Certificate Rating of film "Grind"

After researching the BBFC's age classifications it was clear that our film would have a certificate rating of 15. This is because it best-fits the category's including; imitable behaviour, language, nudity, threat and violence.

Highly scary or gory horror films that might upset younger children are unlikely to be found at U, PG or 12A/12. Along with scenes with harmful material or which children are encouraged to do dangerous things. The British Board of Film Classification(BBFC) was founded by the film industry in 1912 and responsible for the national classification and censorship of films exhibited at cinemas etc. When aimed at a younger audience horror movies must be treated very cautiously to match the public audience’s approval. This is so they don’t break the guidelines if it had a recommended to an age too low it wouldn’t be appropriate. In 1993, the BBFC hosted series of test screening of a film 'The Lost World: Jurassic Park' to which they observed the audience’s reactions. After analysing the reactions, they decided the age rating was appropriate at PG (parental guidance). After this, many films could use light horror elements with it being appropriate. However when we looked at this we still felt that our horror film would not be deemed “Light horror”.

The categories of a 15 rating our film falls under;

• Imitable behaviour: "Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Whether the depiction of easily accessible weapons is acceptable will depend on factors such as realism, context and setting."
• Threat "There may be strong threat and horror. A sustained focus on sadistic or sexual threat is unlikely to be acceptable."
• 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 violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but the depiction of sexual violence must be discreet and justified by context."
• Language "There may be strong language. Very strong language may be permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, its frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification."
• Nudity "There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context. There may be nudity in a sexual context but usually without strong detail."