Film Classification - BBFC
British board film classification is a film rating non-government company that assigns any film an age certificate suitable for the content which is displayed. They also assign age certificates which they believe is the most suitable for different audiences. Films for release are watched by at least two examiners using the published guidelines. They look at the content such as discrimination, drugs, horror, language, imitable behaviour, nudity, sex, sexual violence, and themes of violence when making decisions of what age certificate they should go under. When watching the films they also have to consider the tone and impact it gives to the audience and what emotions they feel after viewing it.
The above is a vital part of creating our film trailer because we need to be sure we are using the correct age rating for the audience we are targeting. The horror content needs to be appropriate for the age watching and follow the guide lines set on the BBFC’s website. Our film trailer cannot contain aspects that do not come under the age rating we have chosen.
The age rating we have chosen is age fifteen. We chose this age certificate because we feel that our target audience is from age 12-15 year olds. Also the members in our group are the ages between 16-17 so we feel a fifteen age rating would be the most suitable for our horror film. The idea of horror films is to make the audience scared, we have chosen to make our film rating a fifteen, as we can do more and the explore the themes of horror in greater depth. If we were to do a higher age rating, it would be harder for us to work with as we are not old enough to watch it ourselves, so therefore, we would be unable to cater for older viewer's needs and expectations of a higher age rating horror film.
The above is a vital part of creating our film trailer because we need to be sure we are using the correct age rating for the audience we are targeting. The horror content needs to be appropriate for the age watching and follow the guide lines set on the BBFC’s website. Our film trailer cannot contain aspects that do not come under the age rating we have chosen.
The age rating we have chosen is age fifteen. We chose this age certificate because we feel that our target audience is from age 12-15 year olds. Also the members in our group are the ages between 16-17 so we feel a fifteen age rating would be the most suitable for our horror film. The idea of horror films is to make the audience scared, we have chosen to make our film rating a fifteen, as we can do more and the explore the themes of horror in greater depth. If we were to do a higher age rating, it would be harder for us to work with as we are not old enough to watch it ourselves, so therefore, we would be unable to cater for older viewer's needs and expectations of a higher age rating horror film.
Universal
Universal means that it is suitable for all audiences. If a certificate is rated U, then it cannot have any bad language or any horror of any sorts in it. It must fit within the boards guidelines Universal would be inappropriate to use for our opening title sequence. There also cannot be any reference to any kind of drug use, or drug handling as well as not being allowed to have too much violence, and the violence has to be cartoon violence, therefore would make creating a horror trailer extremely difficult and restricted at the rating of U.
Parental Guidance
This age certificate means a film which is suitable for general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. A PG film should not unsettle a child aged around eight or older. Parents should consider whether the content may upset younger, or more sensitive, children. Even though at PG, more is allowed to be shown, it would still be impossible to make a horror, with the rating of PG, especially a sci-fi(dark web); which is our chosen sub-genre because of the jumpy and tension-building scenes we will include which would not be suitable for this age certificate.
12
The certificate rating 12, simply means that you have to be 12 years of age to watch the film. Under regulations we are allowed to make horror with an age rating of 12, for example the woman in black. However as we want our sub-genre to be a sci-fi(dark web), having the rating 12 would be inappropriate, as well as restricting what we could and couldn't show.
15
A 15 age certificate rating means you have to be 15 years of age or older to watch the film, however with the age rating higher it will contain more content that would be unsuitable for the viewing of a 12 rated film.
This is a list of the following things that can be included in a 15 film:
Creating an 15 age certificate film would be easier to use as we can include more violent scenes to progress our horror.
This is a list of the following things that can be included in a 15 film:
- Strong violence
- Frequent strong language
- Portrayals of sexual activity
- References to sex
- Discriminatory language or behaviour
- Drug taking
Creating an 15 age certificate film would be easier to use as we can include more violent scenes to progress our horror.
The final age certificate is 18. To warrant the certificate of 18, you have to have certain things that wouldn't be allowed in other certificates. This is the highest age rated certificate, therefore will contain the most graphic, violent, rudest or unsuitable content for anyone under the age of 18.
An 18 age rated certificate would include:
We have decided against using an 18 age rated certificate, as we aren't of that age yet, nor is it the audience we are targeting. Therefore this wouldn't be appropriate to use. We will still be able of making a realistic and effective horror at the age rating of 15 as we will still be able to include violence and elements of horror to make a successful movie trailer.
An 18 age rated certificate would include:
- Strong violence
- Frequent strong language
- Strong portrayals of sexual activity or real sex
- Discriminatory language or behaviour
- Drug taking
- Strong horror
- Strong blood and gore
We have decided against using an 18 age rated certificate, as we aren't of that age yet, nor is it the audience we are targeting. Therefore this wouldn't be appropriate to use. We will still be able of making a realistic and effective horror at the age rating of 15 as we will still be able to include violence and elements of horror to make a successful movie trailer.