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 since the passing of the Video Recordings Act in 1984. BBFC have two guiding priniciples that they have to classify a film. These are:
* That works should be allowed to reach the widest audience that is appropriate for their theme and treatment.
* That adults should, as far as possible, be free to choose what they see, provided that remains in the law and is not potentially harmful
When applying these priniciples, there are three main qualifications for them:
1. If the material created is in conflict with the law, or has been created by means of a criminal offence.
2. If the material, either on its own or in combination with other context with a similar nature, may cause any harm at the category concerned.
3. If the availability of the material, at the age group concerned is clearly unacceptable to broad public opinion.
There are certain overarching factors that may influence a classification decision at any level and in connection with any issue:
The context in which an issue is presented is central to the question of it acceptability. Factors that may be taken account are:
* The expectations of the public in general and the film's audience.
* The film's genre
* The manner in which an issue is presented
* The intention of the film maker, as reflected in its effect
* The original production date of the film
* Any special merit of the film
The overall tone of a film may also affect the classification decision. If like a film has a dark or unsettling film that might disturb the audience at that certain category, then it might get a more restrictive classification. Other important factors are:
* The degree of fantasy
* The level of connection to the real world
The impact of the film is also taken into account.
Issues that concern at every classification level are:
* Discrimination - The classification on a film will take account of strength and impact of its inclusion
* Drugs - No film may promote the misuse of drugs and any portrayal of drug misuse likely to promote or glamorise the activity may be cut out of the film.
* Horror - For a young audience, factors can be the frequency, length and detail of the scenes shown. Also effects and outcome can affect it.
* Imitable behaviour - Things that glamourise or protray anti-social behaviour will get a higher classification. Films that protray illegal acts might get cut or rejected. Suicidal behaviour such as hanging, self-harm and suicide are more likely to be cut out if a more restrictive classification isn't suitable
* Language - Its hard to set out a general list of offensive words as different categories have different set of words which are acceptable to that classification
* Nudity - Natural Nudity is acceptable to most classifcations. Nudity with a sexual context with receive a more restrictive classification.
* Theme - Decisions on classification will take onboard the theme of that film but will depend on the treatment of it.
* Violence - Classification of a film will depend on the amount of violence in it. Violence that protrays as a normal solution to a problem will get a high classification then others.
In our film, we have decided to classify it a 15 as it will protray a certain amount of violence in the film but not as much to be an 18.
