Age rating and classification

What is classification and how does it work?

In order to protect children from unsuitable and even harmful content in films and videos and to give consumers information they might need about a particular film or video before deciding whether or not to view it, the BBFC examines and age rates films and videos before they are released. 
The BBFC watch films and videos all the way through and award the correct age rating by applying the standards and criteria included in their classification guidelines.
Normally, two examiners view a film for theatrical release and in most cases a senior examiner will confirm the examiners recommendation. If the examiners are in any doubt or fail to agree the work may be seen by other members of the board up to and including the director and presidential team. Occasionally the BBFC take specialist advice about the legal acceptability of a film's content or its potential to harm.
There is the same process for DVDs and Blu-rays, though these are generally only viewed by one examiner, However sometimes, opinions are collected from other examiners for more difficult works.
The BBFC look at issues such as discrimination, drugs, horror, dangerous and easily imitable behaviour, language, nudity, sex, and violence when making decisions. The theme of the work is also an important consideration. They also consider context, the tone and likely impact of a work on the potential audience.
The release format of a work also affects the classification.  Their decisions on the age rating of DVDs and Blu-rays can occasionally be stricter than at the cinema because there is a higher risk of underage viewing in the home and a greater potential for watching scenes out of context.
At all categories heterosexual and homosexual sexual behaviour and activities are treated the same.


Bernie the Brave

This film would be rated a U because a U film is suitable for audiences four years and over. The film doesn't raise any significant issues such as discrimination, drugs, horror, imitable behaviour, language, nudity, sex or violence. 
There is a brief fight scene where the character is placed in danger but the threat is quickly resolved and the outcome is reassuring. There is also no emphasis on the sword used and it is within a historical setting, this is what is accepted at a U classification.
A children’s work at U will generally contain positive messages about loyalty, honesty and friendship, particularly amongst children, which mine does. The film has a happy ending for the child and the overall tone is one of reassurance.


It Ended.

This film would be rated PG, this means that its suitable for general viewing and should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. All themes are allowed at a PG as long as they are treated with the appropriate manners.
References to sex are acceptable as the activity is implied and lacking in detail. Also, a child is unlikely to understand the references, so this is allowed a PG.

Bernie the Brave - first cut

This is my first cut of my footage, I haven't added in my animation yet but where there is a empty frame is where I will have a shot of my hydra so you can get an idea of how it will look.

I don't like how it turned out, I think it looks to student made and the quality of the combination of the filming, location, costume and acting makes it seem unprofessional. So I have come up with another idea for a short film which should work better with the resources that I have at my disposal.

I got a focus group together and asked them to write a list of things they liked and things they didn't. Feedback from the group:

Like
The change into fantasy/medieval
The costumes
Range of shots
Sword fighting
Sound Effects
The premise of it
The bullies reaction at the end kept it lighthearted

Dislike
Jump cuts don't flow very well
Script is repetitive
It feels kind of awkward
The young boy playing with a teddy looks a bit odd especially as it then turns into a baby
The background noise in most of the shots is distracting
The teddy into baby was a bit bizarre and fast

Final Superhero poster

We tried lots of combinations of different poster conventions, we also tried a vintage look on the poster and we really liked the way it made it look so we decided to keep it.

Here are a couple of examples of things we tried:

Out of all of the combinations simplicity won, and we decided this was our favourite as we think its the most eye-catching and looks the most professional as a poster.

We are really pleased with how it loos, and we think it will interest lots of people in the movie that the poster is for because of the different elements within the poster.

There is one element that we think we could improve and that it the title of the film in the lefthand corner. although the font fits and works with the image, we think that it isn't as clear to read as it should be. To improve the poster we would put something under the title font so that it would be more distinct, or we could make a logo with the title on it, to make it look more professional and official.

Superhero poster - editing

 

To make the girl look like she can control time we took pictures of lots of different elements of a pocket watch so we can edit them above her hand to make it look like she is in control. Like so:

We really liked this picture but decided it wouldn't work as a poster because there is no where to comfortably fit a title, date or credits.

We decided to use this instead as there is open space to fit the title, date, logo and certificate.