Nile Avery-Shiel

Age Regulations
BBFC----British Board Of film Classification
The British Board of Film Classification rates and regulates films that are
created and released in the UK. The main purpose for the BBFC is to
attempt to prevent certain audiences from getting access from certain
films. Normally higher age rated films such as 18 will have more mature
content such as Guns Violence and sexual themes in order to stop children
from seeing such content an age restriction is put on. Normally films that
use these films for example in films rated 12,12A and 15 try to keep
these themes at a low and if they are shown tend to be infrequent and try
to make sure that it does not endorse or encourage these acts.
The main themes that the regulatory board look for in films are the use of
drugs, discrimination, horror language, imitable behaviour, nudity, sex and
sexual violence. If a film is to be released first at the cinema the film will
be checked against the published guidelines.
U Stands for Universal
The main audience of a classification
with a U is aimed at very young
children aged 4 and under however
anyone can view the film.
A film with the classification of a U
must contain none of the below and
show the difference between right and
wrong.
Use of drugs
Discrimination
Horror
Language
Imitable behaviour
Nudity
Sex
Sexual violence.
Weapons and threats are not
allowed and vulgar language is
also not allowed in any aspect.
An example of a U film is Toy Story this
film contains no use of drugs,
discrimination, horror language,
imitable behaviour, nudity, sex and
sexual violence. Not only this but no
weapons or vulgar language is used
which means that it is suitable for all to

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watch but children can also watch.
PG stands for Parental Guidance
The main audience of a classification
with a PG is for a general viewing
audience however children who do
watch it should be accompanied by a
parent. The film would be aimed at
children aged 8 and over.
A film with the classification of a PG
must contain little or none of the
below:
Use of mild language (no
swearing but language that
children may seem impacting for
example stupid, idiot
etc.).However some vulgar
words can be used for example
e.g. Bitch. This word is
normally not directed at people
normally a thing or someone
that is not a part of the film.
Behaviour and drugs. (only if an
Anti-drug message is clear)
Weapons and threats are not
allowed and if so should be
shown to be dangerous and
should be shown very
infrequently.
Vulgar language is also not
allowed in a PG film.
An example of a PG film is Indiana
Jones and the temple of Doom. This
film shows no use of drugs,
discrimination, imitable behaviour,
nudity and sex. However the film
contains small amounts of action and
adult themed scenes children could
watch this but parents should
accompany them.
12 stands for Suitable for ages 12 and
over.
The main audience of a classification
with a 12 are people who are over 12
these types of films are not aimed or
able to be viewed by children under the
years of 12.

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A film with the classification of a 12
must contain little or none of the
below:
Little and infrequent use of
drugs
Little or no discrimination
Imitable behaviour (Only that
stuff that doesnt promote it to
kids)
Nudity (discreet and infrequent)
Sex (discreet and infrequent).
Weapons and threats are
allowed but should be shown to
be dangerous and should be
shown very infrequently. Vulgar
language is also allowed for
example (s**t) but this also
should be discreet and
infrequent. This is normally
aimed at the older audience
viewing the film and will have
some impact on them.
An example of a 12 film is Star Wars:
Revenge of the Sith. This film contains
a lot of action and sci-fi scenes which
are not aimed at very young children.
The film contains no sex, nudity and
vulgar language which means that it
does not fall into the category of 12A ,
15 and 18.However the film does
contain a large amount of violence,
pain and weapons that are not suitable
for younger audiences.
12A stands for suitable for ages 12 and
over. Anyone under this age may be
accompanied by an adult.
The main audience of a classification
with a 12A are people who are over 12.
These types of films are not aimed or
able to be viewed by children under the
years of 12.However if the child is
accompanied by an adult they may
watch the film.
A film with the classification of a 12A
must contain little or none of the
below:

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Little and infrequent use of

drugs
Little or no discrimination
Imitable behaviour (Only that
stuff that doesnt promote it to
kids)
Nudity (discreet and infrequent)
Sex. (discreet and infrequent)
Weapons and threats are
allowed but should be shown to
be dangerous and should be
shown very infrequently. Vulgar
language is also allowed for
example (s**t) but this also
should be discreet and
infrequent. This word is also not
aimed at a person in the film and
is normally spoken out of anger
or other reasons meaning that it
is not being aimed at a certain
person.

An example of a 12A film is Captain

America: Civil War
This film contains a lot of action and
scenes which contain fighting and a lot
of weapons/explosions. The film
contains no sex and nudity which
means that it does not fall into the
category of 15 and 18.However the film
does contain a large amount of
violence, pain and weapons that are
not suitable for younger audiences. It
also contains very subtle language or
references that are not suitable for
kids.
The difference between a 12 and a 12A
is that a 12 release will normally go to
DVD and not release in the cinema so it
will not need a 12A.

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15 Stands for suitable for ages 15 and
over.
The main audience of a classification
with a 15 are people over or at the age
of 15, nobody under the age of 15 may
watch or rent a film with this age
rating.
A film with the classification of a 15 can
contain some of the below:
Use of drugs (Must not dwell on
it)
Discrimination (doesnt
approve/endorse it)
Imitable behaviour (Can be used
but must not dwell on it)
Nudity
Sex. (Can be portrayed but
without strong detail)
Weapons and threats are
allowed but should be shown to
be dangerous. Vulgar language
is also allowed for example
(f**k).With the age rating of a 15
the film is able to show and
more frequently use vulgar
language. The word is normally
used against objects or
sometimes very frequently
against other people. Because
the age rating is higher than
previous it can be used towards
people but must but discreet or
infrequent.
An example of a 15 film is Suicide
Squad. (Was rated different in the US)
This film contains a lot of action and
scenes which contain fighting and a lot
of weapons/explosions and is not
aimed at very young children. The film
contains little sexual references or
nudity but is very discreet which
means that it doesnt fall in the age
rating of 18.However the film does
contain a large amount of violence,
pain and weapons that are not suitable
for younger audiences. It also contains
language or references that are not

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suitable for kids.
18 Stands for suitable for ages 18 and
over.
The main audience of a classification
with an 18 are people who are over the
age of 18 nobody under the age of 18
is able to watch or rent a movie with
this rating.
A film with the classification of a 18 can
contain the below:
Use of drugs
Discrimination
Imitable behaviour (cannot be
used to trick or harm)
Nudity
Sex (can be portrayed but not in
great detail).
Weapons and threats are
allowed and Vulgar language is
also allowed for example (f**k
and c**t).Gore is allowed but not
to a large extent and is normally
toned down in even an 18
classification.
An example of an 18 film is
Transparent. The film contains violence
and sexual scenes that are not aimed
at younger children which means that
only people over 18 may view the film.
There is also swearing and vulgar
language that is not suitable to
younger audiences. The film also
contains unsettling scenes and pain
which children younger the age of 18
should not view as it will have a large
impact on them.
My film age rating:

The age rating I am aiming for is a 12, this is because I intend my film to
be a horror/thriller. However I dont want an extensive amount of violence
and language and any that I do include I want to be subtle. I dont think
my film will have a rating of 18 or 15 as this seems too high as my film
will only contain light violence and language. Light violence means that
my film will not be able to fall into the U and PG category as these rating

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does not allow any form of violence or vulgar language which means I
have no choice but to make it a 12.