Chapter 21: Ratings and Preview Screening
The North American film market has a strict classification system. According to the rating system of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the Classification and Rating Administration (CARA) under the association is responsible for assigning movie ratings.
But MPAA is far from the image of impartial fairness people assume. While the board members remain anonymous, everyone in the industry knows that the MPAA is heavily influenced—if not outright controlled—by the major Hollywood studios.
Wayne knew the more graphic scenes he left in the film weren't overly extreme, but if he submitted the film for rating on his own, without the backing of an established distributor, there was a real chance it would be slapped with an R rating.
Here's the reality of the MPAA ratings:
PG-13: Children under 13 should watch under parental guidance. Most grandmothers might feel a little awkward during these movies but not frightened or offended.
R: Restricted. Anyone under 17 requires an adult guardian. These movies often contain moderate violence, some sexual or crude content, and occasional strong language. And if a teenager dared bring their grandmother to an R-rated film? They'd surely get scolded.
Despite the PG-13 and R ratings seeming close on paper, they target vastly different audiences. If his film was carelessly given an R rating, Wayne would be devastated—it would dramatically limit both reach and revenue.
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After the dinner gathering, Wayne kept mulling over the issue as he returned to his apartment. His only viable strategy now was to wait for a distributor to pick up the film. Once a company with industry clout submitted it for rating, chances were much higher the film would receive a more favorable classification like PG-13.
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The Next Morning
Wayne invited his agent Jimmy, along with Naomi and Luke, to accompany him back to USC with a finalized cut of the film. Professor Anderson had already agreed to host a private preview screening.
When he pulled into the school's parking lot with Naomi, he spotted Jimmy and Luke chatting as they waited.
"Luke, the film reel's all good, right?"
That was the first thing on Wayne's mind.
Luke nodded confidently. "Don't worry, nothing will go wrong during projection."
He was just as excited—after all, he had poured a lot of effort into this film. This would be their first public screening, even if the audience was only a handful of people.
Wayne smiled in satisfaction, then turned his attention to Jimmy. The reason he invited his agent was clear: he needed to build Jimmy's confidence in the film. Eventually, Jimmy would need to call in favors, reach out to buyers and studio reps, and possibly even leverage his connections at CAA, the most powerful agency in Hollywood.
Jimmy greeted Wayne but remained silent after that. He understood the intention behind the invitation. But it all hinged on one thing: the film had to impress him first. If it passed that test, then he could seriously consider presenting it to his company and tapping into his network.
Wayne knew there was no point in saying more. Once they watched the film, it would all speak for itself.
---
He and Luke carried the film reel together, with Naomi and Jimmy in tow, heading straight to the small screening room Professor Anderson had booked for them.
To Wayne's surprise, it wasn't just Anderson waiting inside—there were also seven or eight of his old classmates. He didn't bother asking questions and instead greeted the professor with a warm hug.
"Professor, I brought the film. We just finished post-production. I plan to screen it at the Sundance Film Festival right after Christmas."
Anderson studied Wayne's face. He looked thinner than before—clearly, he'd poured himself into this project. Patting Wayne on the shoulder, the professor said, with a note of pride in his voice:
"Of course. The fact that you finished it in such a short time already proves you've done well. I hadn't planned to invite your classmates, but Adam and Joey were with me when you called, and they insisted on coming. I hope you don't mind?"
Wayne didn't want to put the professor in an awkward position. Professor Anderson had more students than just him, and Wayne didn't mind others watching the film first. After all, the whole point of making a movie was for it to be seen.
"Of course not, Professor. I don't mind at all. Luke, can you start the screening?"
Luke nodded and headed to the projection room at the back. That put Wayne at ease. He sat down in the front row with Professor Anderson. Luke had screened countless experimental shorts here back when he was a student—this was second nature to him.
Naomi and Jimmy hadn't spoken much. Since Wayne didn't introduce them, they also didn't greet the professor. Quietly, they sat in the front row, waiting for the film to begin.
As the lights dimmed, Adam, seated in the middle row, glanced uncomfortably at the front. Wayne had completely ignored him from the moment he entered the room—treating him like air, as if he didn't exist.
In fact, most of the students in attendance today had been invited by Adam himself. Yesterday, while asking Professor Anderson to critique his short film, he happened to overhear Wayne scheduling today's screening and spread the word to their classmates.
He and Wayne had been at odds for over three years, and not once had he managed to embarrass him. But today felt like a golden opportunity. Adam's father was a high-ranking executive at Universal Pictures, and he understood just how difficult it was to create a full-length film. That kind of undertaking was far beyond what a student could realistically accomplish. So, in his mind, this would finally be the moment Wayne failed publicly.
Wayne didn't care who was in the room. He glanced back only to see Luke giving him a hand signal that everything was ready. He nodded and gave the go-ahead.
With a sharp click, the vintage projector began whirring, and words appeared on the screen:
A Wayne Garfield Film.
Then the film opened with the protagonist, Tree, waking up—marking the start of the story.
Wayne wasn't watching the screen. He knew the film by heart. Instead, he glanced at the professor beside him, fully engrossed, and let his mind wander to what came next—distribution, networking, and festivals.
Everyone else in the room was silent, focused on the film—including Jimmy and Naomi.
Just three minutes in, Jimmy unconsciously sat up straight, his eyes glued to the screen.
This was far better than he had expected. Especially the moment when Tree was brutally stabbed for the first time—he could hear gasps ripple through the students in the back row. The scare landed, and it landed hard.
As a horror film, this scene alone already passed the test. The narrative unfolded steadily, peppered with chilling humor to relieve tension. But no matter what, Tree could never escape her brutal fate, which kept the suspense high throughout.
The film was just under 100 minutes. Aside from a few shrieks and gasps, no one chatted or whispered during the screening—a sign the story held the audience's full attention. Jimmy himself was drawn in, following the protagonist's journey to uncover the truth.
Naomi, meanwhile, was having a different kind of experience. From the very first scene, she had clung to Wayne's arm. This was the first time she had seen herself on the big screen as the lead, and she hadn't expected Wayne to film her so beautifully.
Halfway through the film, she couldn't help but shed tears.
Naomi believed that as long as this film found a willing distributor, she would finally break free from her dead-end status—where she couldn't even land minor roles. She held onto Wayne's arm even tighter.
In Hollywood, it's usually the actors who shine brightest on the screen—but the truth is, it's always the directors who steer the ship. That's the universal rule in filmmaking.
Without directors like George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, or Francis Ford Coppola, there would be no so-called golden age of cinema.
Naomi was gambling everything—if this young director succeeded, she'd follow him to the top.
As the film ended with the male and female leads sharing a final kiss, the screen abruptly faded to black—Wayne hadn't added any credits or post-roll. The old projector let out a mechanical click as it stopped. Lights came on.
Professor Anderson turned around and looked at Wayne—his once reserved, hard-working student—and began clapping. Loudly.
Jimmy and Naomi stood up to applaud as well. One by one, the other classmates joined in, until the room echoed with applause.
When the clapping died down, Wayne stepped to the front, bowed deeply, and thanked everyone. He was overwhelmed by emotion.
Adam, sitting stiffly in the middle row, scowled.
This was not the outcome he had wanted.
Looking at the stunning blonde clinging to Wayne's arm, he recognized her instantly—the film's leading lady. Dammit. Why did Wayne get everything so easily?
Without a word, Adam quietly slipped out of the room while everyone was distracted.
Outside, he kicked a tree angrily. He had dumped Katie just a month into their relationship, along with all the promises he made about the female lead role and post-graduation opportunities. Now that she couldn't be used against Wayne, she had no value. In Hollywood, it's not uncommon to be tossed aside the moment you're no longer useful—Adam played that game well.
Watching Naomi wrapped around Wayne, Adam's fury boiled over. Why did he get all the breaks? Cursing under his breath, he jumped into his car and drove off campus.
You want to release your film?
Put it in theaters?
It's not that easy.
Adam was determined to remind Wayne that Hollywood was never a playground for amateur directors.
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Wayne didn't even notice someone had left. These last few months had left Adam entirely off his radar. His sights were now set far beyond school.
After his classmates offered their congratulations, Wayne and his group headed to Professor Anderson's office.
"So, Professor... what did you think?"
Everyone looked eagerly at the professor, waiting for his verdict.
"No complaints at all. In fact, it far exceeded my expectations," Anderson said. "Wayne, you translated your script beautifully onto the screen. While some techniques still feel a little raw, they don't take away from the viewing experience.
I'm genuinely impressed. The film is tightly structured, the story is clear, and it holds the audience's attention from start to finish. The themes of growth, love, friendship, and family are well-balanced, and they serve to highlight the final message perfectly.
I'm also glad you didn't indulge too much in your personal style. Yes, there are some bloody and intense moments, but you didn't let the film become a niche cult piece. The moderate use of dark humor and style fits the film's tone well. All in all, this is a very impressive horror film."
Everyone in the office smiled at the praise—even Jimmy, who had barely said a word all day, broke into a grin.
He knew: this was the beginning of a real opportunity.