P5 d
- 1. P5 D- Role of Regulatory Bodies Kieren Carmichael
- 2. The BBFC TYPE: Feature APPROX. RUNNING MINUTES: 135 RELEASE DATES: 05/09/2016, 08/07/2016, 08/02/2016, 17/12/2016 BBFCINSIGHT: moderate violence, threat GENRE(S): Science Fiction, Adventure, Action DIRECTOR(S): J.J Abrams CAST INCLUDES: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Max Von Sydow, Kenny Baker, Warwick Davis, Simon Pegg, Ken Leung, Pip Torrens, Iko Uwais. SUMMARY: STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS is a sci-fi action adventure in which a young woman becomes embroiled in a galactic conflict CUTS: All known versions of this work passed uncut. RATING: 12
- 3. BBFC Ratings- U •The U rating means universal and that anyone can watch the film regardless of age. There is almost noting unsuitable for children aged 4 years and over.
- 4. BBFC Ratings- PG • The PG rating means Parental Guidance and that all ages can watch the film but certain scenes may be unsuitable for young children. It will not affect children aged 8 or older. It may contain mild language and moderate violence if justified by context eg. fantasy. A parent may want to check the content before they let their children watch it
- 5. BBFC Ratings- 12A • The 12A category applies to cinema only releases since 2002. Films in this category are considered unsuitable for young children. Children under the age of 12 can still watch the film as long as they are accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over. Films under this category can contain mature themes, discrimination, soft drugs, moderate language, moderate violence, sex references and nudity.
- 6. BBFC Ratings- 12 • The 12 category only applies to home media and states the films is suitable for people aged 12 or older, it is illegal to sell a video with a 12 certificate to anyone under that age. 12A rated films are usually given a 12 certificate when released for home media. The content guidelines are the same for that of a 12A film.
- 7. BBFC Ratings- 15 • The 15 category means suitable for people aged 15 years or older, no one younger than 15 can watch it in cinema or purchase it on home media. Films in this category can contain adult themes, hard drugs, (frequent) strong language, strong violence and strong sex references, and nudity without graphic detail.
- 8. BBFC Ratings- 18 • The 18 category means suitable only for people aged 18 or over, no one younger than 18 can see the film in cinema or purchase it on home media. Films under this category do not have limitation on the foul language that is used. Hard drugs are generally allowed, and explicit sex references along with detailed sexual activity are also allowed.
- 9. The BBFC • The BBFC carried out a Case Study of the original Star Wars in 1977, and have held their stance for 40 years on the status of Star Wars, only slightly increasing the rating for Star Wars The Force Awakens after JJ Abrams utilized a darker tone and more obvious violence in his incarnation of the Star Wars Universe. On their website, they say of Star Wars: “Today it is perhaps one of the most recognisable films in the world, but in June 1977 BBFC examiners sat down to watch Star Wars with little idea of the film's destiny. The ingredients that would go on to capture the imagination of a generation of young cinemagoers are noted as “vastly entertaining” and “grand fun for all ages”, although one report mistakenly describes the film as being set "thousands of years in the future" despite the opening line of the film famously setting the stage as “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….'”. One examiner also remarks that “In the USA it is already outgrossing all other major films”, which would prove to be a major understatement. There was some concern noted about the level of violence and one examiner points out that the film was awarded a PG by the MPAA in America. However the universal appeal and adventurous tone of Star Wars won the team over and the film was passed at U, a category decision that has remained unchanged for over thirty years.” • For the Force Awakens, they added some disclaimers for Violence and Threat that account for the rise in rating between the original Star Wars and The Force Awakens. For violence, they state that “there are some scenes of moderate violence, including the use of blasters and lightsabers, and dogfights between spaceships. Sight of Blood and injury detail is brief and limited”. For Threat they say that there are “Occasional scenes of moderate threat include characters being interrogated using 'the Force', which it is implied causes them pain, and characters being held at lightsaber-point” They also claim that “There is infrequent use of very mild bad language ('hell', 'damn').” • These ratings and comments are the extent of The BBFC’s dealings with The Force Awakens as it did not come up against any more issues that required BBFC Intervention.
- 10. Why was a 12A Rating given? • The Village Scene- This was a particularly vivid scene where there was a slaughter in a village and although not explicitly seen in the film, it was implicit that a slaughter was taking place. This was a very prominent example of violence that would have contributed to the 12 A Rating. • Han Solo’s Death- Whilst not bloody or gore-filled, the death of Han Solo was very explicit and showed beyond a doubt Han Solo being impaled by Kylo Ren’s lightsaber, which is undoubtedly unsuitable for a younger audience, thus contributing to the 12A Rating from the BBFC . • Kylo’s Injury- Kylo received a pretty gruesome facial injury towards the end of the film when he was sliced by Rey’s lightsaber during their conflict on Starkiller base. This contributed to the 12A Rating as it is certainly unsuitable for a younger audience.