2. What do they do?
• The BBFC is the UK regulator of film and
video, providing age ratings such as U, PG
and 12A. They are a designated body so
have legal powers to rate, and sometimes
cut or even reject works.
3. What does U mean?
• The U symbol stands for Universal. A U film
should be suitable for audiences aged four
years and over. However, it is impossible to
predict what might upset a particular child,
especially at this lower end of the category
range.
4. What does PG mean?
• PG stands for Parental Guidance. This
means a film is suitable for general viewing,
but some scenes may be unsuitable for
younger children. A PG film should not disturb
a child aged around eight or older. Parents
should consider whether the content might
upset younger or more sensitive children.
5. What does 12A and 12 mean?
• 12A means that anyone aged 12 or over can
go and see the film unaccompanied. The A
stands for 'accompanied' and
'advisory'. Children younger than 12 may see
the film if they are accompanied by an adult
(eg someone over the age of 18), who must
watch the film with them.
6. What does 15 mean?
• No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15
film at the cinema or buy/rent a 15 rated
DVD. 15 rated works are not suitable
for children under 15 years of age.
7. What does 18 mean?
• Films rated 18 are for adults. No-one
under 18 is allowed to see an 18 film at
the cinema or buy/rent an 18 rated
DVD. No 18 rated works are suitable for
children.
8. What does R18 mean?
• The 18 category is a special and legally restricted
classification primarily for explicit works of consenting
sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films
may only be shown to adults in specially licensed
cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults
only in licensed sex shops. videos may not be
supplied by mail order.
9. Have a go yourself
• Percy Jackson: sea of monsters
After looking at the trailer to this film and looking at the guidelines I
have decided to rate this film a 12A. I have decided this because I
because the film includes violence which may not be acceptable for
anyone under the age of 12. Also the film
includes some humor which
someone under the age of
may not get. I chose 12A
instead of 12 because I believe
that the film is suitable for someone
at the age of 12 to watch without any
guidence.
10. Case study: spiderman
• Director - Sam raimi
• Status - 12A uncut
• Year - 2002
•
Spider-Man had been passed 12 in April 2002, in spite of a request
from the distributor for a PG. The reason for the 12 was that the film
contained a level of personal violence and a revenge theme that went
beyond what was acceptable under the PG level BBFC Guidelines of
the time. The BBFC received many letters from disappointed children
and some surprised parents, questioning the decision. However, the
BBFC defended the '12 decision. The distributor of Spider-Man decided
to re-release the film immediately after the introduction of 12A so that
young fans in parts of the country where local authorities had not
changed the rating had the chance to see the film at the cinema.
11. Case study - attack the block
• The film was submitted to the BBFC with no category request in
March 2011. he film contains frequent strong language from the
start, with over 50 uses of 'f**k' and some uses of 'motherf****r'
throughout. Under current BBFC guidelines, where only
infrequent strong language is permitted at 12A, the work was
automatically therefore a 15 category within the first reel.
Fireworks are used as weapons in the film, and the BBFC has
intervened through cuts in works aimed at young and very
young children which feature dangerous firework play. However,
in this instance, given the work is clearly for older teens and
young adults, it did not affect the 15 classification. The BBFC
Guidelines at 15 state that 'drug taking may be shown but the
film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse'.
Examiners had to consider whether the volume of drugs
references normalise drug taking, or merely reflect the world of
the film where some characters take drugs and others are more
critical of it.
