Regulations and Restrictions

I have researched into regulations and restrictions of films (features and shorts), and found out that they are controlled by a company called the BBFC.


The BBFC is required to consider whether material submitted for age rating and classification is in conflict with the law.
Licensing legislation lies behind the BBFC's powers to regulate film in the UK while the Video Recordings Act (VRA) 1984 is the basis upon which the BBFC applies the test of whether a work is suitable for viewing in the home. 

Linked with this is the consideration of potential harm, whether to the viewer, or to society through the viewer's behaviour. In particular, works involving the depiction of criminal behaviour, illegal drugs, violent or horrific behaviour and human sexual activity are given special regard under the 'harm' test. All digital works that are submitted to the BBFC for age rating are subject to the same level of scrutiny as DVDs.

 

How a film or DVD is rated:

• general context - plot, characters, outline of individual scenes

• timings of key moments, including camera angles, type of shots, on- and off-screen moments

• bad language, sex and drug references and so on

• Whether the material is in conflict with the law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence

• Whether the material, either on its own, or in combination with other content of a similar nature, may cause any harm at the age rating concerned. This includes not just any harm that may result from the behaviour of potential viewers, but also any ‘moral harm’ especially in regards to children. (Harm may include distorting a viewer’s sense of right and wrong, and limiting their capacity for compassion)

• The context in which an issue is presented is central to the question of its acceptability. 

• The work's target audience (who are likely to want to watch this film) are also taken into account.

• The overall tone of a work will also affect the final decision. If the work has a generally dark or unsettling tone that may disturb the audience. The impact of a work (ie, how it makes the audience feel) is also taken into account (for example in relation to horror films where threat may be more significant than violence)

With each work, Examiners log details of what they watch, including:

• Reports include a brief synopsis of the work, details of the issues and an argument in support of the recommended age rating. Most decisions are straightforward and are based on the BBFC's published Guidelines, which were last revised in 2009. The distributor can request a specific age rating, which the solo Examiner or team will take into consideration, but such a request does not determine the final decision. If necessary and appropriate, cuts may be suggested to meet the category request.

• If a work contains material which is illegal or unacceptable under the BBFC's Guidelines, examiners will draw up a list of cuts which will be sent to the distributor. If a work as a whole is unacceptable, it can be rejected altogether. (Things that are classed as unacceptable include indecent images of children, animal cruelty, obscenity, racial hatred and human rights.)

The BBFC works on several major principles in determining the age rating of a given work:
• Violence
• Sex
• Sexual Violence
• Drugs
• Horror
• Imitable Behaviour
• Discrimination
• Language