coursework- certificate ratings

For our coursework, 2 minute opening to a thriller, it is important that we research the restrictions certain certificates have. In order to decide which rating we want our thriller to be based on and what our target audience is, we need to research the boundaries 15/18 films have. From: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/sites/default/files/attachments/BBFC%20Classification%20Guidelines%202009.pdf we could find out the rules of each certificate.

 2009. 
15 
This film is not suitable for any under the age of 15. People under the age of 15 can buy or rent a 15 rated film.

 Discrimination
 The media text can’t encourage discriminatory language or behaviour.

 Drugs
 Drugs can be shown as a whole but you cannot promote or encourage the use of them. Showing the misuse of solvents and alcohol are unlikely to be acceptable due to them being easily accessible.

 Horror
 Horrors can be “threat” and “menace” but sexualised and sadistic is unacceptable. Imitable behaviour hanging, suicide and self harming should be shown in detail as it could be copied. Easily accessible weapons can’t be “glamorised”.

 Language
 Strong language can be justified if in the right context. If repeated the strongest language this could be seen as unacceptable.

Nudity
 Nudity is allowed in educational sense and in a non sexual sense. Nudity is allowed in sexual scenes but not in detail

 Sex
 Sexual activity is allowed but without detail. this includes sexual references,Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.

 Theme
 No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds

Violence
 violence can we strong but not in infliction. Sexual violence is allowed but mildy. The strongest “gorey” violence is unlikely to be acceptable.

18
The BBFC says that an adult should be able to choose their own entertainment  but expectations are most likely for the following:
 “• where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
 • where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault
 • where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category. In the case of video works (including video games), which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films. Sex education at ‘18’ Where sex material genuinely seeks to inform and educate in matters such as human sexuality, safer sex and health, explicit images of sexual activity may be permitted. Sex works at ‘18’ Sex works are works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing only material which may be simulated are generally passed ‘18’. Sex works containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images, or other very strong sexual images will be confined to the ‘R18’ category. Material which is unacceptable in a sex work at ‘R18’ is also unacceptable in a sex work at ‘18’.”

Based on the imformation we have found out we want our thriller opening to be a.........