2. Introduction
Within this piece I will be researching the guidelines for a 15 and
18 rated film. This information will be useful as this will help me
to identify my target audience, in particular the age group that I
wish to aim my film towards. This understanding of ratings will
allow me to analyse and compare the suitability of specific
content within the context of my own thriller opening sequence,
as from the specifications learnt, I will be able to formulate a safe
judgment as to whether the content in my film can be watched by
audiences younger than a specific age. Therefore, ensuring the
appropriate censorship and safety of my piece in terms of
distribution to my audience, making sure to appeal to the correct
and most appropriate group of people as well as providing a
warning for those who do not fit into this group.
3. 15 Certificate Rating
The 15 certificate rating refers to the minimum age in which someone must be in
order to consume media labelled as such. This certificate restricts audience
members under this age, protecting them from content which is considered
inappropriate or harmful in some way.
The way in which a film is categorised in such a way is dependant upon the
themes and content within the film. Content that may be deemed a 15 often
includes:
strong violence
frequent strong language
sexual nudity
brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence
discriminatory language or behaviour
drug taking
4. 18 Certificate Rating
Films rated 18 are for an adult audience only. When seeking to watch such a film,
one must meet the restriction of age, preventing all those below from seeing
such a film at the cinema or buy / rent an 18 rated video. The content within
such films are not at all suited to children and have been specified as such due
to content that has been judged as explicit or overly inappropriate to be
witnessed by a youthful audience.
Some such content may include:
very strong violence
frequent strong language
strong portrayals of sexual activity
scenes of sexual violence
strong horror
strong blood and gore
discriminatory language and behaviour
5. The Risks and issues
Rating certificates are an important feature of all media texts. This is because certain
audiences, in particular in accordance with their age, can be influenced and affected
in a number of ways. For example a younger audience, if watching a higher rated
film, may be influenced by the challenging and rather inappropriate content, such as
violence, this could result in such themes being copied by this audience within
everyday life. This could potentially harm the audience as well as those around them.
This links to the hypodermic needle theory, this being the idea that audiences are
passive and, therefore, believe and take in all that is portrayed to them within the
media. However, due to the clash of ideas surrounding this, for example, The Uses
and Gratifications Theory, this being that audiences are active and actively chose
whether or not to believe in what the media portrays, it could be argued that, for
some audiences, perhaps those who are older and more aware of the moral conduct
of life, this idea of influence does not always apply.
Never the less, it is important to protect those with impressionable minds, thus, the
use of rating certificates.
6. My target Audience
In regards to my own target audience, it can be seen that the
risks of influencing my viewers through the use of content is
low. This is because although our thriller will contain dark
themes, such as violence and tragedy which could potentially
communicate negative influences upon our audience. As
many of my audience members are active, this meaning that
my audience creates their own interpretations within media
and decide upon the truths they are being presented.
This links to the Uses and Gratifications Theory, this being
that audiences are active rather than passive (as stated
within the Hypodermic needle Theory). This suggests my
audience to be safer in terms of potential influence, as due to
the maturity of age, as well as the presence of this active
role, my audience will be able to easily distinguish the
difference between reality and fiction, (especially as my final
piece will possess elements of the supernatural, therefore,
clearly deterring from reality in this way).
However, this cannot be accounted for all of my audience
members as there have been cases within the past where
audience members have become over influenced by a media
text and acted upon this in a violent or dangerous way.
Therefore, linking to the Hypodermic needle theory, as some
audience members can be influenced despite the deterrence
that age and maturity can provide.
7. For example…
An example of such a case, deriving from the
terms of the Hypodermic needle theory is an
article form BBC News titled, “Violent Images
‘boost teenage aggression’”.
Within this article it’s highlighted that the
incorporation of violence within media, in this
case video games, has a negative influence
upon teenagers, making them feel more
inclined to adopt aggressive and antisocial
behaviour.
This reveals that although some audiences are
highly active and decide upon the morals and
reality of what is presented to them within the
media, some audiences can still be influenced,
which can have a negative influence upon
themselves as well as those around them.
Therefore, in reference to my own target
audience, this is something that should be
considered when deciding upon the age rating
certificate for my piece. As this will help to
deter potentially influential age groups, such as
teens, allowing them to gain an understanding
of the seriousness of themes within media
before committing to the piece.
8. Conclusion
In conclusion, I have discovered that, within films, certificate ratings are required in order to
attract the correct age group of the target audience. This is important knowledge for both
the audience and the producers, as producers can make judgment as to the level in which
challenging content is used, in order to meet with the requirements of their chosen age
group. Also, this is important for potential audience members as those who do not meet the
age specifications are prevented from witnessing inappropriate content, therefore, helping to
deter and warn those younger than the minimum age that the content within the film is
unsuitable for such an audience; and so, ensuring the success in the consummation of the
product by the correctly aged audience, as well as keeping younger audiences safe from
the harmful content, as signalled by the age restriction.
This will help me when it comes to creating my own opening for a thriller as I will be able to
identify the minimum age for my target audience based upon the content within my thriller
idea. For example within my piece I am planning upon the use of violence and potentially
gore (e.g. the use of blood), as well as dark themes such as murder and horror. Therefore,
when deciding upon the age of my own target audience I will most likely decide upon a
rating no smaller than 15 in order for the protection of a younger audience, as well as to
appeal to the likes of older individuals who will find the use of dark themes frightening in an
enjoyable sense rather than in a psychologically unhealthy way (as may be the case for
children, or those under the specified age rating).
