Behind the Scenes at the BBFC

John Leggott College22nd March 2007

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Today’s Presentation

• Who are we?• History• Accountability• Examining• Borderline works• Over to you• Questions/Discussion

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Some Facts

• In 2006, the BBFCBBFC classified:– 555 films

• 198 of these were passed 15

– 15122 Videos & DVDs• 7110 of these were passed U or PG

– 298 Digital Games• 186 of these were passed 15 or 18

– 2128 Trailers and Ads• 1069 of these were for cinema release

• In 2006, the BBFC rejected only ONE work

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History

• Established 1912• Independent, non-governmental body funded

through charged fees• Classifies Films on behalf of Local Authorities –

the Licensing Act, 2003• Classifies Videos, DVDs and some Digital Games

under the Video Recordings Act, 1984

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History

1. Indecorous, ambiguous and irreverent titles and subtitles2. Cruelty to animals 3. The irreverent treatment of sacred subjects 4. Drunken scenes carried to

‘Indecorous dancing’

‘Drunken scenes carried to excess’ ‘Unnecessary exhibition of under-clothing’

‘References to controversial politics’

‘The drug habit. e.g. opium, morphia, cocaine, etc’

1916T.P. O’Connor’s ‘Forty-Three Grounds for Deletion’

‘'First Night' scenes’ ‘Men and women in bed together’

‘Scenes laid in disorderly houses’

‘Materialization of the conventional figure of Christ’

‘Scenes tending to disparage public characters and institutions’

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Legislation

The Licensing Act, 2003:

• Cinemas require a licence

• the BBFC classifies on behalf of Local Authorities but they can:– ignore BBFC certificates– grant their own certificates– effectively ‘ban’ Films

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The Video Recordings Act, 1984

• ‘Video Nasties’

• Criminal Justice & Public Order Act, 1994

• the ‘Harm’ test

• Video Games

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Other Legislation…

• The Obscene Publications Act, 1959 & 1964• Cinematograph Films (Animals Act), 1937• Protection of Children Act, 1978• Race Relations Act, 1976• Human Rights Act, 1998

• Blasphemous Libel

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Accountability

• Guidelines: February 2005

• Public Consultation– Citizens Juries– Research– Questionnaires

• Research Projects

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Education

www.cbbfc.co.uk

www.sbbfc.co.uk

Launched June 2003

Launched May 2005

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sbbfc: the Student Guide

• History, Legislation, Classification

• ResourcesTimelinesCase StudiesResearchArticlesDownloadsNewsReading ListWeb Links

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sbbfc: for Teachers• Seminars• External Presentations• Downloads• BBFC posters• Feedback

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The Examiners

• 31 Full-Time/Part-Time Examiners• 8 Specialist Video Games Examiners• Cantonese/South Asian Language Examiners• 4 Senior Examiners• Various Backgrounds• Five-year Contracts• Four Teams

THE

CLASSIFICAT

ION

PROCESS

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Examining

Examiner Duties

• Viewing

• Examiners’ Meeting

• Team Projects

• Networking

• Correspondence

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The Examining Process

• Viewing in pairs (with exceptions)• Over 5.5 Hours per day• Random• Examiner’s Log• Post viewing discussion linked to:

– Guidelines– Policy– Legal Restrictions

• Decision Agreed upon…• Reports Filed• Reports Checked

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Examining: Issues

• Violence• Language• Sex• Sexual References• Sexual Violence• Drugs• Criminal Activity• Weapons• Imitable Techniques• Horror• Theme• Legal Issues

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Other Considerations

• the work – its story, style, treatment• the audience – address and appeal• the moral framework• artistic or educational merit• precedent• possible harm• potential level of offensiveness• context

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Other Outcomes

• Split Decision

• Confirmatory Viewing• Cuts

- legal reasons- policy- ‘category cuts’

• Rejection

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Cuts: Examples

• Imitable Techniques: violent, criminal, harmful

• Glamorisation of Offensive Weapons

• Sexual Violence: eroticised rape or sexual assault

• Illegal Material• Instruction in Drug Use

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Clips

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Questions

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Thank You…

www.sbbfc.co.uk