The BBFC

The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) which was first called British Board of Film Censors is responsible for the national classification of films in the UK. This non-governmental organisation is funded by the film industry. Under the Video Recordings Act of 2010, the BBFC is expected to classify DVDs, videos and certain video games.
The films and video games that are rated receive a certificate, for example '15' as well as advice for consumers pointing out whether any sex, coarse language, or violence is involved. This is used so that the appropriate certificate is assigned to a film and only people over that particular age can buy that film. 

The BBFC also advise what cuts should be made in a film. Cuts are compulsory if whats involved violates the Protection of Children Act (1978) or Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act (1937). Cuts can also be advised to make the film more appropriate for a wider audience. Also if distributors have asked for a certain certificate the BBFC may suggest cuts so that their film will fit the certificate they requested. 

These are the current certificates:

Universal - This means that all ages are allowed to watch. There is nothing unsuitable for children over four years of age.

PG - This means that all children are admitted, however some scenes may be unsuitable for children under the age of eight.

12A - This means that children under the age of twelve may only watch the film if they are accompanied by an adult. It is not recommended that children under the age of twelve should watch it as 12A films can include mature themes, moderate violence and sex, commonly used milder swear words, soft drugs and discrimination. 

12 - This means that only people twelve and above can buy or rent films or games under this certificate. 12 films can include infrequent use of strong language, infrequent drugs, moderate violence, discreet sexual activity and brief nudity.

15 - To buy a 15 rated film or game you must be over the age of fifteen as it can contain adult themes, strong language, moderate-strong violence, moderate-strong sex references, hard drugs and mild non detailed sex activity.

18 - For films of this certificate you must be eighteen or above. 18 certificate films have no limitation on bad language. They also allow hard drugs and strong violence. Strong sexual activity is allowed as well as sex references and scenes of strong real sex as long as it is justified by the context.

 R18 - For cinemas to beable to show R18 rated films they must have a license, just like retailers must have licences to sell the film. Only people eighteen and over may buy these films. These films include all whats in an 18 rated film however the violence and sex activity would be stronger. These films get demanded cuts more than any other certificate films. 

Suspense and Shock

Suspense


Imagine a scene in a film in a classroom with students and a teacher. The camera reveals that there is a bomb under the table to the audience but we (the students and the teacher) are unaware of it. Will we be saved? Will the bomb go off? This is suspense. An example of suspense is in Alfred Hitchcock's film Sabotage. A boy is given a package to deliver which us as the audience know is a bomb that is due to go off at 1:45, however the boy and everyone around him are unaware. Hitchcock drags the boys journey out, using traffic and crowds which slow him down. This is to build up the tension. We also here a non diegetic ticking noise symbolizing the time and keep seeing clocks which are warning us that the bomb is soon to go off. This leaves us in suspense as we're waiting to see whether the bomb will go off or whether someone will find out in time. 



Shock


Imagine the same scene as before however the camera doesn't reveal the bomb under the table, it just goes off without any warning, exploding and killing everyone in the room. This is shock. For example in the film 'Children of men'.

This shows us a man going into a cafe and getting a coffee with people crowding round a television talking about a death that sounds irregular. It is set in London, however its not London as we know it which makes us question how far into the future this is. All of a sudden from nowhere a bomb explodes in the shop the man has just walked out of, releasing a big gust of smoke through the street and shocking the characters and the audience. 

The Brief

• The titles and opening of a new fiction film in the thriller genre to last a maximum of two minutes.
• The coursework is 50% of the course
• The production itself is worth 60% of the marks

Marks are awarded for demonstrating excellence in the following:

• Holding a shot steady
• Framing a shot
• Using a variety of shot distances
• shooting material appropriate to the task set
• Editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer
• Using varied shot transitions, captions and other effects selectively and where appropriate
• Using sound and images

Before we begin filming we must go through the planning process:

1. Organize ourselves into groups and complete the group sheet
2. Under take some research into the genre and complete the research sheet
3. Prepare a treatment for the program and complete the treatment sheet
4. Produce a story board and an animatic

Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock was known as the master of suspense whose films come to be the bench mark for psychological thrillers. He was born 13 August 1899 in Leytonstone, London, England and after a long, successful career, died 29 April 1980 in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA. 

He was raised by his father William Hitchcock who was an East End green grocer and his wife Emma and had two older siblings, William and Eileen. Unfortunately his father died when he was fifteen. Hitchcock went to school at Saint Ignatius College which was run by Jesuits as he was raised as a strict catholic. He also went to a school for engineering and navigation. 

 In 1915 he started his first job for Henley Telegraph and Cable Company as an estimator. This is where his interest for film started and he often visited the cinema. Around 1920 Hitchcock joined the film industry drawing the sets as he was a very skilled artist.

 In 1923 he directed his first film 'The number 13', however this production was stopped. In 1925 he went on to direct a film called 'The pleasure garden' which was a British and German production. This film became very popular. Hitchcock made his first trademark film in 1926 which was ' The lodger'. This same year he married Alma Reville who he met in his first job in the film industry. They went on to have a daughter, Patricia Hitchcock who was born 7 July 1928. 

He went on to make many films in Britain including 'The lady vanishes' in 1938 and 'Jamaica inn' in 1939. Some of his films made him famous in the USA and he was asked by an American producer, David O. Selznick to move to the USA to direct the adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca which he did so in 1940.  Film companies started to call his films after him such as Alfred Hitchcock's Family Plot after the making of Saboteur in 1942. 

Hitchcock was awarded the AFL Life achievement award in 1979 and said his famous quote: 

"I beg permission to mention by name only four people who have given me the most affection, appreciation and encouragement and constant collaboration. The first of the four is a film editor, the second is a scriptwriter, the third is the mother of my daughter Pat, and the fourth is as fine as a cook as ever performed miracles in a domestic kitchen and their names are Alma Reville" 

Other well know quotes of his are as follows:

" The only way to get rid of my fears is to make films about them"

"There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it"

"If it's a good movie, the sound could go off and the audience would still have a perfectly clear idea of what was going on"

"Always make the audience suffer as much as possible"

"I am a typed director. If I made Cinderella, the audience would immediately be looking for a body on the coach"

He began to write a screen play with Ernest Lehman which was called 'The short night' but he decided to fire Lehman and replace him with David Freeman, a young screenwriter who re wrote the script. However the film was never made because of Hitchcock's health state, but the script was later published after Hitchcock's death. 

Hitchcock was Knighted, Sir Alfred Hitchcock in late 1979 but unfortunately the following year he died due to renal failure in his sleep. 

This is a quote by Rick Altman which shows the impact Hitchcock had on the film industry:

" Under the strong influence of Alfred Hitchcock, thrillers often begin with a crime and the accusation of an innocent bystander. Were the accused to contact the authorities no doubt the case could be promptly solved, but instead the poor bystander runs from the law thus further jeopardizing life and limb" 

Thriller conventions

Thriller conventions: 

• dramatic music
• fights
• pov shots
• 'who done it'
• explosions
• mind games
• chase
• kidnapping
• cliff hanger
• plot twists
• enigmas - problems
• cities
• death
• tension
• suspense