Film classification is a non-governmental organisation founded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification and censorship of films within the united kingdom. For more information about film classification click here.
All films rated by the BBFC receive a certificate detailing references to sex, violence and bad language. If a certificate specifies that a film is only suitable for someone over a certain age, then only those over that age may buy it. For example, if a film clearly states that it is for 18's only then anyone under the age of 18 is illegal to watch it. All film makers have a certain target audience and if the content of their film doesn't fit in with their target audience then they could lose out on viewers watching their film and could build up a bad reputation with parents in the future if children have watched a 18 film that they weren't supposed to this is why it is important that film classification is made clear.
The BBFC is the British Board of Classification provide age ratings for films in the UK. They decide whether certain films are suitable for all age ranges or just a certain select few.
Below i am going to embed images of the different film classifications and explain what each of them mean.
An example of a U rated film would be Monsters Inc.
The U symbol stands for Universal. A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. However, it is impossible to predict what might upset a particular child.
At U they only allow use of very mild bad language like damn and hell.
Violence will also be very mild it may contain a mild fight scene or characters placed in a mildly dangerous situation.
Sexual references will also be very mild, characters will only be seen kissing and cuddling but nothing more.
An example of a PG film would be Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The PG symbol stands for Parental Guidance. This means that a film is suitable for general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. A PG film should not unsettle a child aged around 8 or older.
A PG film will not contain any theme which is inappropriate for a child. PG works can explore challenging issues such as bullying, bereavement or racism.
There may be mild bad language. In a PG film the context and delivery is always important. For example, if the language is used aggressively or if there is a great deal of bad language it may be passed at a higher category.
Sex references are unlikely unless they are not detailed.
Violence will be used mildly. There should be not detail of violence in a PG film, there might be some blood, we would not see how the injury had been inflicted.
12A films 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. Adults planning to take a child under 12 to view a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable for that child. To help them decide they recommend that they check the BBFC for that film in advance.
The 12A requires an adult to accompany any child under 12 seeing a 12A film at the cinema. This is enforced by cinema staff and a cinema may lose its license if adult accompaniment is not enforced for children under 12 admitted to a 12A film.
The overall tone of a film, and the way it makes the audience feel may affect the classification. For example, work with very dark and unsettling tones which could disturb the audience would be less likely to be passed as a 12A even if the individual issues in the film were considered acceptable under the BBFC guidelines. This works the opposite way too if a work is particularly positive or reassuring this may stop it from being pushed up a category from a 12A to a 15.
The BBFC guidelines state that strong language may be passed at 12 or 12A, depending on the manner in which it is used and who is using the language.
At 12A moderate violence is allowed but not in detail.
An example of a 15 film would be speed
No one under the age of 15 is allowed to see a 15 film at the cinema or buy/rent a 15 rated video.
The types of things you might see in a rated 15 film is strong violence, frequent strong language, portrayals of sexual activity, strong verbal references to sex, sexual nudity, brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence, discriminatory language or behavior and drug taking.
There could potentially be a great deal of language. At 15 there is no upper limit on the number of uses of strong language. Occasionally there may be uses of the strongest terms depending on the manner in which they are used.
At 15 violence may be strong.
Strong sadistic violence is also unlikely to be acceptable.
A good example of an 18 rated film would be the shining
Films rated 18 are for adults. No one under 18 is allowed to see an 18 film at the cinema. No rated 18 works are suitable for children.
The sort of issues that might arise in an 18 film is very strong violence, frequent strong language, strong portrayals of sexual activity, scenes of sexual violence, strong horror, strong blood and gore and discriminatory language and behavior.
There is no limit the the amount and the extent of the language being used in a rated 18 film.
Violence can be strong and be portrayed with strong detail.
The R18 category is a special and legally restricted classification for explicit works and films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas.
As an AS Media student i must consider classification when producing my own film because i need to decide what certificate i want my film to be and what is suitable for our age range and then make sure that no one under that age range can see the film as they could be exposed to explicit material for their age.
For my next post i am going to be talking about Todorov's narrative theory.
