P2. REGULATORY BODIES

British Board of Film Classification. 

The BBFC is an in dependent, non-governmental body which has classified in cinema films, providing age rating such as U, PG and 12A. BBFC are a designated body which means they have the legal powers to rate films and even cut or reject work.

History.

The BBFC was created in 1912, this was created by a group of members of the film industry, as they rather manage their own censorship instead of the national or local government to do it for the. This begin on the 1st January 1913. The object was to create a company which could make their own judgements that were acceptable nationally, for this to go ahead the BBFC needed to earn the trust of the Parliament, the press and the public. It wanted to make sure all the films, were checked on behalf of the whole country.

The current Council membership consist of….

Graham Lee, Steve Jaggs, Sonita Alleyne, Maggie Carver, Joanna Shaw and Jonathan Teckman.

Ratings.

The BBFC rate the films before they are released in the cinemas, today there are five different ratings for films. 

- U

- PG

- 12A

- 15

- 18

The rating for U and PG is that anyone can go and see these films. PG is a rating so your parents or cares can think about weather this film is suitable for you, this is if you are younger then 8 or 9 years of age. The rating for 12A means your must be older then 12 to go and see them unless you have an adult with you. 

Local councils who are still in charge of the cinemas around the whole country have grew to accept the BBFC's decisions, even though from this day for the films shown in our cinemas, the council still have to power to ignore the decisions made by the BBFC and can make or change different ratings for the films.

Legal. 

The BBFC have no legal power, the films have to be submitted for classifications to the council who have the final say for the certificates. councils may impose their own conditions either raising or lowering the entry age, before the 1985 there were no legal rating on films releases. 

Coraline. 

BBFC guidelines for junior categories notes that PG have some scary moments, Coraline arrived at the BBFC with a PG rating as it is based around a children's book, and it is a stop motion animated film. At PG the BBFC guidelines allow some elements of horror as long as it meets the criteria which is there is not to many frightening scenes, and that they are not to intense. The film has to have a positive and reassuring outcome for the BBFC to consider it as a PG. 

Not all parents agreed with the PG classification for Coraline, however some even wrote to the BBFC to complain that their children has been scared by the film. Some even had to leave to cinema. 

A film with a PG rating is described by the BBFC - 

 ‘General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A PG film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.’