2. WHAT IS CLASSIFICATION?
Classification is a category of which something is put into. In
fi lm production this would be the age groups it is set to. This
is di f ferent between di f ferent countries. The point of this
system is to protect chi ldren from unsuitable or even harmful
fi lms. This also indicates what type of fi lm it would be that
they are wanting to view e.g. if a fi lm is a 18 rating it may
include bad language and violence.
The same sor t of system works for DVDs and their sel l ing
ages. I f the customer is not the correct age for the fi lm they
wi l l not be sold it. This is due to the fi lm may not being
suitable for the customer to watch.
3. TYPES OF CLASSIFICATION
Age rat ing 18 means the fi lm is sui table for viewers 18
and over. This may be due to st rong language, adul t
content and violence.
Age rat ing 15 means the fi lm is sui table for viewers 15
and over. This may be due to st rong language, violence,
and mi ld sexual content .
Age rat ing 12A means the fi lm is sui table for viewers 12
and over, or under 12s being accompanied by and adul t .
This may be due to mi ld violence, bad language, and mi ld
sexual references.
R a t i n g P G me a n s ‘ p a r e n t a l g u i d a n c e ’ . T h i s may b e d u e to
mi ld violence and bad language.
The rat ing U means sui table for any age.
4. HISTORY OF CLASSIFICATION
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/student-guide/bbfc-history/history-age-ratings-
symbols
5. CLASSIFICATION IN OTHER COUNTRIES
The BBCF states the age ratings for Britain but these may
vary for other countries. This is because di f ferent countries
may pol icies and di f ferent opinions on how countries should
be protected. For example the legal age in Britain for drinking
is 18 where as in America it is 21.
6. ISOLATION AND TARGETING
Having these are ratings in fi lms are impor tant for keeping
chi ldren safe from productions that may not be suitable but
t h ey ’ r e a l s o ve r y i s o l at in g .
Viewers may know what to expect due to the age rating
classification but may bot be able to see it because they may
be underage. This makes the freedom of choosing fi lms
di f ficult.
Having age rating also targets the audience of that age group.
The fi lm may have aspects in the fi lm that age group find
interesting thus increasing the popularity of the fi lm.
Many fi lms can be watched onl ine or with someone else
therefore the age restriction is not always abided by.
7. CASE STUDIES
Deciding upon the correct age rating for a fi lm can be
di f ficult; impar tially when the new James bond fi lm came out
with the rating of PG. Parents were ferrous at this fact and
the age rating had to be pushed up.
Sometimes this can be overcome. in 2001 the BBFC carried
out a pi lot in Norwich al lowing under 12s to see during the
eight week. It was decided to be at a rating of 12, advisory if
under 12s were accompanied by an adult. Information about
the content of the fi lm, for instance, 'Contains a single use of
strong language and moderate violence had to be adver tised.
