4 Who would be the audience for your media product?

THE BRITISH BOARD OF FILM CLASSIFICATION

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. Films for theatrical release are normally classified by at least two examiners using the published guidelines.

The U symbol stands for Universal. A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. U only allow very mild bad language (e.g. damn and hell). Occasionally, bad language such as bloody or bugger may be included, where justified by the context. Films or DVDs with this BBFC insight should raise no significant issues in terms of discrimination, drugs, horror, imitable behaviour, language, nudity, sex, theme or violence. U films may include brief fight scenes or moments where characters are placed in danger. However, moments of emotional stress or threat will be quickly resolved and the outcome will be reassuring.

PG stands for Parental Guidance. This means a film is suitable for general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for younger children. A PG film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. Parents should consider whether the content might upset younger or more sensitive children. Some films are given a PG certificate but have not been made with a young audience in mind. If drugs are mentioned or seen, a PG work should emphasise that they are harmful. No theme is prohibited at PG, as long as it is treated in a manner appropriate to the category. PG works can explore challenging issues such as domestic violence, bereavement or racism. There may be mild bad language (such as shit or son of a bitch) in a PG films but will not be too aggressive. There could be mild or undetailed references to gay or straight sex at PG. There should be no detail of violence in a PG work, so while there might be some blood, we would not see how the injury was inflicted in strong detail.

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 difference between 12A and 12 is that 12 certificate is just for videos, DVDs and Blu-rays whereas, 12A is for films at the cinema only. The BBFC's Guidelines state that there may be strong language (e.g. 'f***') at 12 or 12A, but it must be infrequent. There is some allowance for puns on strong language at this category. There may be moderate language (e.g. uses of terms such as bitch and twat at 12 or 12A). Sex may be briefly and discreetly portrayed at 12 or 12A. Verbal sex references should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers. Comedy may lessen the impact of some moderate sex references or innuendo but frequent crude sex references are unlikely to be accepted at this category. There may be nudity in 12A films but sexual nudity should only be brief and discreet. This also goes for heterosexual and homosexual sex. Some horror films are passed at this category. Moderate physical and psychological threat is permitted at 12 or 12A as long as disturbing sequences are not too frequent or sustained. At 12A, moderate violence is allowed but it should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if they can be justified by their context.

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 chi ldren under 15 years of age. There may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory language, and the work could explore themes relating to this. However, at 15 the work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour. At 15 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. Though nudity may be allowed in a sexual context there should be no strong detail. At 15 violence may be strong. It should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury, however, and the strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence (for example descriptions of rape or sexual assault in a courtroom scene or in victim testimony) but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification. 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. At 15 drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. 15 works are stronger than 12 or 12A rated works and could include any of the following: - strong violence. - frequent strong language (e.g. 'f***'). - portrayals of sexual activity. - strong verbal references to sex. - sexual nudity. - brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence. - discriminatory language or behaviour. - drug taking.

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. No theme is prohibited at 18. Adults are free to pick their own entertainment within the law, so it is possible some themes tackled at 18 may be offensive even to some adult viewers. There is no limit on the number of uses of strong (e.g. 'f***') or even very strong language (e.g. c***) which can be passed at 18. Uses could be aggressive, directed, frequent or accompanied by strong violence. There may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory language at 18, and the work could explore themes relating to this. There can be strong and detailed portrayals of sex at 18, including full nudity. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context. An 18 film or DVD might also contain depictions of real sex if it is justified by context, as long as the film or DVD is not a sex work. The strongest horror works are passed at 18, they may contain strong horror, gore or sustained threat and menace which exceeds the boundaries of 15. 18 works are for adults and can contain strong issues such as: - very strong violence. - frequent strong language (e.g. 'f***') and/or very strong language (e.g. 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.

The R18 category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. R18 videos may not be supplied by mail order. R18 works are sex works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation and which are only allowed to be shown in specially licensed cinemas, or sold in licensed sex shops. They can only be seen by or sold to adults. For full details of the legal restrictions for these works click on the BBFC Guidelines document below.
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/sites/default/files/attachments/BBFC%20Classification%20Guidelines%2 02009_3.pdf

Because our film will have a variety of foul language and fight scenes we have decided to rate our film a 15, so we can have string violence, frequent strong language, sexual nudity. We have to encounter that our film wont be suitable for anyone under the age of 15, because we feel our project will be inappropriate for young children. We carried out a questionnaire asking what action films they preferred, with 14% saying Fast & Furious Series were their favourite and Taken coming 2nd with 11% we decided to aim our movie at the people who chose Taken because that was our inspiration; we wanted to create a film opening very similar to Taken. Our target audience would be mainly men who enjoy the action movies, the fast cars, fight scenes, blood and gore. However, we wanted to have women enjoy watching our film opening too so we took out the gore and kept everything else, with 40% of our questionnaire being answered by women we got a rough idea that they like the adrenaline and plot in an action movie, the damsel in distress, to have a man come and save the day. Hence, why we made the damsel in distress be saved by her boyfriend,, Ethan Steal.