BBFC Research

Task:

1) Research the BBFC: what is the institution responsible for? How is it funded? What link does it have to government?
2) Read this BBFC guide to how films are rated. Summarise the process in 50 words.
3) Read this BBFC outline of the issues faced when classifying a film. Summarise the debate in 50 words.
4) Read this BBFC section on controversial decisions. Why did The Dark Knight generate a large amount of media coverage regarding its certificate? Do you agree with the 12A certificate The Dark Knight was awarded?
5) What are the guidelines for a 15 certificate?
6) The BBFC website offers an explanation of every classification it makes and detailed case studies on selected titles. Choose one 15-rated film from the BBFC case studies section and summarise the classification the film was given and why. 


1) The BBFC are responsible for the national classification and censorship of all films shown in the United Kingdom. BBFC is a non governmental organisation and funding comes from the fees it charges for its services. The fees are calculated by measuring the running time of films,DVD's/videos and other work which is submitted for classification.The BBFC has three links to the government:

 iRights provides a framework of five simple rights by which everyone – parents, teachers, corporations, governments, technology companies and young people themselves, can interrogate how they interact with young people in the digital world.

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute is a professional membership association formed in 1881. It represents trading standards professionals working in the UK and overseas - in local authorities, the business and consumer sectors and in central government. 

Get It Right From A Genuine Site is a Government backed campaign designed to help you get music, TV, films, games, books, newspapers, magazines and sport from genuine sites and support UK creativity.

2) BBFC - How films are rated? Summary

Films rating are reached by consensus; with the Director, the President and the two Vice Presidents taking ultimate responsibility. Examiners view material in the same way that audiences are likely to view it so that it is a fair and accurate judgement. Examiners view films in the BBFC’s cinema: to reproduce the effect that sound levels and special effects will have on audience. DVD’s in the BBFC’s viewing rooms on a plasma screen. Watching the material the examiners produce a report logging details of what they watch which include:

•     General Context: Plot, characters, outline of individual scenes
•     Timings of key moments, including camera angles and types of shots
•     Bad Language and sex and/or drug references
• 
  

Once in possession of these notes a report will be produced with a synopsis of the work, details of the issues and an argument in support of the recommended age rating.    

Step by Step

1.       Watch the submitted material

2.       Make generalized notes

3.       Produce a report on the material

4.       The Board will then look at the requested age rating if any

5.       Using the BBFC’s published guidelines an age rating is decided

6.       Distributor notified of decision   

3) The debate is stating that works should be allowed to reach the widest audience for their theme and treatment and adults should be allowed to choose what they see provided it remains within the laws of the United Kingdom. The BBFC's principles to decide this are:

1. Whether the material is in conflict with the law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
2. Whether the material, either on its own, or in combination with other content of a similar nature, may cause any harm at the age rating concerned. 
3. Whether the availability of the material, at the age group concerned, is clearly unacceptable to broad public opinion.
4. The context in which an issue (such as sex, language or violence) is presented is central to the question of its acceptability.
5. The overall tone of a work may also affect the final decision. 
6. Alongside considering the relevant legislation, the main age rating issues that need to be taken into account include:

Violence

Sex

Sexual Violence

 Drugs

 Horror

Imitable 

• Language

Discrimination

4) The Dark Knight film generated so much media coverage when it was rated a 12A. This is because their were a lot of complaints from members of the public. Many members of the public thought the violence was to strong to be contained in a 12A category. As I haven't actually watched Dark Knight I don't think I could really give my opinion as to whether the 12A certificate is appropriate. However, after watching the trailer for the film I would agree with the 12A certificate for the film as it had moderate references to violence and it also made moderate threat references. This means that there are physical and psychological threat and horror sequences. 

5) Guidelines for a 15 Certificate Film

 6) ADULTHOOD

Adulthood was given a 15 certificate classification for many reasons, to begin Adulthood uses strong language which is permitted at a 15 certificate. Also, the sex and sex references were contained at a 15 as images were detailed but nudity has been restricted. Adulthood is also contained at a 15 certificate because there are references to violence. The references of violence contain it at a 15 certificate because there is strong violence but it doesn’t inflict any pain or injury to the other party. Finally, there are also references of sexual violence but these meet the requirements to be too contained at a 15 certificate. The detail to the sexual violence scenes is restricted which aligns to BBFC Guidelines that sexual violence in 15 certificate films should be discreet and justified by the content.