(From left) Carlo Aquino and Charlie Dizon in “Third World Romance.” Image: Screengrab from YouTube/Black Sheep
Distributors of the film “Third World Romance,” starring Carlo Aquino and Charlie Dizon, were summoned by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) after an uncensored trailer was released without the agency’s review.
The MTRCB through chairperson Diorella “Lala” Sotto-Antonio released a “Notice to Appear and Testify” to the film’s distributors on Wednesday, Aug. 16, citing the distribution of an “unclassified and unrated version” of the trailer which contains the scene where Dizon said the expletive “p*t*ng *n*”.
“It has come to our attention that an unclassified and unrated version of the trailer of ‘Third World Romance’ with the expletive phrase p*t*ng *n* in one of the scenes is being exhibited in cinemas,” the MTRCB memo stated.
It said the uncensored version of the trailer has not been reviewed by the Board, “hence, has NO permit to exhibit.”
The scene referred to was when Dizon’s character, Britney was talking to Aquino’s character, Alvin on the phone, only to find out that her phone had run out of battery.
Citing Section 1, Article III, of Memorandum Circular No. 04-2014, the MTRCB stressed that trailers that were “approved and passed by the agency” would be considered for airing to the public.
“We strongly advise that you refrain from exhibiting the said version of the trailer. Further, a Notice to Appear and Explain will be served to the distributor/producer of the said trailer,” it added.
The notice comes days after Sotto stressed during an interview with showbiz writer Ogie Diaz, that the organization doesn’t have any favorites, even if shows involve the agency’s family members or friends. EDV