Research Into Editing Styles - Miss Georgiou

Chloe Eustace

Research into Editing Styles

Introduction:

   A variety of editing techniques are used within thriller films to create tension, suspicion, shock, surprise and suspense, the variety of shots help the audience to understand whats happening and helps the audience react to the moment. If there was no editing styles within a film then the all the different shots would not have been moulded together which can and would make the film very boring and wouldn't keep the audiences attention. The different editing styles help to create tension in a film and make the audience aware of what is going on.

Thriller Scene - Saw - Reverse Bear Trap Scene

Editing Style 1 -  Straight Cut

There was a straight cut used within this sequence when they were in a room and the woman was being pressured into speaking and the jump from there to the woman in the room on her own. This shows the change in location and normally the jump to a different scene, the circumstances change suddenly to the audience because when she was being interrogated in the room it seems more normal until there is a change in location where she is then tied up and having to try to escape. The situation has changed and has suddenly become more tense as she is trying to escape. This has then made the audiences feelings change for the character because her situation has change and the audience may then feel more sorry for her and want to know what the background story keeping there attention. This is conventional to a thriller film because a typical thriller film will include suspense of the story, shock for the audience and surprise for the audience. This can be conventional to a thriller because actually by doing this it is highlighting that within the scene there is a female victim that is struggling and trying to get away.

Editing Style 2 - Timing Shot

The pace of the shot changes, either because the moment has been slowed or because the moment has been sped up. In this scene there is a timing shot when character who is sitting on the chair tries to move and because she is panicked the editing style reflects the panic in her as it picks up and is fast as the camera pans the room. This is effective because as it has been sped up it helps the audience to understand that she is panicked and wants to get out and so the audience get this and feel sorry for her. This is conventional to a thriller film because the victim is female which they normally are as she is looking vulnerable and stuck in the situation so the audience feel sorry for her.

Editing Style 3 -  Jump Cut

There is a Jump Cut when the scene suddenly focus' on the TV in the room that she is tied up in and then how it focus' back on her as well. It focus' on the TV and then jumps back to her because the audience will hear the TV behind her and then see her facial expressions as well and how she is reacting. This is effective because the scene jumps from one moment to another in the same scene. This makes the audience then feel sorry for her because in this scene she is tied up and forced to stay still and then the Television is telling her what to do. The audience then feel that she might not escape and they are completely aware of whats going on then whilst being able to see the characters facial expressions. This editing style is conventional to a thriller because this shows the jumps between a bad moment or tensions moment and makes the audience fully awarer of whats going on and suspicious of what might happen next.

Conclusion 

In conclusion the research that I have conducted into editing styles of a conventional thriller film will help me to decide what shots I will use in my scene. Editing Styles that I will consider when it comes to my thriller sequence is a Jump cut because it allows the audience to react to whats happening as they can see more than one facial expression within the scene and more than on thing that's happening within the scene. Another Editing Style that I may use is slow editing as this creates a number of effects such as tension because the character may be moving slowly as well as shock and surprise when something shocking happens at the end of the scene or within the scene. A final editing style that I might consider using is a straight cut where there is a change in location which can be brief to create suspense as to whats going to happen next or where it changes location quickly to create and give more effect of the scene to the audience.

Research into Sound - Miss Miller

Chloe Eustace

Research into Sound

Introduction:

Sound is used within films to create an understanding for the audience and to create more meaning about the characters and emotions. If sound was not used within films then it would not keep the audiences attention and they would probably get very bored of the film. The story of a thriller film with the conventions such as victim and villains as well as weapons and darkness would not be easy to understand without sound. Even dialogue counts as sound and without this the idea of the film would not be easy to keep up with and the audience would not understand the overall story line. Sound is used to create a response from the audience and engage them in what they are watching in order to help them understand the film well and want to continue watching it.

Chosen Film Scene - Scream 2

Diegetic Sound 

   

There is Diegetic sound numerous times within the film scene. Diegetic sound is the sound that is part of the film e.g. dialogue, music from the radio or explosions normally. There is Diegetic sound at the beginning of the scene where she is shouting at the man. This shows the state of panic that she is in and the fact that she is socked and upset that this has happened makes the audience think and feel the same thing. This is conventional to a thriller film because there is a female victim who is the one that is shouting and screaming which leads the audience to believe that she is the main victim of the scene. The sound of the shouting makes the audience feel sorry for the character because she is stressed and afraid that he is going to do something stupid.
  
There is also Diegetic sound when she is being followed around the room and this shows again that she is in a state of panic and needs help. The audience may feel panicked for her because the sound of rushed breathing can make the audience feel bad for her having to run and be chased. There is only the sound of her breathing that can be heard as she is moving around the room running away from the masked man, this creates tension for the audience as they want to know if she will survive or not. This is again conventional to a thriller film because again there is the female victim that is being followed and chased not the man and the masked man has a knife which is conventional to a thriller representing the fact that someone within the scene is probably going to die.

 Another example of diegetic sound within this scene is the use of the man running up the stairs. This creates the effect of panic and rush for the audience and they have a hope that he will be okay. The idea of him running up the stairs shows that he is trying to run from the masked man. It is conventional to a thriller film because the masked man has a knife (weapon) which signifies that someone is going to die and when he runs up the stairs it is dark and looks abandoned therefore this is conventional to a thriller however the fact that the victim that is being chased is a man and normally conventional to a thriller it is a female victim being chased. At this moment it then may cause the audience to be confused and they may not feel as sorry for a man that is being chased or followed because they are not as vulnerable. This scene is also conventional to a thriller because thriller generally have a 'good guy' and a 'bad guy' which shows that there is a victim and a villain in this scene the victim is the man and gale and the villain is the masked man.

Non - Diegetic Sound

  
 An example of non-diegetic sound within this scene is the backing tracks and tense music that is put into the film within the editing stage. Within the scene the tense music when gales was running up the corridor was non-diegetic sound because it would not have been part of the scene. When the scene is filmed she would have run up the corridor and there would have been no tension created for the audience or for the rest of the scene. The music gets faster and paces quicker, the faster she is running the quicker the music goes which creates tension and suspense for the audience as the audience feel sorry for her running and wouldn't want to be in her position as she is running fast and trying to get away from the masked man. This is conventional to a thriller film because again she is the female victim that the scene is concentrating on being chased and there is the typical villain and victim but there is also the fact that within the setting it is an abandoned corridor and seems to be an abandoned building which creates suspense for the audience because they know that nobody is going to come out and help her and that she is on her own being chased so it gets rid of any hope that the audience may have that she is going to be helped.

On Screen Sound  

There is on screen sound used within this scene when they are in the cinema room because there is sound coming from the television. This is on screen sound within the scene because it is sound coming from somewhere else in the same room that can be seen. This has effect on the audience because they know that it is on the screen and can actually hear where it is coming from whilst it still makes sense to the scene. This is conventional to a thriller film because the cinema is that they are in and where the TV that is playing is abandoned and they are the only two in there. This first of all raises suspicion for the audience as they are the only two people in there and the audience wonders why they are in there and secondly the fact that they are the only two in the room watching this TV creates tension as it is aimed at them.

Another example of on screen sound is when the masked man is slicing the knife through the air in an attempt to stab Gale because the audience can hear the slice of the knife and can see where the sound is coming from, and it fits within the scene. This could also be Diegetic sound because the knife sound is in the scene. This is conventional to a thriller film because there is always a weapon used in a thriller film. This can make the audience feel tense and make them feel sorry for Gale as she is trying to escape the man in the mask.

Silence

There is Silence used within this scene of the film before the man gets stabbed as she is in a sound proof room and the man is being stabbed by the masked man. This silence creates effect for the audience because they feel like the moment may be over briefly for only 5 seconds or so and so the audience feels a slight twinge of relief and then something bad obviously happens and so he gets stabbed. This is conventional to a thriller film because there is a female victim that  was chased however in this case it is a man that is stabbed which is not typically conventional to a thriller.  

Conclusion 
  
In conclusion there is a variety of sound options that are needed within a thriller film in order to make them interesting and inviting and to make the audience want to continue or actually want to watch the film. This research into sound has helped me to understand that if there was no sound in a film then it wouldn't work very well and it would be very difficult to follow or understand a film as well as the fact that certain parts of a film wouldn't be understandable. The sound is the part of a film that creates most of the shock, suspense and surprise, if there is no sound then you may not feel surprise or shock and there would probably not be any tension for the audience. Occasionally within a film they may not be a some sound at all there may just be literal silence which in this instance can create tension when sandwiched in between loud sounds. These silences are more like a pause and generally don't last any more than 20 seconds.  This research has helped me to understand what sounds to use within my own thriller sequence to make it as effective as possible. For example within my own thriller sequence I will most likely use Diegetic sound as this is sound that is part of the scene most commonly dialogue and what the characters are talking about. Also I am most likely to use non-diegetic sound of adding in some tense music in the background because this makes the scenes more tense for the audience and helps them to engage with the film. Other sounds that I would like to use is silence because this can create some really good effect because silence creates tension which can draw in an audience and let them know whats happening.

Research into Cinematography - Miss Miller

Chloe Eustace

Research into Cinematography 

Introduction: 

Cinematography is the different camera shots and camera angles that are used in a thriller film in order to create tension, suspense and excitement to an audience. Camera shots and angles are used because otherwise if the camera was always straight ahead then there would be certain parts of scenes in the film that is not seen or just looked at and there would be no great effect like when the camera focus' and zooms in it creates effects and helps the audience to understand that this is the main character and helps the audience to see what s happening. If there was no camera shots or angles then the scenes would probably loose there effect and it may not draw the audience in.

Chosen Film Scene: Saw 2 - Needle Scene



Technique 1 - Two Shot

Two shots are when there is two people that are established in the shot and featured in the frame. In this scene there is the two characters of whom one is looking at the other and the other is looking down at the floor. A two shot can establish the power that the characters may have such as the front man may have more power over the character behind and can help establish how the protagonist of the film may be. A two shot allows the audience to see two characters and the chemistry between them and get to know the characters a better as there is only two characters and they can see the facial expressions of the characters more clearly and really get to know about them characters and how its relevant to the scene. In this scene these two characters don't really have any chemistry at all as they are both concerned about whats going to happen to the woman in the needle pit. The boy behind actually looks disgusted and the other man is looking down because he doesn't want to see whats happening in the room so he is looking away.  The two shot may help the audience feel for the characters in this seen as they are both probably feeling ashamed and sick at what is happening in the scene. This makes the scene conventional to a thriller because they are in an abandoned room with dark yellow grotty wall that don't give the audience a good feel about the situation they are in and they are the victims of whom are being watched by the 'villan' this creates a 'good guy' - 'bad guy' situation.


Technique 2 - Panning


Panning is a shot that has the camera to moving back and forth from side to side in sync following the character or characters in what they are doing. In this scene the character is pacing back and forth because in the room they have just found out that they are going to have to hunt for a key within a pit of needles. The character is pacing back and forth around the room because he is scared and panicked. Panning can really give the audience a sense of panic for the character because they are clearly scared that they can't stay still. The audience feel that there is a sense of stress or tension because the camera is following the character so the audience is following the character. This means that panning helps relate to the conventions of a thriller because there is the sense of panic which can create tension for the audience as they don't know whats going to happen next. 




Technique 3 - Zooming In

 Zooming is when the camera moves in on a specific object, in this scene it was the needles in the needle pit that was zoomed in on quickly because they came out of nowhere for the characters and was an unexpected show for the audience.  Zooming in creates importance on the needles because they were unexpected and it then has the audiences focus that this is going to be the main part of this scene and makes the audience wonder what is going to happen next. Zooming in tends to lead to an extreme close up of the image to highlight its importance even more so in the scene, which gives the audience in some cases dramatic irony as sometimes the audience will see an important object before the characters. In this case the audience saw the needles in the pit as the characters were removing the lid.  In this scene the needles are zoomed in on and then a close up of the needles in the pit. The audience then can feel sorry for the characters because they automatically get the sense that these are a weapon and show them that something bad may happen in relation to whats happening in this scene. This is conventional to a thriller film because the needles are essentially weapons and this then makes the audience feel tense as they now know that something bad is going to happen. 

Technique 4 - Shallow Focus

                                                          
The technique of shallow focus is used to show the main subject in full focus this of which can be an object that is important or a main character that is going to speak and needs to be focused on. In this case the man at the front of the shot and the rest of the shot is blurry including the woman that is just behind him (the background). This is done so that it highlights the man, and so that he is in full focus in order for the audience to know that he has been highlighted and that he is important and what he is doing in the scene. The shallow focus also helps the audience to get to know the character on a bit more of a personal view by seeing his facial expressions and body language much more clearly. The background is blurry and makes the audience attention be brought forward to the man. This makes the audience feel the way that the character is feeling and they know that from his body language that if he is tense about whats going to happen next they should feel sorry or be concerned of whats going to happen next as well. This is conventional to a thriller as there is the tension and suspicion of what is going to happen next and grips the audience with the setting and the characters.

Technique 5 - Mid Shot

Mid shots are where the camera frames the character from the waist upwards. Meaning that the audience gets a good look at the body, costume and the way that they are positioned. This can help the audience to understand the character and what may possibly be wrong in the scene. This can really show the audience the facial expressions of the character and can help them to relate to the emotion in the scene at that given moment. In this scene the man is shot from the waist up showing his surprise at what he is seeing in this instance it is the exact moment where the lid is removed from over the pit and the needles can be seen. Whilst this moment was shocking for the audience because they didn't expect it, it was also shocking for its character which can be seen by the camera shot. By the audience seeing that that character is surprised it can make them feel the same feeling and help the audience to connect to the character. This relates and has conventions of a thriller because there is shock and suspense.

Conclusion 

In conclusion there are a number of different camera positions and techniques that can be used but the main one however is the use of Handheld which I a most likely to use within my thriller because it creates the sense of drama and urgency because the camera is literally following along with the characters and when they move. There are a number of camera angles and shots that I would use within my thriller sequence in order to create suspense,and shock which is conventional to a thriller. Some that I would consider using include panning as this is the camera following the characters and usually the protagonist, which creates effect for the audience that what they are doing is important. As well as zooming in because this creates the Suspence of this character is important you need to look at there facial expressions and what is going on and the fact that they are important.

Research into Mis-en-Scene - Miss Georgiou

Chloe Eustace

Research into Mise-en-Scene

Introduction:

  
The purpose of having Mise-en-Scene within a thriller sequence or any film sequence is important so that there is a location, props, costume, hair and make up and the characters positioning. These are important because without these in a thriller sequence it wouldn't work and wouldn't attract the audiences attention, A typical thriller includes scenes that are a build up of shock, surprise and tension and excitement as its main elements. A thriller provides the sudden rush of emotions, excitement and it keeps the audience on "the keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Mise-en-Scene is important within a thriller film because they are the 5 main things that are needed to make a good film, not just a thriller film but any thriller film, that helps create shock, surprise and suspense for the audience.

Mis-en-scene consists of 5 main elements:
- Setting and Iconography - Plays an important part in the film playing not just the background
- Costume, Hair and Make up - Act as an instant indicator to us of a characters personally it tells us whether the film is in the present. 
- Facial Expressions and Body Language - Provide an indicator of how someone is feeling, body language shows the relationship between one or more people. 
- Lighting and Colour - There are two types of lighting 1) Low key lighting - Created by using dark shadows, produces sharp contrasts of light and dark areas. 2) High Key lighting - More filler lights are used. Lighting is natural and realistic to our eyes. Produces brightly it lit sets. 
- Positioning of characters/objects within a frame - Characters within a frame can relate to how important the character is to the scene.

  
Chosen Film Scene: 'American Psycho' -  Chainsaw Scene

Setting and Iconography - 

The Chainsaw that is seen when Patrick runs out of the bedroom is Iconography (a prop) within this scene and this creates excitement and tension for the audience as this draws them in and makes them interested. This is as he chases her with the chainsaw, down the hallway and through the building. The prop, a chainsaw, is a typical convention of a thriller and this does in turn make the audience feel suspicious of the man with the chainsaw and his motives. 

The chainsaw is conventional of a thriller because it is a weapon and weapons are typically seen in thriller films as the item that is used to murder the victim. If there were no props within a thriller film then there would be no destruction or tensious moments for the audience to be "on the edge of their seats'" meaning that they would probably not want to watch the film. as it wouldn't engage them as much and they ay not be able to easily build a relationship with the characters keeping them interested. 

The use of Patrick and the chainsaw is dramatic irony because the audience assumes that from the setting he has a weapon. The setting is in an apartment of his but as she runs she finds another room which has writing on the wall and the lights flicker, this room builds up suspense for the audience because they then want to know what is going to happen to her. The abandoned room in the apartment is a typical convention to a thriller also because the room is dark and abandoned. This is useful and good within a thriller because this draws the audiences attention to the plot and makes them want to find out why the room is abandoned and what the murderer is going to do next. The use of the prop or any prop within a scene allows the audience to build a relationship with the characters making them want to watch the film, the use of a prop engages the audience as they get excited that something may be about to happen and keeps there attention.


There is another bit in the scene which shows the Mise - en - Scene of the setting. The woman has run out of the bedroom and walked into an abandoned room in the apartment. The fact that the room is abandoned leads the audience to feel that something bad is going to happen. It leaves the audience on the 'edge of their seats' and makes them wonder what the reason for the room is especially when their is bodies everywhere. The setting helps with the convention of a thriller film because there is a room that had a shut door which leads the audience to wonder why it was closed until she had opened it. The fact that there is blood on the wall is conventional to a thriller film because blood is representative of death and in almost every thriller film someone dies or gets murdered.



Costume, Hair and Make Up - 

  
The fact that she has little clothing on lets the audience know that she is vulnerable and that she is now probably going to be the one to die. The audience may also feel that she is vulnerable because she has just been manipulated into having sex with this man and then he tries to kill her. They audience may feel sorry for her character at this point because she is vulnerable she seems like she is an easy target for him to kill.  Patrick doesn't have any clothes on at all which you would think would make him the most vulnerable but actually he is the one with the power mainly because he is the one with the weapon. The hair in the scene looks scruffy and muffled up which could indicate that the characters are in a rush or really not organised and prepared for this. Especially the woman because she did not expect to be running up the corridors and Patrick wasn't prepared to run after her, he may have assumed that he would kill her in the bed too. This leads to the sense of urgency for the audience and they feel like there is a real rush to keep up with the scene as well as the urgency indicating to the audience excitement and thrill. This lack of clothing leads to a convention of a thriller because the woman is the victim that is being chased and the lack of clothing shows that she is vulnerable to the audience. Also this is conventional to a thriller because there is always someone in a thriller film that has been manipulated into doing something and then there being consequences for the character.
  

Facial Expressions and Body Language - 

   

   The facial expressions in scenes show how the characters are feeling this in turn helps the audience decide how they should feel about the particular scene and whats happening. In this case the woman has an expression of panic and her body language is telling that she is afraid and wants to run away. Patrick in the scene excited and happy even though he is killing someone the fact that he is chasing her gives him some kind of rush. The audience may feel for the woman because she is the victim and she looks really innocent, so they can feel sorry for her and not actually want her to die. The idea that the female is running away from Patrick shows a typical convention of a thriller because she is the vulnerable woman and there is normally the woman as the victim. Another convention of a Thriller with the body language shows that there is always someone who is scared or in panic in a thriller film either because they are being chased or because they are they are plotting ways to murder someone.  

Lighting and Colour - 

   
The lighting in this scene is dark at the beginning of the scene which is Low key lighting because there is only the natural lighting from the window into the room. This makes the audience feel tense, when the main character kills one of the girls in the bed the other girl moves and runs through the apartment building which is dark, this creates tension to the audience as she is running in the dark will she get away. As she runs down the stairs the lighting is flickering slightly building up the suspension for the audience as she is panicking. This is a typical convention of a thriller because there tends to be dark rooms or a murder tends to happen in the dark because then they can hide the evidence better. However this is conventional also because lighting creates tension and panic for the audience as they realise that because it is dark something bad may happen. The audience will feel tense for the characters and the darkness can make the shock within a scene more real for the audience, this in turn keeps there attention in whats going on within the scene.

Positioning of Characters and Objects - 

The positioning of the characters in the part of the scene where Patrick is at the top of the stairs and she is running down the star is shows that the two characters are distant. This is mainly because Patrick is trying to kill her. In this case he is at the top of the stairs and she is at the bottom which is an indication that he is in charge as he is higher up the building and she is lower down. Patrick in this case has the power over the scene while the woman is vulnerable. When he drops the chainsaw down the stairs and she dies the characters are still distant because he does not go down the stairs he walks away. This has created tension for the audience because they don't know who or what he is going to kill next and makes the audience want to continue watching. This links to the typical conventions of a thriller because the protagonist is chasing the victim who is in fact a female which there tends to be in most thriller films leaving the audience feeling sorry for the character and leave them wanting them to not be hurt or murdered. 

Conclusion:

In Conclusion the research that I have conducted on Mise-en-Scene will help me when planning my own thriller because I will know to include the 5 most important things of a thriller film.  Including Costume, Iconography, character positioning with each other and facial expressions and know how to include the most effective light. Mise -en-scene is important to a thriller because the 5 main elements are important other wise the thriller would not be or have any tension or suspense. Sound is important through mise-en-scene because otherwise the film would not make sense and you would not understand necessarily whats going on. As is Iconography and setting is important to  a thriller because otherwise if there was no props then the weapons would not be able to be used and would make the film very boring as there would just be violence through physical. For example if there was no knives used in a film to kill someone then the tension goes and it would take a lot longer to kill someone. The setting is important otherwise there would be no interest for the audience because you wouldn't be interested really in a film where there is a murder in a sunny day park, there would be no tension or suspense created. As is facial expressions and body language which is very important because otherwise the audience wouldn't know how the characters are feeling and what they are going to do next within the film.

The sorts of Mise-en-scene that I can include in my thriller is dark and light settings and scenarios as well as add in effective props and costumes to fit the scene. Other things that can be included from mise-en-scene for my thriller sequence is iconography as this creates suspension, surprise and tension for the audience, Also there is the light and darkeness like adding in to the scene things like shadows because this also makes the audience tense and feel for the characters.  As well as these things in thriller being Mis - en - scene they are also effective and typical conventions of a thriller like props and darkness.

Research into the BBFC - Miss Miller

Chloe Eustace

Research into the BBFC

BBFC

The BBFC stands for British Board of Film Classification. This is a company that is very experienced in making a decision as to what audience a film to be released is suitable for. The aim of this is to make the audience aware if the film can or should be deemed appropriate. This helps to protect the public, especially children from content that might produce potential risks, such as threat or the infrequent copying of violent behaviour. Films are split into 6 different categories 'U, PG, 12A, 12, 15 and 18' and there is a specific requirement that the content in each film needs to pass in order to get the rating that they want. Every director for a film will have an outlook on what audience they want there film to be so the way that they produce there content is considered when choosing an age classification. The BBFC are in control of what age group each film can come under. The BBFC is not jut in control of the ages of cinema film they can control DVD, Bluray, Video Games and Film Trailers and if they are suitable for all audiences. 

 (Picture Reference Google)

U

The letter ‘U’ (Universal) on a film means that the film is suitable for all, so any child of any age can see that film. There is almost nothing with that film that is deemed unsuitable for children, therefore no violence or sexual references/content is or can be included. The BBFC states that for a film to classify as a 'U' there can not be any violent behaviour that young children can copy, as well as there being no emphasis on any easily accessible weapons e.g. knives, guns, swords etc... As well as this violence must be very mild and should not cause any upset or anxiety to those over the age of 4.  

An example of a film that has an age certificate of ‘U’ is Despicable Me 2 (2013). This is certified a ‘U’ because there is no content within the film that is unsuitable for children specifically under the age of 8. Within this film there is two main characters that are villains and they try to outdo each other within the film with villain like things. During all this of which there is no use of weapons that could be used on a day to day basis. The protagonist through the film develops some feelings and adopts three small children who change his mind on the whole villain thing and he becomes the bigger man. In turn this means that at the end of the film the man that is still a villain gets his comeuppance and doesn't win. This film is suitable for all, therefore anyone who wants to watch it including children can. This film contains very mild scary scenes of violence. The script includes some rude words however nothing that would influence children. There is no sexual content other than the exception of kissing and a wedding. There is no Alcohol or drug use therefore this film is awarded a ‘U’ certificate. The poster for this film does not contain any threat or potentially dangerous violence.

(Picture Reference Google)

PG

PG (Parental Guidance), means that the recommendation is for parents to watch this film with children or possibly see the film  beforehand so that parents are aware of what content is in it, this means that all ages are permitted but certain scenes may not be suitable for young children. The film should not disturb or worry children aged 8 or over, therefore meaning that it is advised that those younger than 8 are accompanied by an adult. The PG film may contain mild language, very mild sex/drugs references. They may contain moderated violence.

An example of a film that has a Certificate ‘PG’ is  Frozen (2013). This has an age certificate of ‘PG’ because anyone can watch this film including children but parents are recommended that those under the age of 8 should watch the film with an adult.. In this film there is minimal sexual references or sexual activity with the exception of one kiss and two characters falling on top of each other by accident. The film is based around the idea of love and trying to get that in order to undo the past. Within the film there are playful characters such as a snowman and reindeer that can talk and therefore interact with a child audience. This films very friendly to children with the inclusion of happy easy songs that are not inappropriate for the audience that can be easily sang along with. There is no foul language however it does contain mild threat and/or a small amount of violence. There is small amounts of violence such as the fact that there is bullying, and weapons such as arrows, and swords, which are not weapons that can be accessed on a day to day basis so should not influence children directly. There are drinks served at a social event however there is no obvious reference to this being alcohol and there is no drug use.              (Picture Reference Google)

12A

This category applies within the cinema only and only with releases of film since 2002. The reasoning for the introduction of 12A films in 2002 is because some films did not pass the classifications in order to be a PG and so would have then been rated a 12. People thought that this was unfair because especially in big branded films that have been raged about for a long time like 'Spiderman' children will want to see it. Which is why in 2002 the film 'Spiderman' was the first film to come under the classification 12A. Films within this category are considered to be unsuitable for young children. It is recommended that children under the age of 12 do not watch the film however they can and may see the film if they are accompanied by an adult. Films within this category can contain mature themes, discrimination, soft drugs, infrequent strong language and moderate violence, sex references and nudity. Sexual violence/activity may be briefly and discreetly be portrayed.

 An example of a 12A film is The Hunger Games Catching Fire (2013) which means that it was released in the cinema as a film that can be viewed by children under 12 with parent accompaniment. This film includes characters going into a gaming arena where there is a variety of weapons that are used in order to kill each other in the bid to survive. The characters throughout are close and many characters within the film do die. This film was awarded a ‘12A’ because it contains moderate violence and threat as well as infrequent strong language. It has intense sequences of violence and action, some frightening images and suggestive situation language.  Characters remove dead animals and forced to attend ceremony’s with soldiers etc… There is also reference to the fact that there is people with in the arena that are dying and that is made very clear. Sexual content is minimal as characters kiss on several occasions, and a female character undresses and the back of her body is seen. The script contains some bad language however it is very minimal. There is Alcohol used because one of the main characters is an alcoholic, and they are given medical injections to relieve pain and cause sleep. This means that this film meets the BFFC’s criteria of 12A in cinema and was awarded a ’12’ for DVD release. (Picture Reference Google)

12

It is only films that are allowed for 12 years and up. The content of 12 is the same as the 12A, they are only different if there is too much of the content explained. Films within this category can contain mature themes, discrimination, soft drugs, infrequent strong language and moderate violence, sex references and nudity. Sexual violence activity may be briefly and discreetly be portrayed.

An example of a film that was awarded ‘12’ was Gravity (2013). This film was awarded a ‘12’ because it contains sustained moderate threat, disturbing images and strong language. Within this film is violence of intense scenes of accidents in space including explosions, space debris, damage and corpses. Characters within the film experience distress and impending death. There is some brief strong language and a number of slang words and curses. There is limited Alcohol use when a character takes a swig of vodka. The requirements of this film being rated a ‘12’ is that there is some inappropriate content however it is the same criteria also of a ‘12A’. (Picture Reference Google)

15

These films are suitable for only people that are aged 15 and over. Films in this category can contain many adult themes such as mental illnesses, drug problems, alcohol issues or references to death. There can be hard drugs used within 15 films or reference to drug problems, regular use of bad language such as swear words and sexual words and limited use of very strong language. Strong violence including fights, and war as well as explosions can be shown and sex references as well as nudity without graphic detail can be portrayed to a 15 audience. Sexual activity may be portrayed but without any strong detail. Sexual violence may be shown if discreet and justified by context.

An example of a certificate rated ‘15’ film is Silver Linings Playbook (2012), this was rated a ‘15’ because there is violence, including punching numerous times, a lot of physical fighting and wrestling. Within this film there is two mentally Ill characters and these are the protagonists of the film, which indicates that it would not be very acceptable for children as they are exploring life. Violating the law through the trying to communicate with someone with a court order on them. There is a lot of sexual activity within the film, with some people in the shower seeing limited nudity. There is sexual language within the film. There is a lot of foul and rude language used including swear words and sexual references. There is some mentally ill characters, alcohol use is in various scenes, as well as some betting scenes. This film was awarded a ‘15’ because it meets the BFFC criteria of too much violence and explicit scenes for those under the age of 15.

(Picture Reference Google)

18

These films are suitable only for those 18 and over meaning that only adults can view these films in the cinema. Films under the 18 category do not have limitation on foul language that is used therefore use of frequent swear words and sexual words, hard drugs are generally allowed and explicit sex scenes and references along with detailed sexual activity are also allowed within reason. Scenes of strong real sex may be permitted if justified by the context, however is sill limited, the is however no use of pornography. Very strong, gory  and sadistic violence usually permitted with the use of dangerous weapons and hard drugs scenes are permitted as well as the use of alcohol and alcohol and drug issues.  Strong sexual violence is permitted unless it is eroticized or excessively graphic.

An example of a film that was certificated ‘18’ is The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) this was rated an ‘18’ under the BBFC because it is unsuitable for view for those that are under the age of 18 years old due to the fact that there is sequences of strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language throughout and there is some violence.

There is brief explicit violence, and sexual violence. There is some domestic content. Within this film there is frequent nudity and explicit sexual references within this film with the use of betting, alcohol and drugs frequently.

(Picture Reference Google)





Conclusion

In conclusion the importance of the BBFC with regards to films is that they are there to make people aware if or not a child or teenager should watch the film, and if it is deemed appropriate. They recognise and respect adult freedom of choice within the law. They help to respond and reflect changing social attitudes towards media content. 

This research into the BFFC age certificates will help me when it comes to deciding who I want my target audience to be for the film and bare that in mind when creating it so that the content within my film will meet these classifications so that those of a specific age are aware if they can watch it or not. When I come to creating my own thriller sequence the age classification I want to aim for is '15' because it is a more broad and varied age category. This means that the content that I will have to be mindful about is sexual content and to much violence. In order to get the classification I need to consider that the BBFC will not be mindful about anything that is inappropriate for a younger audience and so they will not give the classification that you want so my sequence must not have too much violence that can easily be copied or used in the same way and must have only brief sexual content in order to comply with the BBFC rules of age ratings and film classifications.