Group 3 AS 2014/15: Research: Audience Profile (Maria)

BBFC Website - 2014 Guidelines:

There are two key principles that affect the rating of a film:

- To protect children and vulnerable adults from potentially harmful or otherwise unsuitable content,
- Those with responsibility for children such as parents, to make informed viewing decisions.

Two rating certificates that could possible apply to our thriller genre are 15 and 18.
The number 15/18 certificates means no one under 15/18 is allowed to see a 15/18 film at the cinema or buy/rent a 15/18 rated video.

What might I see in a 15 rated film or video?

- strong violence
- frequent strong language
- portrayals of sexual activity
- strong verbal references to sex
- sexual nudity
- brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence
- discriminatory language or behaviour
- drug taking

However, at 15 the work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour. It also must not promote or encourage drug misuse or self harm. Easy accessible substances may also not be shown . At 15 sexual activity can be portrayed, but usually without strong detail.

18 works are for adults and can contain strong issues such as:

- very strong violence
- frequent strong/very strong language

- strong portrayals of sexual activity
- scenes of sexual violence
- strong horror
- strong blood and gore
- real sex (in some circumstances)
- discriminatory language and behaviour

BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998 states that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment.
However, Very dangerous or criminal behaviour material that has been commission of a criminal offence may be cut.