Research in to BBFC - Miss Miller

BBFC stands for the British Board of Film Classification, having the correct age limit on a film is essential to its success and if the wrong one is selected then it could mean losing essential viewers. The classification needs to match with the target audience and the content of the film needs to considered. The BBFC is what puts film into their appropriate age categories, so that; The public are protected especially children from inappropriate content. It empowers the public particularly parents to control what their children are viewing. It responds to and reflects the change in social attitudes towards media content. It also provides a cost effective, efficient classification service within our statuary responsibility. (These four point have been taken from the official BBFC website.)

All of these things give the audience control and knowledge about what they are going to be watching and whether they want to continue to view it. The different classifications are done by what is appropriate for the viewers and what the age limit should be. This also gives parents or guardians control of what their child is going to be watching.

A U classification is the lowest age limit in the BBFC it means the content and story lines for the film must be suitable for a young child, it should have no bad language and very mild violence. The age barrier for this classification is four and over. A good example of a film in this category is The Lion King because it is an animated film with little violence and isn't harmful for children to watch. It is has a typical story line about protagonist and antagonist, simba returns to his home to take the thrown which his uncle took from him when his dad died. It is allowed very mild language such as 'damn' or 'hell' and the characters can also be kissing or cuddling but their shouldn't be any obvious focus on it. Violence is allowed but not so that it is extremely scary for the child to be watching, their will be some scenes when a character will be put in danger which could possibly be emotional for children in this case it will be quickly resolved and shouldn't be continued for long periods of time.



The classification up from U is a PG the stands for  Parental Guidance, this means the content will be a little bit stronger than U but children can still watch it if they are supervised by an adult. There is mild violence which is why it should be considered by the parent or guardian to wether they think it is appropriate for children, although shouldn't unsettle anyone aged 8 or above. Shrek, forever after is rated a PG because it is an animated film with some violence but it is not unexceptable for children to be seeing. There is a stereotypical storyline about a fight between the antagonist and the protagonist so violence it to be expected. Shrek is the hero trying to save fiona from Rumpelstiltskin. When the Having a PG classification doesn't generally mean the film is for children, some films can be for adults viewing but still appropriate for children and nothing upsetting for them should be involved. The bad language included in the film can be words such as 'shit' or 'son of a bitch' but these can only be used in a very mild way not in a extremely manner.


There is also and 12 or a 12A which means people aged 12 and over can view it but on some films you will have to be supervised by an adult which is a 12A. If they have to have adult supervision it usually means that the content needs to be considered by the adult whether it is suitable for the child to be watching. They sometimes change a film to a 12A depending on the story lines for example Blended was changed to 12A because it is about two families on holiday and it is also a comedy these things interest people that are 12 years old there fore they are aloud to see it if they have an adult with them. Blended has some violence and some bad language such as f***, when this sort of language is used it depends in what manner it is used to wether it will be a 12 or a 12A. The violence is allowed to be moderate and the detail injuries or clod should not be focussed on. All these thing show why adults have to consider the content. Blended was not put into the 12A classification because it is a comedy and doesn't go in to detail on and violence or bad language used as if focuses f=more on the funny side of the story lines not the emotional side.

The next classification is 15 which means no one under the age of 15 is allowed to watch the film or buy/rent it. In a 15 you will normally see strong violence, strong language, nudity, discrimination and verbal references to sex. Sexual scenes can not be to strong though and not in to much detail the same is with any drug scenes. My example of a 15 rated film is bad neighbours, it is about a young family, in rival with a college frat house living next to them, they join in with their parties at first but then they get fed up and try to get them closed down. There can be strong language included, words such as f*** can by used a lot there is no limit to that kind of language but the word c***  can only be used occasionally depending on the manner that it is used in. Any sexual scenes can continue for long period of time but they must not be in to much detail. An example of this within the film is the snogging between  scene but there is not extreme sexual acts although nudity is allowed. There are also drug scenes included which include the characters smoking cannabis, but it is not an extremely strong scene, as the drug being used it fairly common and not used in an inappropriate way. If a drug scene is in a 15 rated film it shouldn't encourage or promote the use of drugs.



There is also a 18 classification which means no-one under 18 is aloud to buy/rent the film. The content is very strong, for example bad lanuage, sex scenes, strong violence and drug scenes and lots more things which should only be appropriate for adults to view. An example of an 18 rated fim is The wolf on wall street, it have extremely strong content, like drug use and violence scenes. The It has very strong language and sex scenes and nudity. the story line is about a stock broker who earns a lot of money and becomes extremely rich this changes his whole way of living, he uses drug goes to parties gets in fights, and can have what ever he wants. the content of the film is very strong, for example the drug use, drugs are used all throughout the films and one particular scene is very inappropriate which is when jordan takes cocaine from a woman's naked body, this part also classes as nudity which is again used a lot through the film. Most of the film includes some sort of string content from language to sex scenes or nudity.the language isn't limited in a 18 rated film any word can be used and as often as they like. violence can also be as strong as they like, it can focus on any detail which is not allowed in other age classifications, it can focus on the injuries gore and bloody parts.


From my research into the BBFC i have gained a better understanding of the different age classification. It has helped my learn the rules, details and guidelines of each category. As well the rules I now know why they have them and what separates them from each other, for example i know why 12 and 12A are different. This research has let me understand why it could effect the amount of views the films get and how it could effect the target audience. I have learned that having the right age classification is very important if they film is going to successful and it needs to be considered even before creating a film so that the guidelines can be met. All of the points i have looked into have helped me with deciding what age classification i am going to use in the thriller film. It has shown me what i am allowed to include and what i am restricted on. I have decided that for my film is going to be a 15 certificate because the genre is a thriller and it could involve some violence and scary scenes which may be inappropriate for children to watch, it make effect them emotionally and mentally because the events which might take place.