Research: Age Certificates - Ms. Begum

Age certificates

The BBFC:

The BBFC (British Board Film Classification) are an expert and experienced film regulator. They have many roles, but the main role is to advise and protect public information for everyone to make appropriate viewing decisions, whether its parents deciding to allow their children to watch certain films or whether its protecting and advising vulnerable viewers. The BBFC's role is important because they have the last word in confirmation to release a film so a film can only be released if the BBFC allow it. Their role is also important because when allowing to release a film they have to decide who should be able to watch a film so they certify what ages are aloud to watch this film. For example, they confirm and label what age certificate a film should have e.g. U, PG, 12, 12A, 15, 18.

The different age certificates:

A ''U' rated should be suitable for audiences aged 4 and over.

U films should have a positive moral narrative and image so that it is appropriate to the targeted viewers. This age typed film should also

not show or connote any violence, threat or horror.

A PG rated film have some scenes that may be unsuitable for young children. PG stands for Parental Guidance is need to children 8 and under.

With this age certificate, parents are advised whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.

A 12 rated film contains suitable material towards 12 and over viewers. Some content in a 12 may be unsuitable to the viewers so parents are advised to see if the film is suitable for their child before allowing them to watch it. This 12 category only exist for video works so no one younger than 12 may watch, rent or buy a 12 rated film.

A 12A only exists for cinema films. No one younger than
12 may see a 12A film unless a younger than 12 is accompanied
by an adult allowing consent to view the film. So responsibility for allowing a younger than 12 child to view a 12A lies on the
accompanying adult. ''12A'' is a fairly new age rating that came
 as a result of Spiderman in 2002.



 

 

 

A 15 rated film may have content that have some controversial elements to it but overall there shouldn't be: any discrimination, drugs being promoted, violence shown that dwells on injury and pain. There may be some use

of frequent bad language and nudity shown but only

 where appropriate.

 

 

A 18 rated film may contain explicit content  such as

criminal law, display criminal offence, violence,

dangerous acts, illegal drug use etc. Also explicit

 images, sexual content can be shown and frequent

bad language can be used.

 

 

 

 

12A rating:

 

12A rate is a new age rating in film introduced in 2002 because of the first Spiderman production in 2002. This comical film was identified as portraying callousness towards victims and dwelling injury and pain. This was then argued not suitable for children under 12 even though Spiderman is targeted towards the very young, but the action in this film was to explicit for the ages 4 - 12 and was thought to be inappropriate to some viewers that  children may see this film with the consent and the company of an adult depending on the adults decision to allow their child to view the film.

 

Age certificates for Thrillers:

 

The main age certificates I would give a thriller and that are mainly used in thrillers are a 15 or 18. This is because of the explicit content, bad language and maybe some nudity shown. There are many other reasons for thrillers to be a 15 or an 18 for example, this may disturb and create trauma to the younger viewers or even some aged 15 and over. Thrillers are mainly a 15 or 18 because of the content it may contain as it is made to disturb and make the viewers jump.

 

In conclusion, I have learnt all the age ratings the content different age rated films may contain and how they are regulated to certify the age ratings for different types of movies. In making a thriller I will need to consider what content can and cant be used and also what aged audience my thriller is targeted to, which is mainly people around the age of 15 and over.. I will need to know what is appropriate for different aged groups and viewers.