Film regulation and the BBFC

 Film regulation and the BBFC - blog tasks:

1) Research the BBFC in more detail. This BBFC Wikipedia page may help.

• What is the institution responsible for? 

It's responsible for the national classification and censorship of films exhibited in cinemas and video works released on physical media in the UK.

• How is it funded? 

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation that is funded entirely through the fees it charges for classifying films, videos, DVDs, and some video games - service funding.

• What link does it have to government? 

While the BBFC works closely with the government and provides evidence to Parliament, it is a non-governmental, not-for-profit body funded by fees from the industry, ensuring its decisions regarding classification remain independent of government.

2) Read this BBFC summary to Age Ratings and the BBFC classification guidelines. 

Write a paragraph about each of the different ratings:

• U

This content is suitable for all ages but isn't directly aimed at children as it's impossible to predict what may affect any particular child. This content involves no dangerous behaviour such as the use of realistic weapons or anything easily accessible to a child that may ham the. There is also no drugs or bad language as these concepts are infrequent and mild as it is suitable for children. There is also a disapproval of discriminatory language or behaviour and no sexual content with occasional nudity and extremely mild sex references or behaviour such as kissing. Scary and threatening scenes are limited as the outcome should be reassuring and violence is mild and justified by context with brief detail to injuries.

• PG

Parental guidance rated content is suitable for general viewing and is determined by parents if they want their kids to watch the text even if it may be a bit unsuitable for them. This content involves potentially dangerous behaviour but not to the point where it becomes realistic and where children may want to imitate it following Bandura's social learning theory. There may be some or minimal discriminatory language if justified by context and reference to drugs that are illegal or misused should have a cautionary message. There may also be mild bad language and nudity with no sexual content as sexual activity might be implied but should be discreet and infrequent. Threat should not be intense and violence should be mild with brief sighting of injuries.

• 12A/12

Material that is generally unsuitable for children under 12 with content advice as there is potentially dangerous behaviour that children may want to copy with realistic weapons, unacceptable discrimination as well as infrequent misuse of drugs. Additionally, they include moderate bad language and nudity in a brief and discreet sexual context and a small portrayal of sexual activity as well as forms of sexual violence that are not as graphic with negative presentations. Threat and horror may be moderate and physical as well as psychological and violence is also moderate but shouldn't dwell on details.

• 15

No one younger than 15 may see 15-rated content in the cinemas as it has highly dangerous behaviour that may involve a depiction of easily accessible weapons, based on factors such as realism, context and setting. It may also have drug and substance misuse as well as strong bad language and sexualised nudity, activity and violence or sexually abusive behaviour such as rape but these are less graphic. It may also include self harm and suicidal thoughts that are infrequently present and strong threat and horror as well as violence is portrayed with sustained focus on the infliction of pain and victims suffering.

• 18

This content is suitable for adults only over the age of 18 as adults should be free to choose their entertainment with exceptions in areas like content breaching criminal law or created through the commission of a criminal offence, material risking harm to individuals, their behaviour or society or content that has explicit images of sexual activity in the context of pornography. Pornography is content that is designed primarily for the purpose of sexual arousal containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images or other very strong sexual images that are confined to the R18 category.

3) Select ONE of the A Level BBFC case studies. Explain why it received its certificate in relation to each of the considerations: 

• dangerous behaviour
• discrimination
• drugs 
• language
• nudity
• sex
• sexual violence
• suicide and self harm
• threat and horror
• violence

Carol (2015)

The sex features frequent breast nudity and is shot in a manner that feels tonally quite mature and more suited to older teen audiences. Consequently, it was rated 15 for ‘infrequent strong sex’. There are moderate verbal sex references throughout the film but these are not strong in detail and would have been acceptable at a lower age rating. Homophobia is a theme throughout the film. The film handles the issue sensitively, serving to reflect the social and political environment of the time in which Therese and Carol are living. While some characters display discriminatory attitudes towards the film’s protagonists, the film as a whole clearly condemns such attitudes. As a result, the treatment of discrimination in Carol would have been acceptable at 12A. Furthermore, the film also includes uses of strong language. As remains the case today, in 2015, BBFC Guidelines allowed for infrequent strong language at 12A. Consequently, the film’s two uses of the term ‘f**k’ would have been acceptable at the lower age rating. A brief scene of gun threat also occurs but no gun shot is fired and no one is harmed. Additionally, the film also contains frequent scenes of smoking. Although smoking is a classification consideration, it tends to only be an issue at the junior categories (U, PG) unless it is overtly glamorised or made to look appealing to children. In the case of Carol, smoking reflects the social culture of the time and is not a primary classification consideration. 

4) Go to the rate a trailer section - choose THREE trailers and rate them.

Write the name of the film, what your rating was, and how it compared to the BBFC.

1. Superman- my rating: PG, their rating: 12A - they spotted threat and violence and I spotted violence and dangerous behaviour.
2. Magic Mike's Last Dance- my rating: 15, their rating: 15 and we both spotted sex and nudity
3. Red One- my rating: 12, their rating: 12  and we both spotted threat and violence and weapons

5) What are the guidelines for a 12A certificate - Blinded By The Light's cinema certificate (it was rated 12 for its home video release)?

It involves moderate bad language, mildly dangerous behaviour, potential violence and threat, mild sexual content and activity as well as minimal discriminatory language.

6) The BBFC website offers an explanation of every classification it makes and detailed case studies on selected titles. Look at the rating for Blinded By The Light and explain why it was given a 12A certificate for cinema release.

It was given a 12A because it includes moderate bad language such as 'bloody hell, 'wanker', 'shit' and 'crap'. It also has discrimination such as racist language and behaviour against the Pakistani culture as two of the members of their community were racially attacked under a protest. However racism isn't condoned in the film so it isn't bad to an extreme extent as it includes cautionary messages and improvements made within the film, therefore it was rated (and it doesn't have any sexual content with minimal violence but it does has threat).