LO3 Understanding the regulation of the media sector

Film Classification and Censorship

Who are the BBFC and what do they do?
BBFC stands for British Board is a non-governmental organisation, but instead
funded by the film industry and is responsible for the national classification of
films within the United Kingdom. It has a statutory requirement to classify
videos, DVDs and some video games. It assesses any format of a release and
makes a justification on what age rating the specific film, DVD, or video game
is.



What are the 6 UK classification certificates?
U - Stands for Universal. A film suitable for all ages above the age of 4 years
old.
PG Parental Guidance for the younger audience
12 - Only suitable for ages 12 and above.
12A Needs to acquire an adult at all times while watching the film
15 Only suitable for ages 15 and above.
18 - Only suitable for ages 18 and above.







LO3 Understanding the regulation of the media sector


Why does the BBFC classify films?
BBFC classify these rules because of the content of the films, judging if they are
suitable for a certain type of film for a specific age group. These rules are used
because the content of the films are very important to the different age groups
out there. If there was no rules for different age ratings for different films, an
age 18 rated horror film displayed to a 6 year old child for example, it can ruin
part of his childhood development and life, and can alter the way he thinks,
sees imagines etc, so this is why the BBFC classify these rules. It can also effect
a childs learning, or independence, and is not really showing a good example,
because at that age, children believe in a lot of fairy tales, creatures, or even
magical myths, and displaying a horror film that contains sex, violence, gore or
any other means of unsuitable activity is wrong.

What is censorship?
Censorship is the speech or other public communication which may be considered
objectionable, harmful, sensitive, politically incorrect or inconvenient. It features harmful
content which some people could find disturbing or vial, and depending on what time a
specific show is being broadcasted, assessors will censor out certain bad words being said in
the production as this could offend people, but most importantly young children. Censoring
could be showed in any production.
Give an example of censorship. (Include film title, complaint/reason for censoring and
outcome)

A prime example of typical censorship is on the television programme The Jeremy Kyle show which
is a programme that involves real peoples problems in their personal lives, whether if its a family
issue, to a potential DNA or a lie detector result. It is highly likely that the guests on the show get
angry or upset, which then results in one of the guest potentially making a swear word, which needs
to be censored due to the timing of the show, it doesnt breach the watershed across the UK, so
language like this needs to be censored due to the television laws. These law regulations are granted
because of under aged children which could be watching.



LO3 Understanding the regulation of the media sector



How do you make a complaint about a film?

To make a complaint about a film, you have to contact the authors or the organisation that
helped produce the film in any way shape or form, and to make sure that the complaint can
get delivered to the main authors. You can find these details by going online and searching
their names, email addresses, or their websites (if they have one). On their websites, there
may be a section saying make a complaint which when you click and access, you may be
given a form to fill in, write who you are, your email, and a bigger box for you to write your
complaint in.