BBFC Research (Catherine Seiersen)

The British Board of film classification is the ungovernmental body that makes decisions on who can watch what type of film using ratings and the backing of the government passing laws on film, DVD, and video game ratings (15,18,U). The British Board of film censors was created in 1912 when local authorities to enforce there own censorship standards. It started in only cinemas but in 1984 they branched to censoring DVDs and video games. Although the local authorities still had the power to show films that have been banned by the bbfc and vice versa they all resign to following the bbfc's choices.
They look at discrimination, drugs, horror, imitable behaviour, language, nudity, sex, theme and violence within a film when deciding the classification for it.

We decided that our film is best suited in the classification of '15'. This decision was reached when we looked at the factors in which the bbfc look at when deciding the film classification:

Discrimination:The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.
Our work does not involve any discrimination

Drugs:Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.
No drugs or dangerous substances will be used within the opening sequence, but there will be reference to drugs in the film.

Horror:Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.
Our work will not include any horror elements as it is a thriller.


Imitable behaviour:Dangerous behaviour(for example, hanging, suicide, selfharming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.
No imitable behaviour will not be in the film at all.

Language:There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, 'fuck'). the strongest terms (for example, 'cunt') may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of strong language is unlikely to be acceptable.
There will be no dialogue within the opening sequence but there will be a mild use of strong language.

Nudity:Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.
No nudity will shown within the whole film.

Sex:Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable to be unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.
Sexual references will be used within the film but not the opening sequence.

Theme:No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.
All our themes are appropriate to 15 year olds.

Violence:Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.
There will be certain strong violence shown in the film but only implication of violence in the opening sequence.


 All this information given e.g. the age reating guidelines can be found on the bbfc website- www.bbfc.co.uk