BBFC Institution research
1) Research the BBFC: what is the institution responsible for? How is it funded? What link does it have to government?
(http://www.bbfc.co.uk/about-bbfc)
The British Board of Film Classification is an independent, non- governmental body which has classified cinema films since it was set up in 1912 and videos/DVDs since the Video Recordings Act was passed in 1984.
The BBFC fees are adjusted only to cover its costs. In order to preserve its independence, the BBFC never receives subsidies from either the film industry or the government. Its income is solely from the fees it charges for its services, calculated by measuring the running time of films or DVDs submitted for classification.
The link that the BBFC has to the government is the passing of the laws from the government which allowed the BBFC to be able to set up its purpose within its organisation.
2) Read this BBFC guide to how films are rated. Summarise the process in 50 words.
(http://www.bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/student-guide/rating-process)
Examiners will solo-watch DVD submissions in BBFC's cinema to replicate the effects that the film will have on the cinema audience. They concentrate on segments of the film like general context, timings of key moments and bad language, sex and drug references and etc which is then rated based on BBFC's guidelines.
3) Read this BBFC outline of the issues faced when classifying a film. Summarise the debate in 50 words.
(http://www.bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/student-guide/rating-process/issues)
On top of BBFC's guidelines, issues are faced, e.g, whether the film is detrimental to the law, the emotional harm that it may cause, the availability of the film, the individual opinions on concepts like sex, language or violence and the overall concept and tone of the film.
4) Read this BBFC section on controversial decisions. Why did The Dark Knight generate a large amount of media coverage regarding its certificate? Do you agree with the 12A certificate The Dark Knight was awarded?
(http://www.bbfc.co.uk/case-studies/dark-knight)
The Dark Knight generated a large amount of media coverage regarding it's certificate due to there being violent content which some people found too strong.
In my opinion I agree with the 12A certificate that The Dark Knight was awarded, this is because:
BBFC's guidline for 12A at the time stated "Violence must not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries and blood" and "Sustained moderate threat and menace are permitted. Occasional gory moments only."
Also,
The violence in the film is quickly edited, and whilst sometimes crunchy, it is almost entirely lacking in any blood or injury details. The impacts of blows are mostly masked by actors’ bodies or camera angles, but the impression of violence is occasionally strong.
Even though there was a strong impression of violence, there wasn't direct intense violence which portrayed blood or injury details and this was used to enhance the action and the Joker's mental state in the film and therefore I agree with this film certificate.
5) What are the guidelines for a 15 certificate?
(http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/15)
The guidelines for a 15 certificate are:
6) The BBFC website offers an explanation of every classification it makes and detailed case studies on selected titles. Choose one 15-rated film from the BBFC case studies section and summarise the classification the film was given and why.
(http://www.bbfc.co.uk/case-studies/la-dolce-vita-1960)
The film that I chose was "La Dolce Vita (1960).
This film was given a classification of a 15 certificate but when submitted again for cinema re-release in 2013 where it was classified a 12A certificate.
This film was rated a 15 certificate firstly as there were some content that, at the time, was advisable for an audience that was under 16 but a few of the scenes cause this to change because of the tone of the film and the suicide attempt by one character, of which only the aftermath is shown. This was therefore altered to a 15 certificate. In addition to this, there was a scene in the film which involved stripping and there were slight uses of epithets.
However, in 2013 this film certificate was changed to a 12A for moderate sex references, language, violence and suicide scenes.
(http://www.bbfc.co.uk/about-bbfc)
The British Board of Film Classification is an independent, non- governmental body which has classified cinema films since it was set up in 1912 and videos/DVDs since the Video Recordings Act was passed in 1984.
The BBFC fees are adjusted only to cover its costs. In order to preserve its independence, the BBFC never receives subsidies from either the film industry or the government. Its income is solely from the fees it charges for its services, calculated by measuring the running time of films or DVDs submitted for classification.
The link that the BBFC has to the government is the passing of the laws from the government which allowed the BBFC to be able to set up its purpose within its organisation.
2) Read this BBFC guide to how films are rated. Summarise the process in 50 words.
(http://www.bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/student-guide/rating-process)
Examiners will solo-watch DVD submissions in BBFC's cinema to replicate the effects that the film will have on the cinema audience. They concentrate on segments of the film like general context, timings of key moments and bad language, sex and drug references and etc which is then rated based on BBFC's guidelines.
(http://www.bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/student-guide/rating-process/issues)
On top of BBFC's guidelines, issues are faced, e.g, whether the film is detrimental to the law, the emotional harm that it may cause, the availability of the film, the individual opinions on concepts like sex, language or violence and the overall concept and tone of the film.
4) Read this BBFC section on controversial decisions. Why did The Dark Knight generate a large amount of media coverage regarding its certificate? Do you agree with the 12A certificate The Dark Knight was awarded?
(http://www.bbfc.co.uk/case-studies/dark-knight)
The Dark Knight generated a large amount of media coverage regarding it's certificate due to there being violent content which some people found too strong.
In my opinion I agree with the 12A certificate that The Dark Knight was awarded, this is because:
BBFC's guidline for 12A at the time stated "Violence must not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries and blood" and "Sustained moderate threat and menace are permitted. Occasional gory moments only."
Also,
The violence in the film is quickly edited, and whilst sometimes crunchy, it is almost entirely lacking in any blood or injury details. The impacts of blows are mostly masked by actors’ bodies or camera angles, but the impression of violence is occasionally strong.
Even though there was a strong impression of violence, there wasn't direct intense violence which portrayed blood or injury details and this was used to enhance the action and the Joker's mental state in the film and therefore I agree with this film certificate.
5) What are the guidelines for a 15 certificate?
(http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/15)
The guidelines for a 15 certificate are:
Discrimination - The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour, although there may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language.
Drugs - Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse (for example, through instructional detail). The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.
Imitable behaviour - Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Whether the depiction of easily accessible weapons is acceptable will depend on factors such as realism, context and setting.
Language - There may be strong language. Very strong language may be permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, its frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification.
Nudity - There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context. There may be nudity in a sexual context but usually without strong detail.
Sex - Sexual activity may be portrayed, but usually without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.
Threat - There may be strong threat and horror. A sustained focus on sadistic or sexual threat is unlikely to be acceptable.
Violence - Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but the depiction of sexual violence must be discreet and justified by context.
6) The BBFC website offers an explanation of every classification it makes and detailed case studies on selected titles. Choose one 15-rated film from the BBFC case studies section and summarise the classification the film was given and why.
(http://www.bbfc.co.uk/case-studies/la-dolce-vita-1960)
The film that I chose was "La Dolce Vita (1960).
This film was given a classification of a 15 certificate but when submitted again for cinema re-release in 2013 where it was classified a 12A certificate.
This film was rated a 15 certificate firstly as there were some content that, at the time, was advisable for an audience that was under 16 but a few of the scenes cause this to change because of the tone of the film and the suicide attempt by one character, of which only the aftermath is shown. This was therefore altered to a 15 certificate. In addition to this, there was a scene in the film which involved stripping and there were slight uses of epithets.
However, in 2013 this film certificate was changed to a 12A for moderate sex references, language, violence and suicide scenes.
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