Planning: Classification

As our film is a romance, it would conventionally have a 12 rated classification as this would include minimal nudity and sexual reference, and there may be moderate violence but it should not dwell on detail. However because our romance film is based around a dark subject that is a sensitive topic, we feel that this could distress and upset younger viewers - as a result we have decided to make the classification for the film a 15, so that we protect younger viewers from emotional and psychological harm. Because we have made this decision, we have had to increase the minimum age of our target audience to 15 years old.

According to the BBFC website, a 15 rated film will include:


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 work.

Discrimination

The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour, although there may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language.

Drugs

Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse (for example, through instructional detail). The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.

Imitable behaviour

Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Whether the depiction of easily accessible weapons is acceptable will depend on factors such as realism, context and setting.

Language

There may be strong language. Very strong language may be permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, its frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification.

Nudity

There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context. There may be nudity in a sexual context but usually without strong detail.

Sex

Sexual activity may be portrayed, but usually without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.


Threat

There may be strong threat and horror. A sustained focus on sadistic or sexual threat is unlikely to be acceptable.


Violence

Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but the depiction of sexual violence must be discreet and justified by context.

Our film won't necessarily contain strong language, however we haven't yet decided if we are going to use some elements of crude language in order to portray the tension and stress that we are trying to portray. As we are basing the film trailer on domestic abuse, we will show moments of strong violence as this is a strong convention of most domestic abuse situations; however we won't show these being followed through and so it won't dwell on the infliction of injury.