Certification

There are 7 classification categories used by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). These are;

• U- Universal - Can be viewed by anyone

• PG- Parental Guidance

• 12A/ 12- Not to be viewed by anyone under the age of 12

• 15- Not to be viewed by anyone under the age of 15

•  18- Not to be viewed by anyone under the age of 18

•  Not to be viewed by anyone under the age of 18. Only to be viewed in restricted cinemas and sold in licensed sex shops.

Different certifications are used for censorship and to control the concerns of the BBFC and the public. Some people think that the film is made and the certification is given afterwards. However, a certification is chosen and then aimed for as the film is made, this way; there is room for change within the range of certificates. There are a number of concerns over censorship and certification. The most destructive of these concerns to be imitation. Over recent years there have been a number of reports that children and adults alike have tried to imitate actions and events they have seen on television, video games and films. The most memorable of all of these is “The Jamie Bulger case” where two young boys snatched a toddler from a shopping centre and tortured him until he died after watching a film from the “Chucky” franchise. A film tends to be rated 18 to avoid imitation if excessive use of weapons and/or violence that is seen as pleasurable or results in a positive outcome is used. Suicide is also a matter that presents cause of worry about imitation and would also lead to the film being rated an 18. The level of nudity and sex within a film can also affect the certificate. If the level of nudity is natural, such as breastfeeding, there are no rules however if nudity and simulated sex are linked, the certification is put as a 15 or 18, however if the sex being shown is real, the film is immediately an 18R. Language holds a great power in society so any film with swearing in it would be a 12. The number of times swearing occurs in a film then increases the rating. Any use of the word “C***” would raise the certification immediately to an 18. The use of drugs in films is also a factor which would raise the certification. Any film that glamorises that act of drug taking would be certified an 18 as there is a worry of imitation. 

There a number of things that certification can influence regarding film. As well as limiting audience access to the film it can affect the theme and the narrative in relation to what you can and can not show. If the narrative calls for a scene of violence then the production team will have to decide whether the scene is actually necessary and if so, then the certificate must be raised. Certification can also affect the audience’s pleasures. If a film doesn’t contain any violence or weapons and that is what a member of the audience wants to see then they will not watch the film for example, this means that viewing figures may drop. Certification is a boundary that can affect the creativity in regards to film making. Ideas and thoughts must be kept within the restraints of the certificate; if these restraints are broken then the certificate must be reapplied as something more suitable.