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Watersheds and Film Ratings
What you can see
What you can’t see
When you can see it
Watershed
• Television has a way of censoring what you can show and what you can say
• The watershed is the time when what you can show and say changes
• There used to be one watershed, now there are more
• Different sides have different watershed standards
Main Channels (Terrestrial)
• BBC1
• BBC2
• ITV
• Channel 4
• Five
BBC
• BBC 1 has a watershed at six, nine and ten• BBC 2 has a watershed at nine and ten• BBC 1 has a far stronger watershed criteria
than BBC 2 (see Little Britain)• BBC 1 has more viewers so it is a bit more
cautious as to what it shows – Jerry Springer The Musical was shown on BBC 2, it would never have been on BBC 1.
Commercial Terrestrial
• The same in general goes for ITV and Channel 4
• Channel 4 generally gets to show more at an earlier time
• This is changing a bit – Dexter is on ITV… but it is on well after 10 o’clock
• Five works like a cross between the two
Satellite and Cable
• Works the same (albeit with different times)
• Except…
• …pay per view or subscription channels often do not have watersheds because the fee is used to limit the viewer (in theory)
Film Ratings & Censorship
• In the US: MPAA
• In the UK: BBFC
• Elsewhere: different countries have boards that cut or rate films and they all have different criteria
• What is acceptable in one country may not be in another
MPAA G - General Audiences
All ages admitted
PG - Parental Guidance Suggested Some material may not be suitable for children
PG-13 - Parents Strongly Cautioned Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
R - Restricted Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
NC-17 - No One 17 And Under Admitted.
BBFC
• http://www.bbfc.co.uk
• They decide what you can see in the cinema and on DVD
• A film in the UK has to have a certificate to be legally shown in a cinema or sold in a shop
U
• Universal - Suitable for all
• It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. U films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.
PG
• 'PG' Parental Guidance - General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children
• Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.
12 & 12A
• 12A – Suitable for 12 years and over. No-one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. No-one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video or DVD. Responsibility for allowing under-12s to view lies with the accompanying or supervising adult.
15
• '15' – Suitable only for 15 years and over
• No-one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video or DVD.
18
• '18' – Suitable only for adults
• No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video.
R-18
• We don’t talk about this one!
Rejected
• Forget it!
• Very rare (as companies who release films know what will be rejected so don’t bother)
How does this affect your script?
• It can change how strong language is used in your script
• Scenes of sex and violence need to be considered against the rating
• It can alter the budget of your film and therefore what you can write
Money & Ratings
• 15 and 18 rated films earn less money so can have lower budgets
• But for low budget films the notoriety offered by a higher rating can help
• 12A films and below have a wider audience
• In the US the lower the rating the wider the market
What Do The BBFC HAVE To Cut?
• There are only two laws that directly affect what the BBFC can and cannot allow us to see
• The Obscene Publications Act…• …is not one of them!• Technically the OPA can be used to
prosecute legitimately purchased items• So. What two laws?
The Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937
• It is illegal to show any scene ‘organised or directed’ for the purposes of the film to involve actual cruelty to animals.
The Protection of Children Act 1978
• It is illegal to show indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child (under the age of 18).