regulation re-search into the BBFC

The BBFC (British board of film classification) is the is the British organisation that regulate the content of what goes into films. They regulate the content of films and grade them by the amount of violence, sex and bad language in the film. Also at any point if the BBFC decide there it’s too much of a certain content they will stop the film going out to the cinemas.

When classifying a film the BBFC look at a list of main ideas when they classify a film. These main ideas are:

Discrimination: Potentially offensive content to such matters as disability, sexuality, race, gender or religion. The amount of this content in a film can change the classification of a film and if the BBFC say there is too much of this content in the film they will stop the film being sent out to cinemas until the content has been reduced.

Drugs: no production, at all, may show images of the miss use of drugs in the content. However the use of alcohol or smoking can be used but must be in moderate amounts. Any over the top content of drugs will stop the film being put out to cinemas until it has been reduced.

Horror: The use of scary sequences in a film are allowed, film makers have used scary sequences that the audience can enjoy. however to keep the viewing of the film by the audience restricted the BBFC will give a film with a lot of scary sequences a higher rating to slop young children from seeing these sequences.
            

Imitable behaviour: Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.

Language: Many people are offended by the use of bad language. As a result there is a list of acceptable words that can be put into films that can earn them different classifications.

Nudity: nudity with no sexual context is acceptable at all classification levels. However nudity with a sexual content will gain a higher classification.

                            

Sex: The showing of sexual activity can be from kissing to detail of sex scenes. This is reflected in the classification system, as the amount of sexual activity increases the rating of the film increases

Theme: The classification system takes into an account the theme of a film, such as sexual activity or exploration, and the rating of the film will be changed as fits.

Violence: Violence has been in films for years and the classifications take into account the degree of violence and change the classification accordingly.

Film classifications that are given by the BBFC
There are seven possible classifications the BBFC can give to a film. These are U, PG, 12A, 12, 15, 18 and R18.

                  

U stands for universal which means suitable for all. The requirements of a u certificate film are no discrimination, no drugs, mild horror, no imitable behaviour, very mild bad language, no nudity with sexual content, mild sexual activities (kissing) and mild violence

PG stands for Parental Guidance. The requirements of a PG certification film are no discrimination, reference to drugs, no intense scary sequences, no detailed dangerous behaviour, mild bad language, no nudity with sexual content, mild sexual references and moderate violence.

12 stands for a film that can be seen by people of the age of 12 yeas old. However 12A is for use in the cinema only and means children can see the film if they are under 12 if they are with an adult. The requirements for a 12 or 12A film are discrimination aloud but not through the whole film, slight misuse of drugs, moderate horror,

dangerous behaviour must not dwell, moderate language aloud, nudity aloud but short sexual references, brief sexual activity and moderate violence.

 15 stand for suitable for 15 years and over to view. The requirements for a 15 are discrimination must not dwell, drugs may be used but must not dwell, horror sequences aloud, strong language aloud, nudity aloud with sexual content, sex may be portrayed and violence may be shown but must not dwell

18 stands for a film the only people 18 and older can see. The requirements for an 18 film are relaxed and most things are acceptable but must not be over the top. another form of 19 certification is R18 which stands for restricted 18.  And should only be shown in specially licensed cinemas, or supplied only in licensed sex shops, and to adults of not less than 18 years.

                                             

My films classification
The classification I have picked for my film 12. The reason for this is that the requirements that the BBFC set out match the content that we won’t to put in our film. The requirements are discrimination aloud but not through the whole film, slight misuse of drugs, moderate horror, and dangerous behaviour must not dwell, moderate language aloud, nudity aloud but short sexual references, brief sexual activity and moderate violence. Also this is the rating of many other romantic drama films and so I wanted to stick with the rest of the films in our genre.

The 12 classification will affect our film by not allowing us to use any drugs or bad language but also it will give us the freedom we need to make a film that is successful and fits the genre.