Drafting and planning: Age rating/ classification.

As of course this course entitles us to create a film trailer and a film poster it is imperative of me that i decide and research into the age rating verification for films.  It is important that i do this because the age rating i give to my trailer will dictate what can and cannot be featured in my trailer.

The rating that i could choose to label my trailer is the two ratings of 12 and 12a both distributed by the 'BBFC' (British board of classification). Films that are classified with the rating of a 12 may contain material that is unsuitable for children especially for those under the age of 12. If younger than 12 then they should be accompanied by a parent/guardian. If a film is to be certified as a 12 it must follow these circumstances:

• There is minimal use of drugs which won't be glamorised.
• There may be moderate violence, however it must not be detailed with no emphasis on blood or injuries.
• There may be moderate language and strong language is permitted depending on the frequency of its use and how it is used.
• There may be sexual content and nudity but it should be brief and discreet. 
• Discriminate language or behaviour is not permitted as a whole within the movie.

From looking at the 12 age rating i do not believe i would wish to choose to use this classification for my own trailer, this is due to many aspects one being that i would find the 12 rating too restrictive. 

The second age rating that i could choose to certify my trailer is the 15,  just like the 12 rating movies given the rating of a 15 are suitable for those over the age of 15 with those who are under the age should be guided by an adult. A film qualifies for a 15 age rating if it follows this criteria:

• Drug taking can be shown but cannot and should not be promoted or encouraged.
• There may be racist or discriminative behaviour/language but it should not be endorsed as behaviour as a whole.
• Violence can be shown and can be strong but should not overall dwell on the pain or the infliction of injury.
• There are no constraints on nudity in a non sexual manner, sexual activity may be portrayed but without any strong detail.
• There may be strong language included and very strong language can be included given the context and cirsumstances.

At the moment the 15 age rating looks to be the best choice for me to give to my own trailer.

And the final age rating i could chose is the age certification rating of the 18. Films classified with this rating should only be viewed by those over the age of 18 with people under this age not being able to view this. A film may classify for this rating when various aspects such as drug references, violence,  sexual activity and language is explicit and far more extreme and strong then the previous ratings. Some aspects of film may actually be too strong for this rating.
However i do not believe i would wish to chose this certification as perhaps its too extreme and maybe too explicit requirements i wouldn't be able to meet but also requirements i wouldn't want my own trailer to include. Additionally to this by sticking the age rating of 18 on my trailer it would be restricting audiences under 18 to view the film.




So overall after analysing the three age ratings i think for the best of my trailer and my own wishes i will choose to classify my trailer as a 15. This is because i believe the 15 age rating gives the perfect amount of freedom for me to experiment with my trailer as the 12 age rating is to restrictive and so perhaps wouldn't allow me to explore some themes for example. As I'm making a trailer that will be following the themes of horror and thriller there is bound to be some scares and perhaps violence and aspects that would be unsuitable for those under the age of 12. However as i said previously i wouldn't want to make the trailer an 18 as i believe this would just restrict my audience as to who could view it.