INDUSTRY REGULATIONS

Technical Requirements

All work submitted to the BBFC for classification should be the full, final edit in the correct screen ration with the final sound mix. However, the only exception for this is for Advice Viewings. Advice viewings is where a work can be watched before the final version is assembled so that the company can obtain advice and make final adjustments. All moving footage must be classified including multiple versions of a feature for example, directors cut, audio commentary etc and any bonus content or moving menus that will form part of a final product. The only exception to this is where a distributer considers footage to be exempt.

Theatrical Releases (trailers)

Trailers being released only on 35mm must be submitted on 35mm. Trailers that are only being shown in cinemas, on DVD or other video

media such as BetaSP, DigiBeta and HDCam must be submitted to us on a DVD struck from the theatrical master

Trailers for any other type of digital exhibition must be submitted as a JPEG 2000 wrapped in a DCI-compliant interoperable 2K Digital Cinema Package (DCP) mastered at 24 Fps for 2D and 48 Fps for 3D.

Trailers can be submitted on a USB memory stick or on a disc. USB hard drives/memory sticks/discs, along with any KDM (key) and/or username needed to play them.

DCP film trailers may be made available for the BBFC to download from an FTP (file transfer protocol) server.

Advertisements can also be submitted as mp4 files as long as they are less than 100mb in size.

All reels should have head and tail production leaders with the title and the reel number on and they should be securely attached to the main body of the reel. All reels should have a plastic core in the center.

Credentials for a 15/18 certified film

Credentials for a 15/18 certified film

Review

For my film trailer, I’m going to be focussing on making the age rating around 15 – 18 as this is the conventional classification for a typical thriller trailer. This is because there will be an element of violence and horror in some areas of the trailer, and also maybe a use of strong language. I need to ensure that I meet the technical requirements for the BBFC and also what they expect with theatrical releases.