2. British Border Film Classification
The BBFC is non governmental and is not organized for profit.
They are known as a trusted guide to media content working as an
independent regulator for the classification systems in the UK.
Their efforts aim to:
• “protect the public, and especially children, from content which
might raise harm risks
• empower the public, especially parents, to make informed viewing
choices
• recognize and respect adult freedom of choice within the law
• respond to and reflect changing social attitudes towards media content
through proactive public consultation and research
• provide a cost-effective, efficient classification service within our
statutory remit
• work in partnership with the industry to develop innovative service
models to provide content advice which support emerging media
delivery systems
• provide an effective service to enforcement agencies”
3. Films for theatrical release are classified using published guidelines by often, two
Examiners whilst dvd’s are often seen by one examiner. Examiners observe issues
Such as discrimination, drug use, horror, behaviour and language, nudity, sex,
sexual violence and violence. With the information collated they classify the film
Following these options:
4. The website enables you to search a movie
and find its classification…
GONE GIRL
BBFCINSIGHT strong bloody
violence, very strong language
The content of
the trailer is
however a 12
5. What I am going to do….
• I have chosen to keep my movie trailer within
the rating of an age 15. I came to this decision
as a large part of my ideal demographic fall
between 15-20+ year olds. I would prefer the
film to not be rated 18 as I believe it would
limit my demographic and restrict screening
times on viewing platforms such as the TV due
to the watershed mark. In order to comply with
the 15 rating I must follow these
guidelines:Strong violence accepted- NO GORY
IMAGES
• Strong sense of horror- NO focus on sadistic or
sexualized threat
• Drug taking allowed- NO promotion or glorifying
of the drug
In addition, I also did
not want my film to be
rated a 12 as I wanted
the nature of my movie
to be unsettling and
create tension. The
trailer, in keeping with a
12 rating would loose its
sense of narrative and
character.
6. It is often unlikely you will find just one version of a film trailer. In
addition to multiple versions of a trailer including different scenes and
sequences there are also various banded trailers. Red and green bands. A
red band trailer restricts audiences and features more violent and
exposed gory content.
Despite Gone girl being rated 18 for the content of the film, it released a
green band trailer recommended for 12+. This allowed them to advertise
the trailer on mainstream networks and broadcast throughout the public
domain. Because of this their efforts were more likely to reach the
intended demographic and encourage the watercooler effect.
