LO3 Understanding the regulation of the media sector

Film Classification and Censorship

Who are the BBFC and what do they do?
The BBFC stands for the British Board of Film Censors. Their power is within the
local councils and they make decisions on films when it comes to the age limit,
banning films if they are racist or to foul, and so rejecting films, or they even
cut sections out of the films so they are appropriate for people of the age limit
to watch. The BBFC have their own website www.BBFC.com and on one of the
top tabs, you can click on it to contact them.

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What are the 6 UK classification certificates?
The UK classification certificates are the age limits on films. This includes films,
games, and cinema tickets. There are now 7 age limits on UK films that include:

Universal: this means that people of all ages can watch these films,
there is no age limit. This will include films such as Walt Disney films like The
little mermaid the lion king and Rio.

Parental Guidance: this is where any age can watch these films but you
need your parents permission to watch it. To purchase it you need to be 8
years or older. This is because it may include a vague sex or drug reference.
This includes films such as Frozen and Looney Tunes: Back in action.
LO3 Understanding the regulation of the media sector


12A: this is where if you are under the age of 12, then you need to be
supervised by an adult that is 18yrs or above that says its okay for
them to watch. These films tend be with a parent because there maybe sexual
or drug references in the film. This can include films such as: The hunger
games or Iron man.

12: this is where you have to be at the age of 12 or above. You cant
have a parent to let you watch it in local laces such as the cinema. This
is because it is too violent, upsetting or rude for people under the age of 12 to
watch the film. This can include films like Les Miserables and The perks of
being a wallflower.

15: films are of an age of 15 or above if the language is strong, there
are hard sexual scenes and the violence is too disturbing for people
under the age of a teenager to understand. There can also be sexual jokes that
arent understood by younger people. This is like films including the heat and
the matrix.

18: people under the age of 18 arent allowed to watch and/or
purchase films with an 18 age limit on them. This will be because the
films can be extremely graphic and detailed when it comes to sexual scenes
and violence. The film Django is an 18 as there is very graphic violence, racist
scenes, and very foul language used in the film. Another film includes Evil
Dead. It is with most horror and thriller genre films that are ages 18.

Restricted 18: this is where there is a large amount of sexual scenes that
cant be seen by anyone younger than 18 and that looks sensible
enough. A lot of material is cut from these films.

LO3 Understanding the regulation of the media sector

Why does the BBFC classify films?
The BBFC classify films to age limits so that children arent mentally damaged
and disturbed by the language, sexual material and violence used in many
films. It is to warn everyone what is in the films and what the BBFC think is
suitable for people of their own age to watch. Without the BBFC people could
go to watch films that is not right for them, and could be very disturbing, scary
and too vivid for people to watch. It protects people from the unexpected. All
films are classified for a reason.
What is censorship?
Censorship is where there is a speech that can be quite rude and direct to
certain people. It is where the speech can be said in public and there isnt any
feeling said in the meaning of it.
Self-censorship is where a director for example produces and addresses a
speech towards people that is about their own work. It can be both direct and
indirect and so when it is indirect it can be classed as soft censorship.
The speech helps protect children and other younger ages from things they
arent allowed to watch read or listen to such as violence, hate and child
pornography. In the speech there are many religious and political views and
opinions on the materials for all media. This is all to prevent people seeing
things that are against the law for them.
Give an example of censorship.
There is a list of many films that have been banned for a number of reasons. It
has been going on for many years now.
A film called Hail Mary in 1985 was banned in Argentina because of the use of
sexual material and foul language used.
A more recent film in 2008 was banned in Burma called Rambo as it showed
negative portrayals towards the Burmese soldiers.
A very popular film called Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End has been
banned in China in 2007 because of the negative and stereotypical atmosphere
and characters they have put towards the Chinese people played in the film.
LO3 Understanding the regulation of the media sector

The film Saw 3D was banned in 2010 in Germany because it went against the
violence act. There are still private copies in Germany you can buy though. This
is because since KJ, no films can be banned and so they have cut some violent
material from the film.
How do you make a complaint about a film?
To complain about a film you have to go onto this
website called PNE online and there is a step by step
on how to do it. There is a form you will fill out
where you will explain what you want to complain
about and why, with the title of the film etc.