Evaluation - Question 4 - Amy Homewood

Question 4- Who would be the audience for your media product?

Our target was originally for the stereotype of what a thriller movie would usually be aimed at, which is 14+ teenagers, particularly male. 

However, it seems that our opening shows more of a 15+ film as it shows a lot more gore than what is the allowed amount for a 14+. 

Our audience would have to have an interest in murder mystery but also have a soft side towards the death of somebody in their family in order to really connect with our antagonist and the way in which he is feeling due to the loss of his mum.

The current BBFC system is:

• Uc – Especially suitable for pre-school children. The category is now retired, although older video works still in circulation may carry the label.
• U (Universal) - Suitable for all. A U-rated film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over.
• PG (Parental Guidance) - General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. A PG-rated film should not unsettle a child aged around eight or older.
• 12A - Cinema release suitable for 12 years and over. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A-rated film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult.
• 12 – Video release suitable for 12 years and over. Video recordings with this rating are not to be supplied to anyone below that age.
• 15 - Suitable only for 15 years and older. No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15-rated film at the cinema or buy/rent a 15-rated video.
• 18 - Suitable only for adults. No-one under 18 is allowed to see an 18-rated film at the cinema or buy/rent an 18-rated video.
• R18 (Restricted 18) - Adult works for licensed premises only. The R18 category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. R18-rated video works may not be supplied by mail order.

The British Board of Film Classification 15 rating

What does the 15 symbol mean?No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15 film at the cinema or buy/rent a 15 rated video. 15 rated works are not suitable for children under 15 years of age.

Are there any limits on what sort of theme a work can have at 15?No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.

What might I see in a 15 rated film or video?

Any of the following:

•  Strong violence
•  Frequent strong language (e.g. 'f***').
•  Portrayals of sexual activity
•  Strong verbal references to sex
•  Sexual nudity
•  Brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence
•  Discriminatory language or behavior
•  Drug taking"

Can you see drugs in a 15 rated film or video?
The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances like aerosols or solvents is unlikely to be acceptable at 15.

What about dangerous behaviour or things teens might copy?
Whether the depiction of easily accessible weapons is acceptable will depend on factors such as realism, context and setting.

At 15 drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse (for example, through instructional detail).

We consider the risk of potential harm to impressionable teenagers. For example, dangerous behaviour such as hanging, suicide and self-harming should not dwell on detail which could be copied.

15 – for 15 year-olds and over

No one younger than 15 can go and see a 15 rated film in the cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a 15 rated video, DVD or download.

General / Age rating issues at 15

15 rated films, videos and downloads can contain strong material including strong swearing, strong horror and strong violence.

For example the film 'Lovely Bones' is the idea that we based our whole thriller opening off. Within the film it centers on a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family - and her killer - from purgatory. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal.

Lovely bones is rated a PG13- Here is the ratings on the film:

Therefore I would like to say that ours would be either a U or a 15 based on the lovely bones review.