Pre-Code Movies Upload Contest!
The Motion Picture Production Code, more popularly known as the Hays Code, was a set of self-censoring guidelines published in 1930 by the MPPDA (Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America), today the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America), but it wasn't until July 1st of 1934 that it was strictly enforced for all major Hollywood movie studios. Adopted as the preferable option against the prospect of government regulation brought up by the perceived lack of morals in films (won't somebody please think of the children!) it went on for almost 30 years having a massive impact on what was shown in American theaters. Its influence also extended beyond the country's borders, being a major exporter of films abroad as well as shaping foreign movies that wanted distribution in studio-owned theaters.
The Pre-Code era started proper with the widespread adoption of sound (talkies), during a period marked by great changes like the transition out of silent films, the establishment of the big studio system, the start of new movie genres, the rising of a new generation of movie stars, and of course, the Great Depression. Despite already dealing with censorship by local laws, Pre-Code movies enjoyed a period of great creative freedom and experimentation, being pretty progressive for the time, unafraid of dealing with adult, risky, exploitative, and sensitive topics, reflecting deeply on moral issues of the time, with films depicting strong female characters, interracial relationships, homosexuality, sex, prostitution, promiscuity, abortion, drug use, profanity, and violence. In short, topics that wouldn't be seen at the same level for quite some time after the enforcement of the Code, which is what makes this era special.
Contest's rules:
The contest is limited to the Movies category.
Only movies released from 1927 to July 1st, 1934 are eligible for the contest. This includes features and shorts.
Movies from any country are eligible for the contest.
The contest will be point-based. One point per staff-approved torrent uploaded. With an additional half point (+0.5) if the torrent is a remux, or one additional point (+1) if it's a full disc; and an additional half point (+0.5) if it's a Warner Archive Collection (WAC) release (for any format), or an additional point (+1) if it's a WAC full disc.
Torrents must be tagged at the very least with their year of release (e.g. 1927, 1932, etc.) and the tag precode.contest to be considered. If the torrent comes from a WAC release, also add the tag warner.archive.collection to consider them for the additional WAC-related points.
Once you have uploaded your torrent(s) reply to the forum thread associated to this announcement to submit your entries for the contest. Group the links to your torrents in a single post, editing your post as necessary. If you would like to participate anonymously send us the links to your torrents in a Staff PM before the contest ends.
Only torrents uploaded after the publication of this announcement count for the contest.
All other standard torrent upload rules apply.
The rewards:
Reach 10 points to receive a badge* to commemorate your participation in the contest.
Reach 20 points to receive 10 tokens* and personal site-wide Freeleech for 1 week*.
The uploader with the most points will win the right to choose a theme for one of the next contests (it's not yet decided if there would be a staff-chosen contest after R*****'s or not). In case of a tie, the winner will be the one to have reached the top spot first.
All staff-approved torrents will receive Freeleech and Doubleseed status once approved and will keep that status for a week after the contest ends. The Freeleech only applies to torrents that wouldn't have gained Freeleech status automatically.
* These rewards will be given once the contest has ended.
The contest will last until the end of March 20th.
