BBFC and film certificates

 BBFC and film certificates 

 

(British board of film classification) 

 

The BBFC are a regulatory board that are in charge setting the rules that control what studios can or can't do in the Uk film industry. They also set the age certificates for all films in the Uk, films are not able to be released unless they receive an age classification from the BBFC. They use six ways of labelling films as seen below: 

 

When deciding the age certificate for a film they consider lots of variables such as violence, sex & nudity, language, self-harm, criminal activity, dangerous behaviour, drugs, strobe lighting and scenes involving children/child actors to make sure they are portrayed correctly. Moreover, they also consider other aspects to the film when considering its rating such as context, if a film is animated or fantasy, they tend to get away with more in terms violence etc as there is normally little to none gore and wounds in films such as the lion king therefore resulting in them being rated slightly differently. Furthermore, the BBFC also considers how issues are handled when considering the age certificate, for example if there is a drug addict in a film the way that are seen is important to the rating of the film, if the drugs are glorified within the film by not showing negatives of drugs or showing them in a way people could be influenced without the proper information this will affect the certification. Whereas if drugs where to be shown in an environment where they are bad and dangerous to the audience and that people who take them do not end up well, then this could result in the film potentially getting a lower age certificate. Similarly, this is also done with violence, in terms of how its portrayed in the film, is it seen as normal? Etc this can affect how it is rated by the BBFC. 

 

Age ratings tend to be stricter on DVD then in cinema as they can ensure that there is someone checking the age of audience members in cinemas, therefore age ratings tend to be stricter on DVD, also there is no 12A on DVD so most of the 12A’s become 15 when released on DVD, as 12A means you can be under 12 years old if you have an adult with you, thus on DVD the BBFC cannot guarantee how people watch the films. 

 

 

 

After studios have edited their film, they send it to the BBFC for an age certificate, if the studio is not happy with the rating, they get then they have the option to re edit the film in order to be re-evaluated. This is done as some films are made with the goal of getting a certain age rating as it can affect the films performance. An example of this is the hunger games movie, when it was initially sent to be rated it received a rating of 15, they wanted to receive a 12 as it would affect the amount of people watching the film, they then reedited the film removing some sound and blood effects to achieve the 12 rating. 

 

Below is a summary of what can or can't be shown at different age certificate levels. 

 

Universal 

  

(suitable for all) 

U rated films should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over, U films should be set within a positive manner 

Below is a list of things that are not permitted: 

• Dangerous behaviour (dangerous acts that could recreated)

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• Drugs (have a clear anti-drug message suitable children)

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• Language (infrequent use only of very mild language) 

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• Nudity (Occasional nudity, with no sexual reference) 

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• Sex (mild sexual behaviour for example, kissing) 

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• Violence ( Mild violence may be acceptable if it is explaned through storyline and context) 

• 
  

Parental guidance (PG) 

 

A PG film should not unsettle a child aged around eight or older. Unaccompanied children of any age may watch, but parents should make a judgment.

Below is a list of things that are not permitted: 

• Dangerous behaviour (No detail of potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy)

• 
  

• Discrimination (Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable)

• 
  

• Drugs (References to illegal drugs or drug use must be subtle or carry a suitable anti-drug message for the children)

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• Language (Mild language only) 

• 
  

•  Nudity (There may be nudity with no sexual context) 

• 
  

• Sex (Sexual activity may be implied, but should be discreet and uncommon)

• 
  

• Threat and horror (Frightening sequences or situations where characters are in danger should not be dwelled upon or frequent)

• 
  

• Violence (only mild violence)

• 
  

12 & 12A 

 

Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult.

 

Below is a list of things that are not permitted: 

• Dangerous behaviour (No promotion of potentially dangerous behaviour which children are likely to copy)

• 
  

• Discrimination (Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be encouraged)

• 
  

• Drugs (Misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be the main focus of be glorified)

•  

• Language (There may be moderate bad language. Strong language may be used, this depends on how its used)

• 
  

• Nudity (There may be nudity, but in a sexual context must be quick)

•  

• Sex (Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly shown)

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• Threat and horror. (There may be moderate physical and psychological threat and horror sequences, but can't be too disturbing)

 

15 

 

No one younger than 15 may see a 15 film in a cinema. 

Below is a list of things that are not permitted: 

• Dangerous behaviour  (for example, suicide, self-harming and asphyxiation) 

• 
  

• Discrimination (The work must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour)

• 
  

• Drugs (Drug taking may be shown but the work must not promote or encourage drug misuse) 

• 
  

• Language (There may be strong language. Very strong language may be permitted, depending on the way it is used, who is using the language) 

• 
  

• Nudity (There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context. Sexual nudity may be permitted but strong detail is likely to be brief)

• 
  

• Sex (Sexual activity may be portrayed, but usually without strong detail)

• 
  

• Sexual violence and sexual threat (There may be strong verbal references to sexual violence but any depiction of the stronger forms of sexual violence, including rape, must not be detailed or prolonged) 

• 
  

• Threat and horror (There may be strong threat and horror)

• 
  

• Violence (Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury, not to gory otherwise likly not to be allowed.

 

18 

 

No one younger than 18 may see an 18 film in a cinema. 

Below is a list of things that are not permitted: 

 

Adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are in the following areas: 

•  where the material breach the criminal law, or has been created through the act of a criminal offence 

• where material or treatment appears to us to risk harm to individuals through their behaviour, to society. For example, the detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts 

•  illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals.

•   

• where there are more explicit images of sexual activity in the context of a sex work  

• 
  

With this I have decided that the opening film sequence I am working on will most likely come over the age certificate of a 15 if it were to be made into a film due to the violent nature of the film As Well as the references being inappropriate to younger viewers.