The BBFC is an organisation set up to regulate the moving image; such as film, DVD, video and some video games. For some of these, the BBFC is under statutory requirements to classify and regulate under the Video Recordings Act 2010. Despite this, they do not purely regulate the moving image because of statutory designated authority but also because they serve a socially useful function.
Regulating the moving image gives the public information about it prior to the actual viewing, this potentially protects vulnerable viewers from viewing unsuitable or damaging content. There are a set of guidelines, which are updated every four years, that help the BBFC make appropriate classification decisions. These guidelines are accumulated by extensive public research, consultation and experience. They ask questions concerning issues such as language, discrimination, violence, sex and drugs.
U
This stands for 'universal' and is suitable for all ages to watch and has no restrictions whatsoever. The BBFC stated that a 'U' film should be suitable for anybody over the age of four, and these films should "be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror."
The BBFC has set a list of things that are permitted in a 'U' rated moving image:-
Theme: Problematic themes must be sensitive and appropriate to the younger audience.
Theme: Problematic themes must be sensitive and appropriate to the younger audience.
Language: Limited use of very mild 'bad language'.
Nudity: Occasional natural beauty not related to anything sexual.Sex: Mild sexual behaviour and references; eg kissing.
Violence: Mild violence only.
Imitable techniques: No emphasis on realistic weapons.
Horror: Horror effects should be mild and brief and the outcome should be reassuring.
Drugs: No references to illegal drugs or drug use whatsoever.
PG
Parental Guidance.
The BBFC stated that this was suitable for an audience over the age of 8, however it is advised that the content of the moving image is still assessed by parents beforehand. The 'PG' rating was created to emphasise that it was the parents decision to what they allowed their children to watch, but it was not required that parents had to watch with them.
The BBFC has set out a list of things that are permitted in a 'PG' rated moving image:-
Theme: More serious issues are allowed to be included; such as crime, domestic violence, racism etc.
Language: More frequent use of mild 'bad language'.
Nudity: Natural nudity with no sexual references.
Sex: Discrete mild sexual activity can be implied.
Violence: Very little violence may be allowed.
Imitable techniques: No emphasis or glamorisation of weapons.
Horror: Short frightening sequences may be allowed.
Drugs: No references to illegal drugs or drug use unless shown to be entirely harmless.
12
The BBFC introduced this as they realised there had to be something in between 'PG' and '15' certificates. It was defined as the following:
'Passed only for persons of twelve years and over. No person apparently under the age of 12 years shall be admitted to any exhibition at which there is to be shown any film which has received a '12' certificate from the British Board of Film Classification.'
'Passed only for persons of twelve years and over. No person apparently under the age of 12 years shall be admitted to any exhibition at which there is to be shown any film which has received a '12' certificate from the British Board of Film Classification.'
The BBFC has set out a list of things that are permitted in a '12' rated moving image:-
Theme: Mild mature themes are acceptable.
Language: Occasional use of strong language with justification.
Nudity: Occasional nudity with mild and discrete sexual content.
Sex: Sexual activity may be implied.
Violence: Violence without detail. Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly indicated without physical detail.
Imitable techniques: Weapons should not be glamorised and dangerous techniques should not be imitable.
Horror: Sustained threat and menace is permitted..
Drugs: Brief use or reference to mild illegal drug taking (eg cannabis) with justification and including the dangers involved.
Language: Occasional use of strong language with justification.
Nudity: Occasional nudity with mild and discrete sexual content.
Sex: Sexual activity may be implied.
Violence: Violence without detail. Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly indicated without physical detail.
Imitable techniques: Weapons should not be glamorised and dangerous techniques should not be imitable.
Horror: Sustained threat and menace is permitted..
Drugs: Brief use or reference to mild illegal drug taking (eg cannabis) with justification and including the dangers involved.
12A
This rating overtook the '12' after a 2 week trial in Norwich accompanied by extensive audience research. The set list guidelines are same as the previous rating but persons under the age of twelve are permitted to watch whilst in company of a responsible adult guardian. The definition of a 'responsible adult guardian' is wide-spread and does not strictly have to be the child's parents; it can be another family member or close family friend, too.
15
The '15' certificate is currently defined as the following:-
'Passed only for persons of fifteen years and over. No person apparently under the age of 15 years shall be admitted to any exhibition at which there is to be shown any film which has received a '15' certificate from the British Board of Film Classification.'
'Passed only for persons of fifteen years and over. No person apparently under the age of 15 years shall be admitted to any exhibition at which there is to be shown any film which has received a '15' certificate from the British Board of Film Classification.'
The BBFC has set out a list of things that are permitted in a '15' rated moving image:-
Theme: No theme banned as long as it is suitable for people aged 15.
Language: Frequent use of strong language allowed.
Nudity: Nudity is not prohibited.
Sex: Sexual activities are permitted but with little detail.
Violence: Strong violence permitted, scenes of sexual violence must be brief and discrete.
Imitable techniques: Dangerous combat techniques are unlikely to be acceptable. No emphasis on the use of easily accessible lethal weapons.
Horror: Sustained or detailed infliction of pain or injury is unacceptable.
Drugs: Drug use must not be promoted and clear instructions on consumption is prohibited.
Theme: No theme banned as long as it is suitable for people aged 15.
Language: Frequent use of strong language allowed.
Nudity: Nudity is not prohibited.
Sex: Sexual activities are permitted but with little detail.
Violence: Strong violence permitted, scenes of sexual violence must be brief and discrete.
Imitable techniques: Dangerous combat techniques are unlikely to be acceptable. No emphasis on the use of easily accessible lethal weapons.
Horror: Sustained or detailed infliction of pain or injury is unacceptable.
Drugs: Drug use must not be promoted and clear instructions on consumption is prohibited.
18
The '18' certificate has been defined as the following:-
'Passed only for persons of eighteen years and over. No person apparently under the age of 18 years shall be admitted to any exhibition at which there is to be shown any film which has received a '18' certificate from the British Board of Film Classification.'
'Passed only for persons of eighteen years and over. No person apparently under the age of 18 years shall be admitted to any exhibition at which there is to be shown any film which has received a '18' certificate from the British Board of Film Classification.'
The BBFC has set out a list of things that are permitted in a '18' rated moving image:-
Having thoroughly analysed the set guidelines for each of the levels of certificates available for a moving image, I have come to the conclusion that our thriller piece is going to be rated a 15 certificate. I chose this level of certificate because I believe that the most suitable list of boundaries lies with the '15' more so than any other certificate. Our thriller addresses issues such as kidnap, adultery, violence and danger to such a degree that viewers under the age of 15 may feel vulnerable and find some of the scenes unsettling and damaging. However, I felt that the certificate '18' was unsuitable for our thriller as the potentially unsettling scenes mentioned previously are not presented to such a graphic extent that total teenage viewers are unsuitable.
Ivana
Ivana
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