Research: Age Certificate (Ms Begum)

What is BBFC?


BBFC is a experienced regulator that serves a social function of protecting people from harmful moving images.
The BBFC provides public information to keep them informed and advised on what they or who ever in their care goes and view in the cinemas.
The BBFC helps to protect vulnerable members of the public from harmful and unsuitable content while doing there best to respect the public's decision.

Different Age certificates

U - Universal

The age certificate U is short for Universal and and basically means the film is suitable for everyone to work even Pre school children for an example. All Universal rating films offer reassuring positive counters to any horror or violence scenes that were just witnessed.

The Smurfs is an example of a Animated film rated Universal. 

PG - Parent Guidance

This age certificate means that children ages eight and over are able to watch it without being accompanied by an adult as the film should not disturb the child in any way however, parents are warned that some children may be sensitive to some content that has been shown.
Brave is a PG film which was released August this year.

12 & 12A

12 A and 12 are exactly the same classifying category's as they both don't allow children below the ages of 12 to watch any content from the film as the material may upset children and also many parents find the material unsuitable to a child under the ages of 12 years old.

12 A

The 12 a category exist only for films that may be viewed in the cinemas. Children no younger than the age 12 are allowed to watch 12 A films unless they are accompanied by an adult. Adults take their child to watch 12 A films as they may believe the film is suitable for that child to watch.

12

The category ''12'' exist only for video works and it is the adults responsibility that their child does not buy or rent a video that is rated 12 without there permission as some of the content may be disturbing to some children exposed to such material.

15

This age certificate means no one below the ages of 15 are able to watch the film, the same rules also apply when it comes to buying or renting videos. Reason being is there is a lot of controversial topics that some views may find disturbing or harming.

18

No teenagers below the ages of 18 are allowed to watch a 18 film in the cinemas as the content that is shown could harm individuals or even have a change in their behaviour. A lot of 18 rated films have very strong sexual scenes as well as violence, illegal drug use and more.

Material most 15 & 18 films contain:

• Violence
• Sex
• Nudity
• Horror
• Drugs
• Discrimination
• Strong language
• Imitable behaviour - Behaviour which could be copied.

How the 12A age certificate came about.
 

The age certificate 12A came to about from the hole spider-man controversy.  As most viewers filed in complaints that spider-man (2002) had to much violent materials and was not suitable for children aged eight and over.
Therefore BBFC took the complains on board and gave the film a 12 rating however, this ignited another spark in argument that spider-man is a comic book hero that most kids grew up looking up to and it would be unfair to not allow children to watch it. BBFC Then changed the age certificate from 12 and created 12A age certificate which meant children could only watch the film while accompanied by an adult.

 

What ratings thrillers tend to get?
Most thrillers tend to receive an age rating of 15 as the content the film contains are either disturbing or too harmful for those younger than the age rating. Some contents that may contribute towards a thriller film getting an age rating of 15 and above are the likes are violence, nudity and strong language.

Film regulation
I personally beleive all films should be given an age certificate requirement as this allows us to protect people from inappropriate and disturbing content that they shouldn't be watching. For example, a 6 year old watching Saw. This could have a long-term effect on the kid.
 

Conclusion

I discussed about all the different age certificates and what were the requirements to watch a film with a certain age rating, And also I identified the different contents films with a certain age certificate may contain.
Looking at the different age certificates and the materials they contain has allowed me to have a better judgement on what my thriller age certification will be and how i'll be able to make the trailer appropriate for the audience i'm targeting.

In addtion, while visualizing my thriller trailer i can say that from my comparision to all the different types of film materials i will give my trailer a 15 due to the use of realism in my thriller which may be seen as disturbing for some viewers.