BBFC

Roughly half of your essay will need to make reference to the BBFC as they are the organisation that classifies film releases in the cinema and on DVD/Blue ray and until summer 2012 they classified video games.

The BBFC guidelines are regularly updated o they reflect current views on film, DVD and until recently video games regulation. The guidelines are shaped partly by public opinion. In the most recent public consultation which took place between December 2012 and through out 2013 more than 10,000 members of the public were surveyed (up from roughly 8,000 people in the last consultation in 2009). The guidelines are updated roughly every 4 years and the most recent guidelines were released in February 2014.

Alongside these guidelines the BBFC produce detailed information about the content of every film that they classify. Until recently this was known as extended classification information but is now known as BBFC insight. This is much more detailed information than is found in the consumer advice that appears on the BBFC website 10 days before the film is released. This is intended to help viewers make informed choices about the films they see (this is particularly important for parents and the 12A category)

In its advisory capacity the BBFC also provides sections on there website for parents, students and children – you must look at these sites to find case studies that will help support the points that you want to make.

Recent changes in the guidelines

Notable changes as a result of the most recent public consultation includes:

·      Greater consideration will be given to the theme or tone of a film when determining what classification it receives – this will be most important around the 12A and the 15 category’s  

·      Greater attention will be given to the psychological impact of horror as well as strong visual detail such as gore (it is possible that a film like the “The Women In Black” may have got a 15 certificate rather than the 12A it received

·      Regarding language the public want the BBFC to be stricter with the language allowed at the lowest classification levels (U PG 12A) but more flexible about allowing very strong language at 15 – here context not just frequency is the most important factor.

·      More careful consideration will be at sexual information. The public is particularly concerned

·      Parents have expressed concern about the “normalisation” of certain behaviours in film such as: Self harm, Suicide, Drug misuse. The BBFC will consider those matter more carefully.