For our film we will need to give it a rating to suggest who is suitable to watch it. The rating is very important when creating a film as giving it a low rating can scare off the possible audience and a too high rating can stop some of the target audience being able to see it.
Below is the classification of each of the ratings. This will give me a higher knowledge of the classification and possibly help me to decide what classification to give my film.
U Universal
Discrimination
No discriminatory language or behaviour unless clearly disapproved of.
Drugs
No references to illegal drugs or drug misuse unless they are infrequent and innocuous, or there is a clear educational purpose or anti-drug message suitable for young children.
Horror
Scary sequences should be mild, brief and unlikely to cause undue anxiety to young children. The outcome should be reassuring.
Imitable behaviour
No potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy. No emphasis on realistic or easily accessible weapons.
Language
Infrequent use only of very mild bad language.
Nudity
Occasional natural nudity, with no sexual context.
Sex
Mild sexual behaviour (for example, kissing) and references only (for example, to ‘making love’).
Theme
While problematic themes may be present, their treatment must be sensitive and appropriate for young children.
Violence
Mild violence only. Occasional mild threat or menace only.
PG Parental Guidance
Discrimination
Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of or in an educational or historical context. Discrimination by a character with which children can readily identify is unlikely to be acceptable.
Drugs
References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be innocuous or carry a suitable anti-drug message.
Horror
Frightening sequences should not be prolonged or intense. Fantasy settings may be a mitigating factor.
Imitable behaviour
No detail of potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy. No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons.
Language
Mild bad language only.
Nudity
Natural nudity, with no sexual context.
Sex
Sexual activity may be implied, but should be discreet and infrequent. Mild sex references and innuendo only.
Theme
Where more serious issues are featured (for example, domestic violence) nothing in their treatment should condone unacceptable behaviour.
Violence
Moderate violence, without detail, may be allowed, if justified by its context (for example, history, comedy or fantasy).
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12A/12
Discrimination
Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be endorsed by the work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly condemned.
Drugs
Any misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or give instructional detail.
Horror
Moderate physical and psychological threat may be permitted, provided disturbing sequences are not frequent or sustained.
Imitable behaviour
Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied, or appear pain or harm free. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.
Language
Moderate language is allowed. The use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’) must be infrequent.
Nudity
Nudity is allowed, but in a sexual context must be brief and discreet.
Sex
Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Sex references should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers. Frequent crude references are unlikely to be acceptable.
Theme
Mature themes are acceptable, but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers.
Violence
Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by the context. Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated, and must have a strong contextual justification.
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15
Discrimination
The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.
Drugs
Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.
Horror
Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.
Imitable behaviour
Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.
Language
There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.
Nudity
Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.
Sex
Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.
Theme
No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.
Violence
Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable.
There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.
18
In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:
• where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
• where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault
• where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category.
In the case of video works (including video games), which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films.
Sex education at ‘18’
Where sex material genuinely seeks to inform and educate in matters such as human sexuality, safer sex and health, explicit images of sexual activity may be permitted.
Sex works at ‘18’
Sex works are works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing only material which may be simulated are generally passed ‘18’. Sex works containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images, or other
very strong sexual images will be confined to the ‘R18’ category. Material which is unacceptable in a sex work at ‘R18’ is also unacceptable in a sex work at ‘18’.
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R18
The following content is not acceptable:
• any material which is in breach of the criminal law, including material judged to be obscene under the current interpretation of the Obscene Publications Act 1959
• material (including dialogue) likely to encourage an interest in sexually abusive activity (for example, paedophilia, incest or rape) which may include adults role-playing as non-adults
• the portrayal of any sexual activity which involves lack of consent (whether real or simulated). Any form of physical restraint which prevents participants from indicating a withdrawal of consent
• the infliction of pain or acts which may cause lasting physical harm, whether real or (in a sexual context) simulated. Some allowance may be made for moderate, non-abusive, consensual activity
• penetration by any object associated with violence or likely to cause physical harm
• any sexual threats, humiliation or abuse which does not form part of a clearly consenting role-playing game. Strong physical or verbal abuse, even if consensual, is unlikely to be acceptable.
As we are making a Horror film we are most probably going to try and aim to get a 12, a 15, or a 18 as the target audience is mainly a 14- 30 age bracket. We wouldn't want to get a U, a PG, or a 12A as this would stop us putting in many popular horror film cliches and conventions such as blood and violence, and it may also deter Horror fans from seeing it as they might assume that it won't be scary as it is suitable for children. We also wouldn't want to get a restricted 18 as it might put off Horror fans as it may be too disturbing.
Here is some films that are or have been banned in the UK.
The Exorcist 1986-1999
Visions of Ecstasy 1989-2012
Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 1990-2004
Reservoir Dogs 1992-1995
Mikey 1993-Ongoing
Grotesque 2009-Ongoing
Human Centipede 2 2011-Ongoing
Beneath is a list of the top 20 grossing Horror movies and what certificate they are and a table and graph to show this. The highest grossing is at the top of the list.
1. What Lies Beneath - 15
2. Gremlins - 15
3. Blair Witch Project - 15
4. A Christmas Carol - PG
5. Godzilla - PG
6. The Ring - 15
7. The Grudge - 15
8. Paranormal Activity - 15
9. Paranormal Activity 3 - 15
10. Scream - 18
11. Scream 2 - 18
12. Sleepy Hollow - 15
13. The Haunting - 12
14. Scream 3 - 18
15. Saw 2 - 18
16. Amityville Horror - 15
17. Paranormal Activity 2 - 15
18. The X Files - 15
19. Dracula - 18
20. Freddy vs Jason - 18
After this research into how a film certificate affects the amount of money a film makes, it show how important the certificate is. As PG's, 12's, U's and 12A's clearly don't work well as Horror films as only a few have ever reached within the Top 20 most grossing.
Due to this research I believe that the decision is between an 18 and a 15 as these are the highest two categories. There are benefits and disadvantages of using both. Using a 18 certificate would be good as it would attract an audience that likes violence, swearing and sex scenes, and it also means we can put in many famous cliches without worrying that they will be to gory. However a disadvantage of having an 18 is it majorly cuts down the box office audience as 15-18 year olds are one of the highest cinema attending audiences and you cut out many of them due to the age. A benefit of using a 15 certificate is that it will allow all of the target audience to watch the film, allowing for a larger profit. A disadvantage of using a 15 certificate is that you may be forced to cut out scenes of extreme violence.
In conclusion I believe a 15 certificate would be best for our Horror film as it allows the whole target audience to view the film and will probably mean a larger profit. Using a 15 would allow a small amount of violence and also swearing which would be necessary in our film in order to please the target market.
