Research: Censorship - Miss Begum

Who are the BBFC and what is their role?

BBFC stands for British Board of Film Classification which regulates the age certificates for film materials in the UK.  The people in charge of judging the movie have the role to watch the film and decide the rating, however if the product of the movie is too controversial the BBFC will ask the director or producer to re-edit, cut or completely ban the movie. The people in control of the movie rating has the capacity to protect the vulnerable viewers from inappropriate imagery and harmful context that could psychologically and physiologically effect the viewers. Also it gives the film industry guidelines on how to meet the criteria of movies and showing appropriate scene in the film.

What is Censorship? Why is it important in the film industry?

Censorship has the role to examine a product and decide whatever it's suits the audience. A film will either be banned or asked to be cut several times before the BBFC are happy with it. This will prevents to shows inappropriate scene that could be found upsetting or too explicit for the spectators. Furthermore, censorship is important in the film industry because it helps to protect the public viewers and tries to prevent copycat behaviour which could be provoked by seeing controversial scene.

What thing get censored and why?

Violence -  graphic violence without context is not permitted. Moreover human and animal torture/ cruelty for own pleasure will not be tolerated. e.g. 'Black Sunday'

Graphic representation and Realism - anything that portrays harsh and controversial reality will not be displayed to public in order to avoid upsetting or worrying the viewer. e.g 'Hate Crime'

Corrupting the young - any ideas, actions or themes that are upsetting and can be hard to handle for younger audience will not be permitted. This is because their vulnerable minds will get easily effected by the inappropriate context. e.g. 'Mikey'

Controversy and the Press - any particular event that has caused a wave of controversy will not be passed for disposal. For example a film about recent political/world arguments will not be published. e.g. '491' banned due it's controversial drama.

Sexual violence - extreme graphic rape will not be passed through especially if accompanied with gore and blood. e.g 'Murder-Set-Pieces'

Sex and nudity - sexual activity can be only displayed if it has a relevant context and fits with the narrative. Similarly with nudity. However it will not be tolerated if shown for no particular reason otherwise it will be a porno. e.g. 'Deep Throat'.

Religion - offence towards different religions will not be tolerated. Moreover extreme racism will also be censored in order to prevent upsetting the public. e.g. 'Silent night Deadly night 2'.

      Politics - any material that creates a negative image of the law and politics will not be tolerated. Offensive behaviour towards law will also be banned. e.g. 'Battleship Potemkin'.

Class - controversial representation of social classes will not be permitted. Also trying to put down lower classes to glamorize upper ones will also be censored.

Language - moderate and frequent use of bad language with no context/purpose will be censored. This is because younger viewers will think it’s tolerable and acceptable.

Shock - sudden actions that cause strong emotions will not be displayed. For example an instant unexpected turn of action such as killing will have a massive impact on the viewer leaving them in shock after the viewing which could affect their health. e.g. 'Clockwork Orange'.

Drug abuse - under no circumstances drugs should be glamorize. This especially applies to Class A substances such as Heroin. Any drug intake should not be exposed in a positive manner, in order to stop the audience think that it is acceptable and healthy. e.g. 'The Trip'.

      Culture - different cultures should not be used as a center of jokes as well as represented in a bad manner; trying to discourage others towards this particular culture and offend them.

Race - any offence towards different ethnicity will not be tolerated. Racism and/or bad representation of different races for own pleasure/ignorance will be banned.

True events - the idea can be explored as long as the ideas and themes are not too controversial and made to confuse the audiences’ belief or implying different conspiracies. e.g. 'The exorcist'

What is the difference between film being cut and banned?

FILM BEING CUT:

A movie being cut means that some controversial scene are re-edited to hide the unsuitable scene that will be inappropriate to the audience. Moreover, it also means to remove the sequence from the movie until it fit the criteria well enough. These are examples of movie that were being cut:

• Coffy (1973-1974) - Initially banned by the BBFC for 1973 cinema release, but then resubmitted and released in a cut from in 1974. Passed 18 uncut in 1988.

• Faces of Death (1984 - 2003) - The film was banned for explicit gore and juxtaposing fictional deaths and real footage of accidents, but was passed with cuts in 2003.

• The Human Centipede 2 (2011) - Originally banned due to highly explicit sexual violence, and potential obscenity. The film was given an official age certificate of 18 by the BBFC on 6 October 2011 while the distributors agreed to make 32 cuts (two minutes and thirty-seven seconds) prior to release.

FILM BEING BANNED:

A film being banned means that is taken away from the cinema viewing completely due to indecent, harmful or/and offensive materials. These are examples of movie being banned in the UK:

• The Texas Vibrator Massacre (2008) - Banned due to containing a significant amount of eroticized sexual violence, and for scenes of intercourse between characters intended to be brother and sister.

• NF713 (2009) - A film in which a female "enemy of the state" is tortured, it was banned after its primary purpose was judged to be "to sexually arouse the viewer at the sight of a woman being sexually humiliated, tortured and abused".

• Lost in the Hood (2011) - A sexually violent gay pornographic film about men being abducted, brutalized, and raped by other men.

Mark Kermode and Aminatta Forna Debate:

Aminatta Forna is an author and commentator that proclaim that censorship should be authorized to classify movie, whereas Mark Kermode a film critic, presenter and writer proclaim to be against censorship.

Forna has begin with the statement of how words and images  have power towards the public, giving an example about the movie 'Romper Stomper'. A movie about skinhead that promote racism which gives people freedom of expression allowing them to stir racial hatred towards black people in real life. Also she mention about too many illegal act like rape, crime etc. that are glamorized in film; claiming that it encourages the viewers to carry these actions, believing that is acceptable. In the other hand, Kermode declare that nobody should tell what you can't and can watch. He believes that the public is free to their own choice and being told what they can or cannot watch will deprive them of their rights. He also notify that society should not feel pressured on expressing themselves because we have freedom of speech. Furthermore, Kermode added how the sexual activities implied in the screen do not truly occur during the film making, and how is faked. Thus, he does not understands why censor something that is not taking place in real life.

In addition, Aminatta Forna has stated how as a society we have become less effected by these acts that should feel disturbing. She suggested that if there was no censorship, everyone would become unsympathetic and will not feel anything at all. Therefore, it will lead the public to commit these acts emotionless. Mark Kermode proclaim that society should be able to determinate fiction from non-fiction, saying that the spectators are mature enough to know the difference. Additionally, Forna replied that TV adverts create an impact on the audience, implying that the public associate themselves with characters they see. Thus it leads them to be manipulated, seduces to do what human desires wants. Further, Kermode declare that any individuals are different therefore everyone has a personal response to what they see. Moreover, Forna states social stereotypes gives freedom to self expression that the public receive allow the people to provoke racial discrimination and hatred towards one another.

Overall, after examining this debate for and against censorship I have come to the conclusion that censorship is necessary. This is because I believe that some themes and scenes are only appropriate to a certain group of people that can tolerate these images. Moreover I also believe that censorship plays a big role in the film industry, therefore it is important that good meaning and morals are passed in movies.

Conclusion:

In closure, this research was beneficial because I know how to express explicit theme in a sensible way such as rape and violence in my opening thriller. I will make sure that explicit theme will fit the narrative and have the right context and purpose in order to avoid upsetting the viewers. After looking at the debate I realised that censorship plays a big role into the film industry but still can be questioned because of the different aspects. Lastly, from looking at the different materials that get censored I have a better and accurate understanding of what to include and not include in my thriller opening. This is because thriller movie are targeted to teenagers aged 15 above therefore I need to be careful on what to show them as they are still young which some scene may effect them due their controversy.