Research: Censorship - Mr.Smith

Research: Censorship - Mr.Smith 

Who is the BBFC and what is their role?

The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) are an organisation that determine not only the age rating of the films but they also determine wether scene(s) too graphic are cut or edited out from movies, if the director does not comply with this and doesn't cut the scene(s) the film will be banned and will not be shown in a cinema or released on DVD in the country. 

Why is the role of the BBFC important to the film industry? LOGO

The BBFC  is important to the film industry because they assist parents in monitoring what films show children and people under age which can effect them and stopping them from access to films, limiting content that viewers may find inappropriate, extremely disturbing or could influence them to harm themselves or others. Because they are to young to differentiate the real from the fake etc.

      
       What things get censored and why? (examples)

       The BBFC tend to censor things such as for the following reasons:

• Religious - Any religious content that people of that religion may find offensive or disturbing towards them and affect how the rest of society view them/ things that can slander a beliefs reputation in the eyes of others. One film that was banned for a very long time was 'The Excorcist'. This filmn was not only banned by the BBFC for being too graphic but the Catolic Church forbids believers to watch it because of how the film exploits on the idea of satan and demonic possession.
  

• Political/ propaganda - Any political representation in films that can cause propaganda and uproar amongst society and make the government look bad (riots/civil war and problems) a good example for this is the 1979 release of 'SCUM' starring  a much younger Ray Winstone. This film was banned for the way it portrayed UK prisons, prisoners but more importantly the gaurds and warden. Making them currupt characters that weren't much different from the convicts in the prison, in modern day society this wouldn't have been such a big day but the 1970s-1980s wasn't soo lenient. 

• Extremely graphic violence - Films with extreme amounts and unnecessary violent scenes that are followed by a pontless/weak narrative or dosen't have much to do with the storyline tends to be censored don to the fact its unneccessary. The only example of this I know would be 'The Human Centipede 2' The sequel to the first film makes you wonder how it was possible to get any worse but the storyline is based on a crazed fan of the obssessed centipede doctor and he begins to make his on human centipede, however the fact he isn't a doctor makes it so much more gory and disgusting and with an extreme amount of violence it has been banned in 50 countries. I have personally seen this film and it lives up to the statement that "It makes the prequel look like my little pony".  

• Rape/ child rape & Sex nudity and sexual violence - Films that contain child rape and rape in general are poorly looked upon and to most people would find it disturbing to view wether your an adult or a minor its just innapropriate and a film that contains both of these in it's content is 'A Serbian Film' This film has been banned in more countries than 'The Human Centipede 2'. UK included, A film based on a male pornstar who's career is fading into darkness and he is offered to shoot one final movie. However he is tricked and is forced into creating a "snuff movie" ( real life film real deaths and sex scenes.) it is packed with nudity rape both child and adult and is considered apart of the movie underworld.

All of these films are the worst offenders of their categories which so as a result they've been banned, however if a film has a minority of these scenes are like this the BBFC will ask the director to cut or edit the scene and the film may still be aloud for release. 

What is the difference between films being cut and films being banned?  Examples

If a film is cut any scenes that that the BBFC have deemed to be innappropriate and offensive they will not be permitted to be realased with the film the director must then cut this scene from the film or edit it the scene diluting its affectivness, inorder tio allow it to be aired or reach the cinema. Later on the director may realease an 'UNCUT' DVD version contain all the original scenes fro  the film giving the viewer the option to see what wasn't permitted upon release.

However if the film was banned it is completely unable to reach cinema because either there are too many unacceptable scenes or the director refuse to cut the scenes that the BBFC said too. If they fail too listen the film is banned and will not be in cinema or promoted for viewing.

Discuss for forna (for) and kemode (against) debate and the disscuss where you own opinions lie on this matter

Conclude with what you have learned about film regulation and what you need to consider for your own thrillers.