The BBFC and Film Certificates:

We researched into this company and how they affect filmmaking through ratings because I assume we will be labelling our own films ...

The BBFC (British. Board. Of. Film Classification) are an organisation who regulate the British Film industry. They select what can and can't be shown in films, they are in charge of assigning an age certificate to all films in the UK. Every film in the UK on DVD and in cinema has to be classified by the BBFC and be placed into one of the age categories, otherwise it cannot be released.  

The age certificates in the UK are:

The sorts of topics that the BBFC take in to consideration and what the age restrictions refer to are scenes of:

• violence of all kinds
• sex and nudity 
• obscene language 
• self harm 
• criminal activity 
• dangerous behaviour; drugs, alcohol, cigarettes
• involving child actors
• strobe lighting

They also have to consider the context of the movie. They will look for things like whether the movie is animated, fantasy based or realistic. Whether it looks child friendly, as animation normally is, although it can include scenes of violence and get a lower age certificate as the BBFC believes that  the audiences won't be as affected as it's not real. It is also common that violence in these sorts of movies won't result in extreme horror and pain, it's likely comical. 

The BBFC will look at the way certain issues are handled. For example, if a film portrayed drinking and driving as a dangerous and illegal manner with severe consequences, then it may be given a lower film certificate. However, if they showed drunk driving to be fun and safe and accident free, it will probably get a higher certificate rating. 

Another example of what sort of thing the BBFC manage, when there are scenes of violence, are the questions like:

• 
  is the violence in the movie 'normalised'?
• is the violence self defence or spitefully provoked? 
• what type of injuries are caused, how offensive does the image look?
• does the violence look realistic?

A 12A or 12 rating is regarded as a film unsuitable for those under the age of 12. For a 12A , any children under 12 must be accompanied an adult who considers the movie appropriate for them. No one under the age of 12 can buy or rent video work rated 12 either. Films can be certificated a 12 for numerous reasons. For example; dangerous behavior (children are likely to copy), drugs, discrimination, language, sex references. 

15's are made suitable for those 15 and over. They differ from 12's due to the displayed behaviour, like drugs or sex, is more extreme than a 12 or 12A. A 15 could reference to self harm, suicide, homophobic or other discriminative language. The language can be very strong as well as graphic threat and horror. So, a 15 requires a more emotionally mature audience.

Films received a rating of 18 are only suitable for adults. Although, 18 year old's and above may find it very offensive because they can include; a breach in the criminal law, illegal drug use and the severe consequences of it (can often be harmful to viewers), sexual violence, rape or non consensual violence, and even more upsetting images.

R18 is a legally restricted category that consists of explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults.  R18 are only  supplied in licensed sex shops sold to adults over 18 years. These videos cannot be supplied by mail order.

For our opening sequence, I would award the film certificate of a 15. Although we have a thriller genre for our movie, there are defnietly scenes of violence and conventions that viewers under 15 may find upsetting. Especially what's implied and not shown (the smashing hammers into heads). Throughout the film there would be numerous scenes of violence and likely strong language, possibly drug use as it follows criminals habits. Awarding the sequence a 12 would be inappropriate and likely make the movie uncomfortable to watch for those under 15.