BBFC Workshop

The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) is an independent company which was set up in 1912 and has the role of classifying films and video games. Due to the Video Recordings Act (passed in 1984), the board is designated to regulate and classify video recordings offered for sale or hire commercially in the UK. This means that their role changed from purely censorship of cinema and games to a larger proportion being classification. The board uses a set of guidelines when classifying, which enables them to successfully classify films to be U, PG, 12a, 12, 15, 18, or R18. Their classification empowers the public to make decisions themselves over the suitability of the media for themselves and those in their care. The classifications also prevent younger audiences and sensitive viewers from watching material that may cause 'harm' or upset to them.

Regulation and classification from the BBFC can have a big impact over the distribution and marketing of a film. In several cases, films have been targetted and marketed at a specific age range, eg 15, only to be given an 18 certificate. 'This is England', for example, was intended by Shane Meadows to be a 15, but was declared an 18. This meant that the advertising and content was aimed at a slightly younger audience than could actually consume it on release in the cinema. In some rare cases, however, local authorities do not comply to the BBFC's guidelines. A famous case of this was Westminster Council's decision to ban Cronberg's 'Crash', which was declared an 18 over the rest of the UK.

New ways of distributing film, such as downloads or through the internet, will be problematic in terms of regulating film. These technologies, such as downloading a film via iTunes will prove very difficult to regulate, as there is no way of proving age when doing this, which will enable younger viewers to access and consume media which they would otherwise not be able to access. Although some services including YouTube and BBC iPlayer have tried to enforce viewers to confirm they are over a certain age in order to view particular media. However, it is extremely easy to ignore, or lie, about age over these services. Other ways of distributing media like Love Film, where DVDs are delivered through the post offers younger people access films classified for older audiences, as there is no way of regulating who is receiving the films.

I found the workshop very interesting, and learnt several new things. One example of a new think that I learnt is that the BBFC is not a government body; although the government has designated it the role of classifying films, it does not have any government funding. I also found it interesting that local authorities have the power to over-rule classifications that the BBFC set, and can even remove films from showing (in the case of 'Crash') The workshop and information I have learnt from it will help with my media course, as it enables me to estimate what classification my thriller would receive, and so base my target audience and distribution possibilities around this. It will also help, as it has given an insight into what makes a film or programme a certain rating, which will help with my TV Drama exam, and also when thinking about audiences and marketing.

The BBFC workshop will also help in answering this question: 'Discuss the issues raised by an institution need to target specific audiences within the media industry which you have studied'. My essay plan for this question:
Introduction -
Role of BBFC in film industry
How ratings may effect audiences, creating specific audiences that need to be targetted
How ratings effect marketing and targeting audiences, examples
Ways that institutions may target specific audiences, examples
How ratings may effect distribution
Conclusion