1. BBFC
BBFC is a company which decides the rating of a film.
There is many ratings to choose from these vary between
‘U’s to ‘R18’s it has classified films since 1984, Local
Authorities remain legally responsible for what is shown
in cinemas under the Licensing Act 2003 and can still
overrule the decisions of the BBFC, by films having a
rating/classification it allows people to understand what
the films are going to be about and how explicit they may
be. Films are rated to fit the criteria of age bands so
people of certain ages wont be able to watch the films
which are rated higher then there age, this is because the
BBFC feel that the film isn't acceptable for that age.

2. 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 (e.g. someone over the age of 18), who must watch the film with them. 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 (e.g. someone over the age of 18), who must watch
the film with them
• The BBFC's Guidelines state that there may be strong language (eg 'f***‘)
• moderate language (eg uses of terms such as ‘bitch’ and ‘twat’
• Sex may be briefly and discreetly portrayed at 12 or 12A
• moderate violence is allowed but it should not dwell on detail
• no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if they can
be justified by their context
• Sexual violence, such as scenes of rape or assault, may only be implied or briefly and
discreetly indicated at 12A
• Dangerous behaviour (for example hanging, suicide and self-harming) may be present in 12
or 12A works but will not dwell on detail which could be copied or present those activities as
pain or harm free

3. 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.
15s include:
• there is no upper limit on the number of uses of strong language (eg f***).
• Occasionally there may be uses of the strongest terms (eg 'c***'), although continued or aggressive use
will not normally be passed 15.
• There may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory language
• sexual activity can be portrayed, as long as there is no strong or graphic detail. Some sex scenes can be
quite long at this category and may involve some nudity and movement.
• should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury, however, and the strongest gory images are unlikely to
be acceptable.
• Easily accessible weapons may not be glamorised.
• any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.
• drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse

4. 18
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.
What sort of issues might I find in an 18 film or DVD?
• 18 works are for adults and can contain strong issues such as:
• very strong violence
• frequent strong language (eg 'f***') and/or very strong language (eg ‘c***’)
• strong portrayals of sexual activity
• scenes of sexual violence
• strong horror
• strong blood and gore real sex (in some circumstances)
• discriminatory language and behaviour

5. What we might do?
We figured that our film should have an age rating, as do all films. Our film would
either be a 15 or an 18, (but it is undecided at the moment). The reason for this is
that it will be a mature film which wouldn't be suitable for young audiences, in our
film we might use blood and have some gory images so that’s why it couldn’t be
made a 12, however the image wont be strong gore so that’s why it wouldn’t drop
into the band of a 18. As shown in research no thriller films are below a 12a this is
because of the content involved such as violence, sexual activity, and pain and
injury. Violence may be strong but may not dwell on the infliction of pain and of
injuries, Sustained or detailed infliction of pain or injury is unacceptable.
Thriller films that have the rating of "15" include: When a stranger calls, Taken,
Dejavu, Memento and The raven.

6. What thrillers are usually rated
• Many horror films are rated 15. At 15 there can be strong threat and menace (as long as it
is not sadistic or sexualised), although the strongest gory images are unlikely to be
acceptable.
• Thrillers are usually watched by people who are 15 or above, however a lot of the
psychological thrillers are rated 12a’s this is probably because they can get away with having
it in the lower group as there might not be much gore or violence, films which are rated 12as
that are thrillers are ones such as: Lovely bones, Dream house, Women in black and Taken 2,
many directors want to be able to rate there films in the lower categories as a rating of a 12a
this is because they want to be able to have a wider audience so more people will watch their
film and then that increases the overall profit and popularity of the film. If a film is rated a 15
or 18 this makes it only specific for ages above this so the younger ages who visit the cinema
wouldn’t be able to watch them unlike films which are PGs or 12. Research has shown me
that films which are PG or 12 usually have a higher revenue income as it is much more
accessible for all ages, e.g. the film ‘Taken’ was a 18 and became quiet a successful film but
when they brought out the second film it was rated a 12a and the profits in just a week of
‘taken 2’ being out in the cinema is had already broken records on the first one, showing that
because they dropped the age ban it made a much larger audience.