The BBFC
The BBFC (British Board of Classification) gives estimates of the target age rating under a strict mark scheme when analysing the context of the film. Their job is to watch the film, and mark it against these particular grading boards to make sure the film is for the appropriate age in regards to film content when the film is released.
As stated in a previous post about certification, but just for clarification, these are the ratings that the Board evaluates the films with:
- U
- PG
- 12
- 12A
- 15
- 18
- R18
All films that are shown within the UK need to have a rating. Most cuts are made in films so that filmmakers to appeal to these age ratings. A regular occurrence is that films are given compulsory cuts. These compulsory cuts so that the age rating can be lowered would be scenes that would include:
- Children doing dangerous things which could be easily copied. (take in to account the hypodermic needle theory and influences (audience theories))
- Playing with fireworks- Potentially harmful material
- Animal cruelty
However, film makers may challenge the age ratings decisions made by the BBFC, and can ask for a reconsideration of viewing. They can also request for the BBFC to rate their film against a particular age category rating, and/or ask the BBFC to view a film before it is finished and give advice on the rating the film is likely to receive. The BBFC can suggest what the film maker should cut if they would prefer their film to fit in to the lower category. An example of a film that has done this in the past would be "The Woman in black". These are called cuts for category.
Film makers have to pay to get their films rated, so in the UK, it is almost like a pre-requisite to pay this so that your film can be viewed in areas of the UK. To have a 90 minute feature film classified in to a specific category, it would cost approximately £730. The BBFC is independent, and is also a non-profit company. All works are watched by these trained examiners who work for the BBFC.
The BBFC employs these specially trained examiners to rate films, DVD's and other material regarding optical media. Their job is to watch a film makers work and recommend an age rating ready for it to be released, based of the BBFC guidelines, the general public, and the law. The films that are released in cinema are watched by pairs, so that opinions and content can be critically analysed and discussed between two viewpoints before filing the final report.
The BBFC also has the right to ask the film maker to cut illegal or harmful material even at the age guideline of 18, if they don't cut these scenes from the final film, it may be rejected by the BBFC until done so, and therefore is not able to be shown within the UK.. Out of thousands of material that is submitted to be reviewed by the BBFC every year, only a few actually become rejected material. Some very strong works receive an 18, and are only suitable for adults. Sometimes the extremely strong work submitted to the BBFC has to cut material from their final cut extensively just to receive an 18.
All of these age ratings decisions are marked against a specific and strict guidelines. These guidelines are based on public consultation, and reflect what the public think about the representations of sex, drugs, race, violence and language and many other issues. These guidelines are updated every four years, considering how large, and how frequent it is used, this is updated rapidly on the scale that it is on.
Conclusion:
Researching in to the impact of certification helps our group in the future, as we can make our film revolve around our target audience dependent on the content displayed in our film. Seems as our film appeals to those that are age 16-20 or above, we need to try and make our film appeal to the certificate of 15, so that those age groups can watch it
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