The Film Industry - regulating films

Regulating films:
Regulation- 'are rules made by a government or other authority in order to control the way something is done or the way people behave. Regulation is the controlling of an activity or process, usually by means of rules.'

British Board of Film Classification- Wiki

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), previously the British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organization, founded by the film industry in 1912 and responsible for the national classification and censorship of films exhibited at cinemas and video works (such as television programmes, trailers, adverts, public Information/campaigning films, menus, bonus content etc.) released on physical media within the United Kingdom.^[1][2] It has a statutory requirement to classify videos, DVDs and, to a lesser extent, some video games under the Video Recordings Act 1984.^[3]

Basically an organisation which controls and classifies British visual media with suggested age appropriation certificates.  

• Uc- 
• U- universal eg. suitable for all, traditionally ages 4 and over. Any minor references to drugs, violence, sex, nudity or threat will be extremely mild within a positive framework.

• PG- parental guidance eg. for general viewing however children under the age of 8 are could still be unsettled as it is advised that a parent should consider the content or accompany child.    

• 12/12A (cinema only)- ages 12 and over eg. sex, nudity and drug use must be discrete or not glamorised. Threat and violence may be moderate but not sustained. Parents are heavily advised to consider films content before taking under 12 year old to view.  

• 15- ages 15 and over eg. no one younger than 15 may view, rent or buy a film. Can contain strong language, moderate sex, violence, horror or threat however mostly not to graphic. 

• 18- suitable for adults eg. film can contain graphic or disturbing content. no under 18 year olds can purchase, rent or view film.  

• R-18- specifically licensed viewing eg. sex shops, or specific cinemas to adults only. Explicit works legally restricted normally centred around sex or extreme violence (porn) 

• E- unofficial rating eg. applied to video titles released in the United Kingdom which are exempt from being classified by the British Board of Film Classification

"regulation of film in the UK has largely become pointless due to the rise of digital technologies like the internet"

yes, because it is so easy in this digital age to access any film of any content without parental permission. However on the other hand to view films in cinemas it is still very necessary to have age certificates in order to give some sort of guidance to parents and viewers. Therefore it is not pointless and should continue. 


(12A certificate is to please distributors)    

Age certificate guesses-
'Gummo' 1995-12/PG (18)
word 'Queer'- could be discrimination 
boys clearly high, no drugs clearly shown

'Harold and Kumar escape from Guantanamo Bay' -12 (15)
word 'bitch' -mild/moderate language (gendered swear word) sexist?
aggressive swearing
racism references, used in jokey way 

'The Land before Time' 1988- PG (U)
clear death of mother presented in cartoon way