2. MY PRODUCTION
• My production was rated by the BBFC, and
independent regulatory body in the UK as a 12
for the DVD rating, and 12A for the cinema
rating.
3. Regulations of a 12
• No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a 12 rated
video or DVD.
• The rating is given to films that are suitable for ages
12 and over.
• Mild and infrequence language and violence.
• Drugs
• Brief nudity
• Discreet sexual activity
• Moderate violence
4. 12A
• A 12A is the cinema rating – if you are under 12, you can see the film at the cinema with
another audience member over the age of 12.
• THE DARK NIGHT
• However, in the past there have been several cases where films rated 12A have been
questioned – such as The Dark Knight. The BBFC, the board which rated the film as 12A
received many complaints about the films content, claiming the film was far to violent,
comments such as “the filmed revolved around glorifying knife violence” and “relentlessly
violent”.
• But Sue Clark, of the BBFC, clarified the position taken by the board by stating that the film
refrained from showing the blows, which were “masked from the camera”, and there was “no
sign of injury”.
• She also felt that the sequel was a fantasy movie with only implied violence – although she
did concede that the board had carefully considered giving it a 15 rating and added that it
would have denied an important part of the fan base the chance to see the film.
5. Independent regulatory or self regulated?
• Advantages of an independent regulatory body over self-regulation
• 1. The BBFC is an independent regulator and is likely to have more
experience in regulating than being self-regulated.
• If you are self-regulating, you are more likely to adapt the regulation to
have a wider audience, so more people can watch your film, however if it’s
not suitable there many be complaints or uproar.
• The BBFC reviews its criteria every so often and updates them to reflect
the public’s ideas about what is and what is not acceptable. This makes its
approach
• flexible.
• hey are self-funding (gain money from fees charged for classification) and
are run on a not-for-profit basis – this should
• protect them from corruption.
• Films are judged by people who understand and are sympathetic to film-
making – ensuring educated judgements.
6. • Disadvantages of an independent regulatory body over self-regulation
• They are subject to the concerns of the presiding president/chairman . The
BBFC could be influenced by someone’s personal views and be
unrepresentative of the public.
• Its rulings can be inconsistent.
• The BBFC lacks any real power to enforce its decisions (apart from video
recordings) – it is Local Authorities who decide to allow or not allow a film
to be shown – generally they abide by the BBFC guidelines BUT not always
– The Exorcist was passed at X but some authorities refused to screen it;
some areas showed Spiderman to children younger than 12, despite the
BBFC rating it as such.
• Self-regulation is quicker and cheaper.
• The BBFC have been accused of making arbitrary decisions which fit its
class-based ideologies. Such as, for a income bracket A audience, a French
art house film would be allowed violence – but in an American Urban
Gangster film violence would be rated higher as the audience would be a
lower income bracket.
