BBFC Guidelines - Case studies

BFFC Guidelines: Case studies

 Contextual factors that affect the film rating:
Public/audience expectation
Genre of film
Realism + contemporary vs. fantasy/ historical
Comedy/realism
Intention – entertainment or educational
Date of production

Tone and impact

Dark/unsettling tone
Degree  of realism
Lack of morals
Degree of threat

Release format
Why DVDs might are more strictly regulated?
Risk of underage viewing
Scenes viewed out of context

Discrimination
Race
Gender
Religion
Disability
Sexuality

Theme
Drug use, sexual violence, paedophilia, race hatred, violence inappropriate for jr age ratings
Any theme can be presented at 18; lower if presented suitably

 

BBFC Legislation timeline

BBFC legislation time line

 

BBFC Legislation - Other legislations

BBFC Legislation - Criminal law

BFFC Legislation - Film licencing

Film licencing

At the cinema, the ultimate power lies with the local authorities, who can decide to ignore the BBFC’s decisions at any time. In practice this rarely happens, although in 2002 before the new 12A category was introduced; several local authorities gave local PG or PG12 certificates to Spider-Man in spite of the fact that the BBFC rating was a 12.

Cinematograph Act 1909

-          Introduces licensing of cinemas

-          Originally for safety (from fire) in cinemas

-          Statutory control lies with local authorities

-          BBFC set up by the film industry in 1912 to standardise decisions


 

Cinematograph Act 1952

-         Prohibited children from 'unsuitable' films. The mandatory X certificate was introduced at around the same time

Most local authorities use Home Office Guidelines including:

-          No exhibition of film without certificate;

-          Cinema box office to act as age bar;

-          The certificate must appear in advertising at the cinema entrance and on screen immediately before the film is shown;

-          No film to be exhibited if licensing authority gives written notice prohibiting its exhibition

Cinematograph Act (Amendment) Act 1982

-          Required that cinema clubs promoted for private gain must be licensed

Cinemas Act 1985

-          Consolidated the legislation

2003 Licensing Act

-          BBFC named for the first time in cinema legislation

-          If local councils overrule the BBFC or make their own decisions, they must have a published policy in place

What is regulation?

o   Is imposed – by institutions and those in power – Government?

o   Infantilised – treat adults like children

o   A control of knowledge?

o   Liberal/ liberalised or liberalisation meaning becoming more lenient

o   A means of guarding ideology and moral values?

o   Protective?

o   Threatens artistic freedom?

o   Threatens or protects personal freedom?

 

Factors that affect regulation

Ø Economics

Ø Politics

 Regulations

Ø Content

Ø Media access and distribution

Ø Media ownership and commercial practices 

BBFC