ensure that Hollywood remained financially stable and able to attract investment from Wall Street, while simultaneously ensuring that American films had a "clean moral tone". Hays was named the association's first president. At its founding, MPPDA member companies produced approximately 70 to 80 percent of the films made in the United States. The MPAA was founded as the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA) in 1922 as a trade association of member motion picture companies. History Foundation and early history: 1922–1929