Textual analysis

Activity Four: Censorship Research Assignment

Which certificate would you like for your film and why?
Does this affect your target audience and who would be able to see it?
What restrictions will be in place for your film?
How will your title sequence reflect your films overall certificate?

We would like ours to be a 15 because our film would fit well into the criteria set out for a 15 certificated film. Since we have chosen this certificate and our target audience is people between the ages of 15 and 24 we think that everyone we've targeted can watch our film.

Due to the certificate our film will only be restricted from any sadistic or sexualised violence. We are permitted to show drugs but not encourage the use of it. No discriminating language can be used. Violence sex and nudity can be seen but dwelling on details is not allowed.

Our title sequence will be way below the boundary of our certificate as you don't see anything particularly violent occurring in the opening scenes, but it is hinted at that it might appear later in the film, and that was why we chose our certificate.

Censorship Research Assignment

Activity Three; BBFC Research

Antichrist

Q1. What certificate did the BBFC award the film? 18

Q2. What were the main concerns that censors initially had? The strong images of sexually activity were far too graphic to be shown at a 15 rating.

Q3. Did the film break any existing legal acts? If so, which? The film surprisingly didn't break any legal acts despite it being so graphic.

Q4. How did they remedy/fix any concerns the BBFC had prior to release? There were none, except for them being unsure to leave it at an 18 rating.

Q5. Was the film censored differently for the video/DVD? No.

Q6. Were there any complaints made about the film from the audience? Some people accused BBFC of not censoring it properly and asked for it to be publicly banned.

Censorship Research Assignment

Activity One; Initial Research Questions
Q1. Who censors films in the UK? BBFC
Q2. Who is responsible to ensuring that access is restricted to certain films? The cinema itself/the person on the box office.
Q3. What can happen if a cinema allows access to an 18 film to someone underage? The cinema risk being given a fine or loosing their license all together.
Q4. Why would some film companies ask specifically for an 18 certificate for their film? The contents of the film may be too graphic or vulgar for a 15 certificate.

Textual Analysis

Rather than completely redo a textual analysis sheet, i logged onto my blog from last year and saved the scanned in images of the one i did previously.

Opening Titles Job List

For inspiration on our own opening title sequence we wanted to see what order roles came in on an actual horror film and so I went onto YouTube and watched the opening sequence of 'Sixth Sense'

First we saw what production company had made the film, followed by the actors names and it went on as bullet-pointed below:

Casting by...

Costume design

Music by...

Production designer

Director of photography

Executive producer

Produced by...

Written and directed

When we make our title scene we'll bear this order in mind.

Censorship Research Assignment

Activity two

10 Horror films:

• Paranormal Activity-15
• The faculty -15
• The Ninth gate-15
• Underworld-18
• Final Destination-18
• Don't be afraid of the dark-15
• Alien-15
• Sorority row-15
• Scream-18
• The Wolfman-15

The most common certificate here is a 15

What the certificate allows:

Suitable only for 15 years and over

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.

Drugs

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

Horror

Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.

Imitable behaviour

Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.

Language

There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’). The strongest  terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.

Nudity

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

Sex

Sexual activity may be portrayed 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.

Theme

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

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 or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.