Certificate Ratings - BBCF research

Certificate Ratings- What are they?

They're designed to classify films with regard to suitability for audiences in terms of issues such as sex, violence, substance abuse, profanity, impudence or other types of mature content. 

Why Have Them?

One purpose of doing so is that parents can decide whether something is suitable to watch with their children.
Another is so that cinemas can moderate which audience's are viewing which films and that those films match the person's age and maturity.
The main point in having them is so that younger children don't get exposed to mature adult content, of which a younger audience may not be able to handle or understand.

Who decides Certificate Ratings?

The BBFC rates cinema and videos. They've been doing so since 1913 and although the rating they give on films is not law binding, British cinemas generally stick closely to the policy of ratings and a young person may often be asked for proof of age if deemed younger than the rating.

The Ratings that are usually given: 

• Uc (Universal Children) Suitable for all, but especially for children under 4. Used for video only. Retired in 2009.
• U (Universal) Suitable for all. (The board states that while they cannot predict what might upset a particular child, a 'U' film should be suitable for audiences aged 4 and older).
• PG (Parental Guidance) General viewing but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. (It is the board's policy that movies rated 'PG' should not disturb a child of about 8 years of age or older; however, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset young or more sensitive children).
• 12A (12 Accompanied/Advisory) Recommended for 12 years and older. People under 12 years must be accompanied by an adult. (Exclusively for cinema, '12A' was first implemented on The Bourne Identity and, contrary to popular belief, not on Spider-Man, which was first released months before, under the previously fully restrictive 12 certificate, and then immediately re-released to take advantage of the new guidelines).
• 12 Recommended for 12 years and older. Anybody under 12 may see it, as long as parents of guardians say they can. Nobody younger than 12 may rent or buy a '12' rated video. (Until 31 August 2002, this mandatory certificate used to apply to cinema exhibitions as well).
• 15 Suitable only for 15 years and older. Nobody younger than 15 may see a '15' film in a cinema. Nobody younger than 15 may rent or buy a '15' rated video (these films may contain offensive or emotionally harrowing scenes or strong language and violence).
• 18 Suitable only for adults. Nobody younger than 18 may see an '18' film in a cinema. Nobody younger than 18 may rent or buy an '18' rated video (These films may contain extreme gore/violence and/or sexually explicit content).
• R18 (Restricted 18) To be shown only in specially licensed cinemas, or supplied only in licensed sex shops, and to adults that are older than 18 years old. (These films contain sexually explicit, pornographic content.)

About The BBFC

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), originally British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification and censorship of films within the United Kingdom. 

Making our Preliminary OTS

This is the mask and the hat we used for our OTS. We used it to make the scene seem creepy and like there's something not quite right. We also used an umbrella which was inside out to add to the kookiness of the scene.

Audience Preferences

Fun Lovers- people who just like going to the cinema, not necessarily for any reason just a pass time.
Youth Of Today- Young people who enjoy the cinema, probably more box office movies.
Film Fanatics- people who will know a lot about film and cinema. Probably older, and educated in film, i.e they've seen a lot of films and can evaluate what they like and dislike.

Types:

• Preferred - Targeted audience / those a product is aimed at. These people are a active audience.
• Opposition - Not the expected audience. These people are a passive audience. 

Distribution

These are the following ways of viewing and showing media:

• Streamed Legal
• Streamed Illegal
• Downloaded Legal
• Downloaded Illegal
• Cinema - Art house
• Cinema - Multiplex
• DVD to buy
• DVD to rent
• Blu Ray
• TV Broadcast
• Freeview
• Cable
• Satellite
• Pay-to-view

My preferences

I would say that I fit into the 'fun lover' category of watching films at the cinema, although i usually go to the cinema knowing what i want to see, i lack experience in films and i will usually only see something that's new, as opposed to going to somewhere like Cinema City.

I prefer to buy a DVD to watch a film as if i'm going to watch a film i usually know a fair bit about it and so its easier for me to buy one because i'll watch it more than once. Also i use Freeview to view films that i haven't heard much about, but this is usually only when i've got some time to kill.

Link to our OTS

Our OTS will be aimed at people who're interested in a certain type of film- film noir. The film is going to be shown on a streamed legal website and so the audience will probably be young and have prior knowledge of which websites to find such films on.

OTS storyboard

In this shot the girl is shown walking up to the door. It is a mid shot of the subject from behind to show her walking and to show the door. The subject is framed by the door frame to add emphasis on her. The mise-en-scene is a brick wall and the surroundings are dull and slightly unclean.

In this shot the subject is shown from the side, opening the door. The shot is predominantly on her and there's nothing in the background that would attract the audience's eyes away from her. Its a mid shot.

This shot is an extreme close up of the subject opening the door handle. The only things in shot are the hand and the door handle so the audience know perfectly what is happening.

This shot is an over-shoulder shot of the first subject, from the second subject's shoulder, The subject is framed by the door to link the previous shots to this one, and to emphasize the subject's facial expression.

This shot is a close up of the first subject's face. It shows nothing but her and it is at a regular angle.

This shot shows the second subject's face. He is wearing a mask and you cannot see his expression. The shot used is a close up and there's nothing else  in the shot, except the second subject.

This is a mid shot of the two people. It shows them at a table, talking.

This is an over-shoulder shot of the first subject. It shows her talking to the second subject. The over-shoulder shot is used because it highlights the fact that the two are talking to each other.

The last shot is of the second subject and the shot used is an over shoulder shot.

Audience

A group of people experiencing an event.
Types:
active = prefered - targetted audience/ those a product is aimed at
passive= oppositional - not the expected audience.

Distribution- method of showing
Exhibition- method of watching

By DVD
Rent DVD & Blu Ray
Illegal/streaming
Legal/downloading
Tv/Freeview/Cable/Satellite
Pay-To-View
Cinema- Art-House & Multinational

Style of Preference
1- Cinema, multinational. - Go with friends or alone, preferably with friends. [once or twice a month] [headonistic]
2- Satellite - on my own, once or twice a week [hedonistic]
3- Streaming On my own - Hedonistic [once a month]

Pete Buckingham, the head of Distribution and Exhibion of the UK Film Council says that ABC1s represent up to 66% of cinema audience. This means that the 33% is made up by poorer people, the poorer half watch films at home some how.
why is this?
poorer
less time - working - families
more choice at home

Understanding Genre: Thriller

Thriller

Thriller is defined as a genre of literature which used suspense, tension, excitement and often something which encourages the audience to be scared. Thriller films are usually fast-paced, and they provoke a rush of adrenalin for the viewer. The same plot lines and conventions are often used for Thrillers, for example, the protagonist is set against a problem, with danger being a big part of the problem and is usually emphasised, the tension with the problem builds throughout the film before ending with a big climax. However, this may differ slightly within the thriller sub-genres.

The Silence of the Lambs is a good example of a crime thriller. It focuses on the criminal and the detectives which all run parallel to each other. It focuses more on the action too, rather than the psychological aspects which is why it is a crime thriller.








Other types of thriller are:

• Conspiracy Thriller
• Erotic Thriller
• Political Thriller
• Psychological Thriller
• Spy Thriller
• Supernatural Thriller
• Techno Thriller

Storyboard and Analysis