BBFC email

Dear Oliver,

Please send any student enquiries to our education team on: education@bbfc.co.uk

The BBFC Guidelines refer to media effects research on page 3: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/sites/default/files/attachments/BBFC%20Classification%20Guidelines%202014_0.pdf

You can find further information on violence in films in our student guide: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/student-guide/issues-introduction/violence

Kind regards,

Catherine

Catherine Anderson Press & Public Relations Officer 3 Soho Square London W1D 3HD  Tel. +44 (0) 207 440 3285 Mob. +44 (0) 7946 423 719 canderson@bbfc.co.uk

From:        oliver bullock <oliverbullock2@btinternet.com>
To:        "canderson@bbfc.co.uk" <canderson@bbfc.co.uk>
Date:        26/09/2014 09:07
Subject:        Documentary

---

Hello Miss Anderson,
My name is Oliver, I go to solihull sixth form college I am at A2 level studying media, drama an film, and at the moment we are doing an investigative documentary into whether or not violence in films affect the actions or mental state of teenagers and children within society, I was wondering if you would be able to give me a quote or any resources that would help with this.
Many thanks,
Oliver Bullock 

Student Risk Assessment

STUDENT RISK ASSESSMENT

Date 29/09/14		Location:  Media Studies				Task being assessed: Students filming/taking photos in college General Risk assessment				Student Name: Kierren Horne
HAZARDS			DEGREE OF RISK					CONTROL MEASURES		ACTION PLAN
Hazard Regardless of control measures			Persons at risk *1	Worst outcome *2		Probability *3	Risk Rating A-E	Existing control measures taken against the risk		What further control measures are required when and by whom
- Injury through using Practical Equipment-			St	Min		Ps		-Students do not Film Alone- -Students briefed on Safety-
-Attack due to equipment-			St	Maj		R		-Travel in Pairs- -Discuss with Teacher- -Student Guide to Filming-
-Risk of Travel Attack-			St	Maj		R		-Travel in Pairs- -Discuss with Teacher- -Student Guide to Filming-
*1 Sf = staff St = students Cr = contractors Cl = cleaners V = visitors	D = people with disabilities X = young/inexperienced L = lone workers W = women of child-bearing age				*2  This is without control measures F = fatal Maj = major injury or permanent disability Min = minor injury NR = non-reportable				*3  This is with control measures in place Fr = frequent/likely/could occur repeatedly/expected Pr = probable/not surprised/might occur often Ps = possible/could occur sometime R = remote/unlikely but conceivable U = unlikely/improbable such that likelihood is almost zero

HMV/CEX staff - Questions

1) Do you feel the BBFC age ratings on films have became more lenient over time? if so, 2 specific examples (Where possible).

2) Do you believe that violent films can have a negative impact on the minds of younger ages. E.g. 13-17?

3) If you were to choose a top 3 list of films, based on the level of violence used, what would they be and do you feel these films have suitable Age Ratings?

4) What is your policy on the ID'ing customers? where and when is it used?

5) What is the goriest film that you would willingly watch? (Preferably asked to all staff)

Secondary research

State of development- children are vulnerable to what they see as they are still building their whew of the world.

External influences- by adolescence brain development is heavily governed by external influences. The brain subconsciously remembers things.

Risk factors- violence in households, movies, tv or video games. Does not mean they will automatically become violent. However, they will not turn to violence as quickly if children have a loving, nurturing family and are educated on the use of violence within the real world.

Case Study - Alien

In 1979, Ridley Scott directed the widely known cult classic "Alien". In modern days this film would be regarded as relatively mild, although upon release there was a level of controversy over considered age ratings. British distributors urged the BBFC to grant the movie an "AA" which today would be equivelant to a fairly mild 15. Yet upon further consideration the BBFC rated "Alien" an "X" due to the reasoning that other future films of the same level of violence would also have to be regarded as an "AA" diminishing the name of the BBFC.

Formal proposal

In this documentary we will be answering the question; "Does violence in film affect the actions and mental states of teens and children within society?". We will answer this question through vox pops, expert interviews, archive footage and case studies, we will use a voice over narrator, we will shoot vox pops on college premises and go for experts both in college and over email. We have a target audience of parents and it will be on channel 4 at 10 o'clock at night as it will contain mild and cut examples of violence, we will make this documentary in the style of dispatches.

Analysis of the affect on teens of violent media

Research Links

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0107260
- Investigation into violence in films affecting teens and children

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/what-classification/digital-age-ratings
-information on age ratings

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/sites/default/files/attachments/Alien-Final.pdf
-Alien Rating

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/case-studies/braindead
-Braindead rating

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24903214 - Gun Violence

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2296887/Killer-Matthew-Tinling-copied-Saw-horror-film-slicing-victims-spinal-cord-make-reveal-PIN.html - Real saw death

http://scienceblogs.com/cognitivedaily/2006/02/08/watching-violent-movies-does-t/ - how violence affects children.

Topic Research

The graph shows two types of people (AG) those who feel they are accepted into society and are shown by the red line, the blue line (NA) resembles those who feel they are rejcted or alienated by society, this is taken from an investigation into weher violent films affect everyone or just certain people. There were 50 males between 18 and 25 and they were asked certain questions bu only one mattered (the alienated or accepted question). As you can see people who felt they were accepted by society seemed to calm down whilst watching a 50-minute clip from a violent film as shown by their blood pressure which was measured over the viewing period, now when the group who felt they were alienated by society watched the clip their blood pressure rose, so this shows that they could possibly want to go out and commit violent act, but it could also show that they were just more involved in the film. This information was collected off of: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0107260

Target Audience - Questionnaire

On first consideration, our target audience is currently split into two, the first is hoped to be parents of young children, just before reaching teenage years. The second - Teenagers concerned and curious with what violence in films could be doing to them. We will probably reconsider our target audience after sending out questionnaires to various ages to find out the knowledge of the subject. The first  questionnaire below is intended for parents: 


Violence in Films:
Name............................                                              Age..........

1)What age is your child/children?

............................................................................................................

2)What age rating would you allow your child to watch? (e.g. PG)

............................................................................................................

3)Do you personally, watch Violent films, if so, how often?

............................................................................................................

4)Do you believe anything should be changed in terms of modern age ratings?

............................................................................................................

5)To what extent do you believe Violence is a bad influence on children?

Not at all                                                                     Large influence
   1       2        3         4         5         6         7         8        9        10

6) Do you, as an adult, ever feel violent or overly-aggressive after watching a violent film? Yes or No?

................

This second questionnaire, is intended for people still within the education system.


Violence in Films:
Name..........................                                                 Age............

1)On average, what age rated film do you watch more regularly?

............................................................................................................

2)What is the most violent film you would say you've seen?

............................................................................................................

3) What is the highest Age rated film you've seen? (e.g. PG, 12, 15, 18, R18)

............................................................................................................

4) How easy do you find it to purchase films above your age? please circle:

Easy                                                                                   Impossible
   1       2        3         4         5         6         7         8        9        10


5) What do you feel is the level of violence you could happily watch in a film? Please circle:

None                                                                                    Extreme
   1       2        3         4         5         6         7         8        9        10

6) Finally, please list 5 films that come to mind at the word "Violence" - 

                        1)...............................................

                        2)...............................................

                        3)...............................................

                        4)...............................................

                        5)...............................................

BBFC Digital Age Ratings

                         



In films, age ratings are nearly always included, advising viewers who are interested in a film if it's suitable for them or their families:

A "U" on a film suggests the film is "Universal" and suitable for any age group and is often classed as a "Children's movie". The next rating is a PG, or "Parental Guidance" which on the BBFC website, is said to not contain any theme unsuitable for a child 8 or above, it's main purpose is to introduce children to the impact of bereavement, bullying or Racism.

Both 12A and 12 are rather similar, a 12A is primarily similar to a regular PG in the sense that a child below 12 must attend with an adult to view. Whereas a regular 12 is viewable without an adult without any adult present.  Both 15 and 18 follow the same logic as the 12 rating simply viewable at that specified age.

The final age restriction known as R18 is generally known to be far worse than the average 18  rated film,  generally consisting of a sexual theme, restricted from the general public. Only available in licensed sex shops or mail order.

Although the BBFC film ratings make parents aware of what's suitable, once a child hits early teens it's become relatively easy to obtain a higher rated movie, almost making film rating Pointless, obsolete and unnecessary.