"British Board of Film Classification"

THE BRITISH BOARD OF FILM CLASSIFICATION

The BBFC ( British Board of Film Classification ) is a non-governmental organization funded by the film industry, responsible for the national classification and censorship in the UK. Their mission is to protect the public, especially children, from content that can have potential risks. 

☆ HISTORY :

Since 1912, video tapes and discs, and more recently online content, have been classified by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), an impartial, non-governmental, and nonprofit organization. Wherever and whatever you watch or use them, the BBFC is here to assist you in making age-appropriate film, video, and website selections. This organization will constantly examine people all around the country to learn what they think and feel about what is appropriate for families and children of all ages since they have more than 100 years of experience

☆ ROLES, RESPONSIBILITY AND POWERS :

BBFC's mission mostly is to protect and enhance all the media content to give the audiences the best experience with entertainment. More specifically, they have stated their roles and responsibilities through all of these statements :

• Preventing the public, especially children, from viewing content that poses a risk of censorship.
• Recognize and support adult freedom of choice within the law.
• Encourage the public, especially parents, to make informed watching decisions.
• Respond to and reflect on shifting social perceptions of media content through proactive public dialogue and study.
•  Deliver a cost-effective, efficient classification service within the bounds of our legislative authority.
• Develop new service models in collaboration with the sector to offer content guidance that supports evolving media distribution systems
• Offer law enforcement organizations efficient service

Since BBFC is a non-governmental organization the funds that they have are from charged fees, which means the film distributors have to pay whenever they want their works to be rated. In addition, the BBFC is not for profit organization. 

☆ HOW DID BBFC REGULATE FILMS? 

• The process of classifications :

The BBFC classification process involves the control of the consensus, including one Chief Executive, the President, and 2 Vice - President who will decide their final statement. A department called the Compliance Officers will watch the combination of films, DVDs, music videos, and more during each workday. They typically watch DVDs by themselves, or "solo viewing." Episodes of TV shows or shows targeted toward young children that have already been shown on TV are suitable for solo viewing. 

Teams of two are used to classify movies for theatrical release. Teams, frequently more than one team, view controversial or extreme content to gather a variety of viewpoints.

• Experiences, Languages, and Issues :

Compliance Officers typically view movies in the BBFC's theater so they can see how the images, editing, sound quality, and special effects will affect a moviegoer. To simulate "home viewing," they watch DVDs on plasma displays in our viewing areas.

Numerous movies and DVDs are submitted in foreign languages, frequently in Hindi and other South Asian tongues. Compliance Officers will collaborate with an interpreter when there are no subtitles and the material is in a language that none of the team members are fluent in.

The process of this includes taking note of the plot, characters, and the basic layout of each scene in every piece of content they view, as well as the timing of crucial moments, the kind of shots and camera angles, foul language, drug references, sex and violence, and more. 

• Reporting and the relationship with the distributors :

A brief overview of the work, information on the issues, and a justification for the suggested age grade are all included in the compliance officers' reports. The majority of recommendations are simple and based on the frequently revised, publicly available BBFC Classification Guidelines.

While the Compliance Officer or team will take the distributor's request for a certain age rating into consideration before making a judgment, the decision will not be made based on it. If necessary, cuts may be recommended to achieve the requested age rating, after which the distributor may opt for a higher rating or the advised cuts.

• Making sure of the accuracy : 

The Compliance Manager or Head of Compliance will be contacted if a Compliance Officer has any questions or if the content appears to fall between two age classifications. There is a possible chance that it can also bring up challenging content that is up for dispute during the weekly Compliance Officers meeting. Senior management will then be contacted if there is still a lack of clarity. 

Compliance Officers will create a list of cuts that will be given to the distributor if content is discovered to be unlawful or unsatisfactory by the stated BBFC Guidelines. It is possible to reject content if it is unacceptably bad overall, but this rarely happens. On content that may not receive an age rating or that raises important policy concerns, the Chief Executive, President, and Vice Presidents of the BBFC shall be consulted. 

☆ BBFC'S REGULATED FORMS OF MEDIA AND DISTRIBUTION :

The BBFC classified films, mobile content, and music videos. As I mentioned before, they will get classified by a department called Compliance Officers. Throughout each workday, they will view a variety of movies, DVDs, music videos, and other media. They frequently engage in "solo viewing," or private viewing, of DVDs. Episodes of TV series and kid-friendly programming that have already aired on television are appropriate for solitary viewing.

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☆ LEGISLATION :

The Video Recordings Act (VRA) 1984 allows us to apply the criteria of whether the content is suitable for watching at home - taking into consideration the possibility of underage viewing - which is what gives the BBFC the authority to regulate film in the UK.

The law gives them the power to classify and consider the potential - - harm to society, to protect the viewers' perceptions. A method that this organization used to consider is called "The Harm Test" and under that test, they specifically look for material that depicts the consumption of illegal drugs, sexual activity, and criminal, violent, or horrifying behavior. 

There is some other legislation within the BBFC but it seems like licensing legislation is the key legislation, since it involves both risks and benefits, to prevent viewers from false context, especially children. One more aspect that the BBFC also pays attention to is the problems related to society such as indecent images of children, animal cruelty, obscenity, racial

hatred and human rights. 

BBFC Compliance Officers evaluate content for legality and offer recommendations unless a particular legal issue necessitates a more in-depth or qualified review, in which case we will seek outside expert counsel. If they see individual content details in any media products that break the law, they will cut it. If the overall content of the media product violates the law, it may be refused of age ratings and rejected.

The BBFC regulates films in the UK by classifying films through age ratings, therefore films and content that suited to some particular audience groups. They classified into 6 groups of ages :

• U (Universal - Suitable for all ) - Although it is impossible to anticipate what may distress any one child, a U film should be appropriate for audiences aged four and up. U films should have a positive outlook and provide comforting alternatives to any violence, threat, or horror. The content suggestion will state whether a work is especially appropriate for preschoolers.

• PG ( Parental Guidance ) - All ages, but certain scenes can be inappropriate for small children. A child eight years old or older shouldn't feel uneasy after watching a PG movie. Unattended kids of any age are welcome to watch, however, parents are asked to think about whether the material would offend younger or more sensitive kids.

• 12A ( Suitable for 12 years and over ) - The content of movies with a 12A rating is typically inappropriate for children under the age of 12. A movie rated 12A cannot be shown in a theater by anyone under the age of 12 without an adult. If an adult plans to bring a child under the age of 12 to see a 12A movie, they should think about whether the movie is appropriate for that youngster. We advise them to review the content guidance for the movie beforehand to help them make their decision.

• 12 ( Suitable for 12 years and over ) - Another 12 years of ratings guidelines, the process is still the saasith the previous one. However, the different thing about this was that the audiences that are of that age could go and watch the film on their own without being too strict about parental guidance. 

• 15 ( Suitable for 15 years and over ) - Anyone who reaches the age of 15 or over can rent or watch films that have the corresponding rating. 

• 18 ( Suitable for adults only ) - Anyone who reaches the age of 18 or over can rent or watch that has the corresponding rating.

⇀ BBFC'S CONTENT ADVICE SECTION: In the rating detail of each film that BBFC had rated, there is a section called "Content Advice", which shows different criteria such as threat and horror, violence, languages, and more. The BBFC had classified into 8 different criteria, which are violence, threats and horror, languages, sex, discrimination, rude humor, theme, and drugs.

☆ CASE STUDIES :

1. ELEMENTAL ( 2023 ) :

RELEASED DATE: 07/07/2023 ( in the UK )

DISTRIBUTOR  Walt Disney Studios - Pixar

DIRECTOR  Peter Sohn

★

Elemental is one of the films that brighten up the summer of 2023. Released in June 2023, Pixar had somehow shown the world the animation king's power. Even though "Elemental" still has the old concept of animation, which is impersonating objects, in this case, the elements such as fire and water, therefore create a new wave and style of animation. Despite the context that the film is for children, however, the problem that Ember has to deal with and bear with can related to anyone, especially with young people and teenagers, for instance, continuing and heiring family business. Furthermore, it also celebrates the differences, delivering the messages of love have no border, anybody can love anybody, as we can see through the chemistry of Wade and Ember. 

According to the BBFC, "Elemental" has been rated PG - Parental Guide. In following the 8 criteria, they also rate the film at each different level. They also have details explanations about why they rated like that, which also includes some spoilers. 

VIOLENCE - The unintended release of flames from a young woman formed of fire who struggles to control her rage is depicted absurdly hurting other characters. Another minor comedy moment has a young youngster hitting a character in the bottom with a baseball bat.

THREAT AND HORROR - A sequence in which a daughter tries to save her parents from an approaching flood is among the very mildly threatening scenes. She then puts herself in peril by attempting to retrieve items from a submerged store but is promptly saved. In another scene, a water-based character begins to evaporate in a warm environment.

LANGUAGE - Implied use of "ass" and "jerk"

SEX - When a girl's parents tell her they will have more time for it when she goes away, a comical allusion is made to "hanky panky." A character remarks that a young woman made of fire is "hot" before stuttering, "I mean smoking." Another humorous scene is a couple of trees that feel humiliated after being discovered at home collecting apples from each other's branches.

DISCRIMINATION - When elemental entities are instructed to never combine, there are references to prejudice. When a woman congratulates an immigrant's daughter on her crystal-clear speaking, it becomes a microaggression. A couple is given names that are simpler to pronounce when they move to a new city. The message of the movie, which is presented in a wholesome and imaginative environment, encourages love and acceptance of all cultures.

RUDE HUMOUR -A short film that comes before the feature contains a very lighthearted humorous reference to poop. In the same animated short, a dog counsels his master to check out his date's behind.

THEME - In an emotional scene during a fictitious death scenario, a character laments the loss of another character. In the short film CARL'S DATE, the character kisses a picture of a deceased wife before going on his first date since she passed away.

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There isn't much controversy about the ratings for this movie, however, in my experience of watching this film, I don't quite agree with the "Sex" content advice of this film since it didn't mention much and the interaction between Wade and Ember was pure and bright. 

2. OPPENHEIMER ( 2023 ) : 

RELEASED DATE: 21/07/2023 ( in the UK )

DISTRIBUTOR: Universal Pictures

DIRECTOR: Christopher Nolan

★

Oppenheimer is a film that "lay down the law" at the near end of summer 2023. Released in July 2023, along with Barbie, Oppenheimer had become a trend among cinematographers, even normal social media users, especially on TikTok since this movie's cinematography is something everyone wants to achieve. Furthermore, this movie also conspires a line-up of actors that are famous and significant among the audiences, such as Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, and more. Christopher Nolan has impressed and satisfied the audiences again, not only with the casting of the actors, and the cinematography but also the effects on the atomic bomb, which is not from any VFX assets or techniques, completely 100% props, and also the plot and autobiography of J. Robert Oppenheimer - father of atomic bomb. Not to mention Cillian Murphy's eye acting was so real and phenomenal, his acting skill reminded me of Tony Leung, yet it still brought me a different style, compared to Tony's. 

According to the BBFC, "Oppenheimer" has been rated 15 - Suitable for 15 years and over. The same process with "Elemental", Oppenheimer has also been rated in the following of the 8 criteria. Details and explanations about why they rated like that were also included, not to mention quite a lot of spoilers were mentioned to support their thesis. 

( In this movie, "Rude humor" was changed into "Suicide" due to the context of the movie  )

VIOLENCE - A woman is briefly hinted to be drowned in a bathtub by an unidentified assailant. There are frequent verbal references to bombing fatalities and victim injuries.

THREAT AND HORROR - A man has terrifying visions of the end of the world, including disease, burnt corpses, and scorching flesh. A nuclear bomb is cautiously prepared for testing by scientists.

LANGUAGE - Strong swearing ('f**k') and other expressions like 'shit' and 'Jesus Christ' are used.

SEX - There are a few brief moments of vigorous sex, including nudity of the breasts and buttocks.

DISCRIMINATION - The film has an underlying theme of antisemitism in the background of the 1930s and 1940s. There are passing mentions of the Holocaust. There are sexist allusions.

SUICIDE - A woman's suicide is described in a way that casts doubt on that version of the events leading up to her passing.

THEME - The movie's central themes are a woman's drunkenness and a man's eerie guilt.

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In my experience of watching this film with my father, this movie must rated 18 since there were some scenes that are not quite suitable for 15 years - old audiences, for instance, the sex scene which is quite brutal, not to mention the technical terms in this movie since it's about atomic bomb, which related to chemistry and a bit of physics, therefore, it can be hard to understand. Furthermore, this movie have a controversy between a scene with an Indian culture detail. 

Even if the movie is wonderful, the sex scenes and lengthy nudity seem needless and obviously disrespectful given the usage of religious imagery in those sequences. In "Oppenheimer," director Nolan made the decision to include a sequence involving sex and nudity with the Hindu sacred text Bhagavad Gita.

More specifically, the scene that I mentioned shows actor Cillian Murphy, who plays the major part, having intercourse with actress Florence Pugh, who plays his love interest Jean Tatlock, in a movie that tells the story of the atomic bomb through the eyes of its inventor, Robert Oppenheimer.

During their sexual encounter, Pugh pauses, pulls up a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, one of Hinduism's most revered texts, and requests that Murphy read aloud. The character of Oppenheimer exclaims, "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds," as they start up again.

According to the CNN, some right-wing parties are outraged by the sequence, with a legislator from India's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the movie of being a "disturbing attack on Hinduism" and saying it is "part of a larger conspiracy by anti-Hindu forces."

India's information commissioner, Uday Mahurkar, described the incident as "a direct assault on the religious beliefs of a billion tolerant Hindus" and compared it to "waging a war on the Hindu community" in a statement on Saturday.

In conclusion, even though "Oppenheimer" is mainstream and have many positive feedbacks from the audiences, however, the application and use of the Hindu spiritual texts still a controversy and cause some sudden cultural appropriations toward the Indian culture.