The BBFC Rating System

In order to assign the right rating for our film i had to do research on how they are assigned and what they really mean. 

 The BBFC is the well known Regulatory board that is in control of the age rating system in the British film industry also known as The British Board Of Film Classification. The BBFC works as an organisation to enforce rules in British media about what can and cannot be shown on film but also the age ratings given to all films in Britain as nothing can be released without the BBFC’s sign off (..in Britain). What will affect the decision making of the BBFC when applying such ratings are:

• Any scenes of violence - how is it shown,

The context of the situation, character reaction, 

is it realistic, how bad are the injuries

• Any scenes of sex and/or nudity

• Any scenes with ‘obscene language’

• Scenes with discriminatory language 

• Scenes of any form of self harm 

• Any scenes of criminal behaviour 

• Scenes of dangerous behaviour 

• Scenes of/with drug,alcohol and cigarettes - how is it shown,

 if negative it would earn a lower rating than if it were to promote

• Scenes involving child actors

• Strobe lighting 

• Real vs not real(animation)

This all works by the production company of a film to send a copy to the association and then the BBFC watch and come to a conclusion about the rating, if all agree and are happy the film will go to reales with the rating. However if the film production or another party are not happy with the rating the film will have to be re-edited and sent back to the BBFC for re-evaluation and a different rating if successful. Though there are many restrictions to what defines the rating system some movies can slip through the cracks such as ‘The Woman In Black’ as the film got the rating of 12A as it did not cross any of the rules but despite this factor the film is still very frightinigh and the BBFC got complaints, so much so that they had to chang their regulations to include the tone of a film like ‘terror, fear, horror etc..’. Overall the BBFC strives as a guidance and provides some protection for young children and all really, but as we see younger generations getting more normalised with violent media (video games) the rating regulations might have a chance of change due to this slightly negative progression.

  

U

4+ - setting examples for children to learn and grow - positive - balance 

U rated films guidelines must be very censored as these are the films that will be setting examples for the children watching and they will need to learn and grow with positive surroundings and balance, especially from the media. A U must not display dangerous or anti-social behaviour which could be copied/repeated or it should be presented disconnected from reality e.g animated etc.. .With threat and horror, if used should be sure to avoid any possible amity for children meaning that it should be mild, brief and that the outcome is positive or reassuring.  The same goes for violence as if it is very mild it is acceptable if it can be backed up with a justifiable background such as comedy or unrealistic or animated of course. Discrimination is not accepted on any terms unless it is being displayed as disapproved of. Drugs should be mentioned very little and if so for educational purposes or with an anti-drug use message only. Language and nudity are the same, occasional nudity of course with no sexual context and occasional use of very very mild bad language use only. With sex it is clear that only very mild behaviour such as kissing or references to such behaviour is acceptable. 

PG

PG rated films guidelines should be slightly restricted with conversion to the fact that sensitive children around 8+ will be watching therefore it needs to be safe and offer a positive balance. There should be no detail of dangerous behaviour that a child could copy in a PG unless it is presented in a safe and/or fun way  and no glamorisation or use of weapons that are realistic or easily accessible to kids. There can be nudity with no sexual connotation. Context is key when it comes to violence too as it should only be moderate, without detail and for comedy, history or fantasy. With sex there can be implied activity but very little and only mild sex references and indued only. Discrimination is not accepted on any terms unless it is being displayed as disapproved of.  Drugs should be mentioned very little and if so for educational purposes or with an anti-drug use message only. If there are frightening sequences they should not be prolonged or be intense as it can cause a threat and horror tone. With language, mild bad language is acceptable but anything more aggressive or frequent would need a higher rating. 

12A

A 12A film would usually not be best suited for 12 and under and if they were to go to the cinemas to watch a 12A they would have to be accompanied fly an adult for safety. As the same policy in PG films there should be no detail of dangerous behaviour that a child could copy in a 12A and no glamorisation or use of weapons that are realistic or easily accessible to kids.  If there is any sexual activity in a 12A it should be brief and done very discreetly anything more in unlikely to be permitted. Any form of discrimination in not permitted unless it is very clearly disapproving of discrimination. With forms of sexual violence there should only be verbal references and with other forms such as rape, it should only be implied and all of this to be done very briefly and negatively presented. There should be no use of drug use that is glamorised and it should be shown infrequently if needed. If there are any threatening or horror sequences they should be very mild and the overall tone should not be disturbing. Bad language is accepted if it is moderate and the situation it is used in. With violence in a 12A there should not be too much detail and only show gory moments if justified by context. There can be nudity and if in a sexual context it must be very brief and discreet. 

 

15

As 15 is a big jump from the previous rating much more regulations get passed as the child is less susceptible to what is being shown. The first big difference would be in dangerous behaviour as suicide, self harming and asphyxiation can all be shown but not dwell on details that can be copied or used by the audience in the same context shown. There are essentially no regulations on nudity, it all really comes down to context but that’s really it. When it comes down to discrimination themes of such are aloud as long as the whole media piece doesn’t endorse it. Most sexual activity is fine as long as it isn’t detailed, repeated, or has much use of pornographic language, if the purpose of the work is inappropriate then it is not permitted. With drug use it can be shown but definitely not promoted and not shown in a way that will encourage it(not detailed). Sexual violence and threat is allowed as long as it is not being depicted for very long and if it is a stronger form of violence than it shouldn’t be detailed. Any form of strong language is permitted; it all just comes down to context. Tones of threat and horror are acceptable as long as it is not a sadistic formed threat. Strong violence is allowed as long as it is not dwelled on as there is not much gore, sadistic violence is also not allowed. 

18

18 is one of the last levels of the ratings so much is allowed at this point because in most places in Britain 18 is when independence is gained therefore less guidance and protection is needed. The only real guidelines is that as long as it doesn’t break the law, cause harm to others of any kind or if it is more explicit images of sexual activity in terms of sex work to which it would earn a R18 rating.