..Gary Dretzka
..Noah Forrest
..Leonard Klady
..R.J. Matson
..David Poland
..Douglas Pratt
..Ray Pride
..Michael Wilmington

February 24, 2004

For Immediate Release

"GUNNER PALACE" WINS RATING BOARD APPEAL, MPAA GRANTS PG-13 RATING

REVIEW BOARD CITES FILM'S CONTENT AND CONTEXT IN ITS REMOVAL OF R RATING

(Los Angeles, CA) - Palm Pictures today announced that the Motion Picture Association of America Rating Appeals Board today reversed an earlier decision and assigned a PG-13 rating to "Gunner Palace". The film, a documentary produced and directed by Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein chronicles the day to day existence of members of the Army's 2/3 Field Artillery unit. The "Gunners" as they are called live in a bombed out palace formerly owned by Saddam Hussein's son Uday in Adhamiya, the most volatile section of Baghdad.

In making its decision the Appeals Board voted 9-3 to overturn the R rating. Board members commended Palm Pictures Head of Theatrical Marketing Andy Robbins and Director Michael Tucker for their compelling presentation and impassioned plea on behalf of the soldiers in the film.

In early January the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) gave the film an R rating. In making its decision, the MPAA cited use of "adult" language by the soldiers. The film's producers and its distributor Palm Pictures chose to appeal the R rating in an effort to make sure older teens who might me considering careers in the military are given an opportunity to gain a true sense of combat and the issues facing soldiers in a war zone.

An "R" restricts access to the film from those under the age of 17 unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. They say a strong belief that the stories of the men and women in Gunner Palace should be seen and heard by as large and audience as possible drove their decision to appeal. Even though the MPAA rating system is voluntary, 85% of American theaters follow MPAA guidelines, which means it is impossible to bring a film to a wide audience without a rating.

"The MPAA made the right decision today," said Michael Tucker. "This new rating will allow the soldiers of the 2/3 to speak directly to the American people. It will also permit those teenagers who are hungry to understand the sacrifice thousands of their peers are making to do so."

"In these times, language has become a volatile political issue. We are pleased that the MPAA chose to view the language of the American troops in the context of their situation. They are at war. In the words of Oliver North, when you put young Americans into combat, after a few months they can, 'Take profanity to the level of a new art form,'" said Andy Robbins from Palm Pictures

The film is scheduled to open next Friday, March 4th in selected cities and then go into wide release the following week. For more information go to www.gunnerpalace.com

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