Post 13: BBFC Film Rating

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Board_of_Film_Classification

The BBFC have many rules and conditions of which they must follow when considering whether to classify a piece of work at a particular category, the BBFC are required to consider many different acts, so that they pass a piece legally and without causing any harm to the specified audience, of which the organisation will do this to the best of their ability.  Three key things I am going to keep in mind when rating my film is the Law, Artistic freedom of the piece and Protection of the audience which I will have to decide whether the film will cause any potential harm to viewers.

Based on the current times, it would be suggested that the film "dead dad" should be given the rating of a 12A, I would personally rate it this myself due to the fact there is knife violence and fowl language used, also rebellious behaviour and students making a mockery of the educational system, meaning for anyone under 12 could be influenced to copy behaviour or situations within the short film, but this could also be argued that it is too high to class the piece as a 12A as nothing is actually shown it is only implied, such as the situation with the knife, where in the piece it is only suggested that the main protagonist has used it wrongly.

It is also advised by the BBFC that before allowing a child to view a piece of work that parents are advised to consider carefully the classification, together with any accompanying. So by placing the short film in the 12A category it would mean that wider audiences would be able to view the piece on terms that it is under the parent’s decision and control if their child is under 12 years of age.

A key classification decision that had to be taken into account is that in two to three scenes in the piece there is a detailed portrayal of criminal and violent techniques, which in some aspects glamorises knives. Also there is a slight portrayal in the montage of anti social behaviour meaning it would likely receive a more restrictive classification.  But due to the anti social behaviour and knife crime being seen as wrong and against the law in the piece, and the character having to receive consequences for the actions, it shows an educational purpose and suggests the piece is not of harm to young people.

Here is a list/chart of all the British Board of Film Classification ratings there are with a brief explanation of what each one stands for.