Research into the BBFC - Miss Miller

Introduction

Who is the BBFC?  

The bbfc is founded by the film industry in 1912 and are responsible for the national classification and censorship of films within the UK. Its requirement is to classify videos, DVDs and some video games.

What do they do?

In order to protect children from unsuitable content such as swearing and violence in films and videos and to give the audience information they might need about a film or video before deciding whether or not to view it.

They watch films and videos all the way through and award an age rating and use their own opinions for each one. 

Main

Age Classification-

U- The U symbol stands for Universal. A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. A U rated film cannot contain any signs of violence, bad language or sexual references.

PG- PG stands for Parental Guidance. This means a film is suitable for children if they are accompanied by an adult, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. A PG is allowed to contain mild bad language, a mild use of violence but no sexual references or drug use.

12/12A-  No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. A 12 can contain bad language, sexual references and violence but cannot contain drug use.

15- No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15 film at the cinema or buy/rent a 15 rated film. A 15 rated film is allowed to contain sexual scenes, violence, bad language and drug use.

18- Films rated 18 are for adults. No 18 rated films are suitable for children. An 18 rated movie can contain strong gore / violence, drugs, inappropriate language and explicit scenes.

 A U Rated Film-

Happy Feet

This film falls into the U category as there is no evidence of their being any bad language or sexual behaviour and no violence or threat is permitted in this film. The film is also animated making it kid-friendly and the way the poster is designed tells me this film is aimed to please children roughly below the age of 10.

A PG Rated film 

Elf

This film falls into the PG category, this is because of the mild bad language and the mild use of violence and threat in this film. However, there is no sign of drug use or sexual references in this film making it exceptable for children under the age of 12 if their accompanied by an adult.




A 12 Rated film

Mean Girls

This film falls into the 12 category. Parents need to know this movie has some mature material for a 12, including crude humor, sexual references, underage drinking, and comic violence. 





A 15 Rated film

Ted

This film falls into the 15 category. This film is filled wall-to-wall with strong language, racial and ethnic jokes, sexual innuendo and references, some nudity and partly shown sex, and a violent fight scene. Characters drink beer and smoke pot regularly, and even try cocaine.



An 18 Rated film

Saw II

This film falls into the 18 category.  It features gruesome violence, with detailed, explicit imagery of bodies penetrated by sharp implements, shot, burned up, slammed, smashed, punched, kicked, sawed, cut, and dismembered. Characters bleed (lots), vomit, and cough blood. Characters smoke and curse relentlessly; in flashback, one character injects drugs, to demonstrate her addiction. 



Conclusion

BBFC's importance:

• to protect children and adults from potentially harmful and unsuitable content

• This will help me to decide what category my film will fall into weather it is an 15 or a 18. If i use a heavy amount of gore, bad language and sexual references I would need to be careful on weather i feel it is an 18 or can in fact fall into the 15 category for example.