Film Industry: BBFC film regulation

 Film regulation and the BBFC - blog tasks:

1) Research the BBFC in more detail. This BBFC Wikipedia page may help.

• What is the institution responsible for? 

         The institution is responsible for national classification and censorship of films exhibited at cinemas and video works  released on physical media within the UK.

• How is it funded? 

It's self-funded through fees charged to film, video and game industries for classifying content, making it a voluntary regulatory body.

• What link does it have to government? 

Its separate from the government due to introduction of unregulated censorship infrastructure, creating a strict self regulation system.

2) Read this BBFC summary to Age Ratings and the BBFC classification guidelines. 

Write a paragraph about each of the different ratings:

• U- Suitable for all ages, has positive framework, offer reassurance to counter-act violence, threat or scary scenes. Unlikely to unsettle a 4 year old but it's impossible to predict. It doesn't include dangerous behaviour,nudity, sex, discrimination, threat, violence, drugs, crude language unless they are clearly disapproved of.
• PG- Generally for kids around eight, though it should be up to parent discretion as some scenes may be unsuitable for more sensitive children.  It doesn't include dangerous behaviour,nudity, sex, discrimination, threat, violence, drugs, crude language unless they are clearly disapproved of.
• 12A/12- No-one younger than 12 unless they are accompanied by an adult. The adult should use discretion for each child. No-one younger than 12 may rent of by a 12-rated video.  It doesn't include dangerous behaviour,nudity, sex, discrimination, threat, violence, drugs, crude language, suicide, self-harm, sexual violence unless they are clearly disapproved of.
• 15-No-one younger than 15 may see content with a 15 age rating in cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent of by a 15-rated video. No-one younger than 12 may rent of by a 12-rated video.  It doesn't include dangerous behaviour,nudity, sex, discrimination, threat, violence, drugs, crude language, suicide, self-harm, sexual violence unless they are clearly disapproved of.
• 18- No-one younger than 18 may see content with a 18 age rating in cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent of by a 18-rated video. Adults are free t choose their own entertainment, with some exceptions such as material being in breach of criminal law, may harm individuals in society, explicit pornography.

3) Select ONE of the A Level BBFC case studies. Explain why it received its certificate in relation to each of the considerations: 

• dangerous behaviour
• discrimination
• drugs 
• language
• nudity
• sex
• sexual violence
• suicide and self harm
• threat and horror
• violence

-Zootropolis- There are scenes of mild threat and injury, there are drugs and illegal substances but are subtle and pose no threat, there is inclusion of nudity yet it isn't rudely presented, there's mild bad language, therefore it is a PG film.

4) Go to the rate a trailer section - choose THREE trailers and rate them.

Write the name of the film, what your rating was, and how it compared to the BBFC.

Superman- 12A due to threat, weapons, violence and dangerous behavior, but the BBFC only flagged threat and violence.

Dear Evan Hanson-15 due to suicide, dangerous behaviour and threat, but the BBFC only flagged themes and dangerous behaviour at 12A.

Cruella- 12A due to mild violence, threat and dangerous behaviour, but the BBFC flagged weapons, violence, threat and dangerous behaviour.

5) What are the guidelines for a 12A certificate - Blinded By The Light's cinema certificate (it was rated 12 for its home video release)?

It's considered a 12A film due to infrequent but strong bad language, moderate racist violence, racial abuse an discrimination, vague mentions of alcohol and sex, that is all strongly disapproved of, making it a 12A film.

6) The BBFC website offers an explanation of every classification it makes and detailed case studies on selected titles. Look at the rating for Blinded By The Light and explain why it was given a 12A certificate for cinema release.

There is infrequent moderate bad language ('wanker') as well as milder terms ('bloody hell', 'shit', 'crap', 'frickin', 'sod', 'Jesus'). There is a scene in which two men are attacked by members of the National Front, resulting in brief bloody injury detail. There are racist references made to "Pakis" as one character is spat on and made to move from his seat in a restaurant at the request of some racists. Racism is not condoned within the film.