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).