Cetification In Films

Film Classification

The British Board of Film Classification, or BBFC is responsible for efficient classifications of cinema films. The stated information advises the public on suitability of content, allowing appropriate viewing choices without restricting freedom.
 

U (Universal)
Suitable for all
A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over, although it is impossible to predict what might upset any child. A ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring correction to any violence, threat or horror.

PG (Parental Guidance)
General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children
Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger ones or more sensitive children.

12A/12
Suitable for 12 years and over
The same criteria are also used to classify works at ‘12A’ and ‘12’. These categories are awarded where the material is suitable, in general, only for those aged 12 and over. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them. The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult, and films classified ‘12A’ are not recommended for a child below 12. An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that child.  

15
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
No one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work.

18
Suitable only for adults.
No person under the age of 18 may view an ‘18’ film in a cinema., also no-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video. Human Rights Act 1998, BBFC's ‘18’ classification allows rational freedom for adult viewing. Exceptions are possible where viewing material breaches the criminal law, inappropriate behaviour for instance, portrayal of drug abuse, sexual assault, or violence, or where explicit sexual content cannot be justified by context.

This will help me create my own film in various ways, it can help me know the demographic of the audience who will be viewing my film and what not to put in my film so that it will be sutitable for not only the vast majority of adults who are 18 and above but for those who are 18 and below.

Film Opening Timelines.

This will help me create my own film opening due to the various film openings that I have observed and seen how the Genre of the film fits in with the opening. The timeline will also help me know what comes after what in the correct order of a film opening. Therefore, me knowing this will help me apply this knowledge in my film opening.

Student Film Opening Detailed Analysis

"THE EDGE"

This is an action thriller film called "The Edge" which was about a young boy who was in an abandoned tower block car park, with possession of something he shouldn't have however, two men are sent to go and get it back in every way possible. 

EDITING

The titles used in the film opening are relevant to the film genre from what it seems as well as where they're placed in the shots. They are placed in very neat and relevant places and suit the scenes well. The use of slow motion at the end which follows a flash back scene shows his past events flash before his eyes and he is that scared that time slows done and he is motionless showing connotations of fear as he has a gun drawn to him. The filter used in the shot below shows an over layered filter on the shot which portrays the sense of disturbed but a calm feel to the clip. Also this technique is used to set a mood for the scene before things get hectic. The filter then breaks from a distraught scene to full colour when he is outside which sort of represents fear and contamination. There was a focus pull in the opening where he is on the roof and is facing away from the door and then camera focuses to the background and shows the two men coming on top of the roof and blurs out the character in front of the camera and this then shows that we can see them but the male protagonist couldn't for a split second before he turned around.

SOUND

The sound used in terms of diegetic dialogue was not very effective rarely an words were exchanged. However, which was not necessary because the way the scenes ran told the story itself without needing speech. There was a use of non diegetic music which gave a mysterious feel to the piece which the tempo of the sound builds up through the extract going higher to build tension within the audience.

CAMERA ANGLES

The point of view shots used in edge are to show the audience what the male protagonist sees from his perspective and can be seen to show what is in his eye line together with a mid shot to enable the audience to see what he can't. For example in the second shot we can see whats in front of him but we can then see the antagonist chasing him from behind. This shot also connotes sense of fear as we are unaware where the man is when we only see this in the protagonists perspective.

CLOSE UP SHOTS: 

The use of close up shots show details of important things and points throughout the film opening and they make it clear what we should be focusing on in the film opening. They also make it clear what we should be focusing on in the film such as what he has in his hand in the first elevator scene shows that its an important thing he has in his hands and then its clear after that, that's what the men in the suits are after. The close ups show us who the main character is such as in the elevator scene after the cut away to the two men entering the building.

MISE-EN-SCENE

The costume used in the film opening matches the stereotypes of the characters they play such as the two men who got sent to get back or get the boy would be classed as "Hench men" who normally wear suits and if they had wore other things they might have been able to portray their role effectively. However, the young male protagonist is seen to be wearing a hoody and casual trousers which is stereotypical of what teenagers of his age are most likely to wear.

LIGHTING

The lighting used in the film opening is very low key at points such as when the boy is in the tower block and when he runs back into it but there is high key lighting being shown when he goes outside to the roof which sort of shows an escape to the real world and away from the panic before he goes back into the low key lighting.

LOCATION:

The location that was used in this opening was good to match the themes and feelings for this film as it was very enclosed and gave the idea of no escape no matter where he goes, he will eventually get caught also its quite weird and abandoned setting which gives of many enigmatic questions such as why is he there? Why is nobody there? I think they picked a good choice of setting and used a good use of camera shots to match the setting.

CHARACTERS

The use of actors in this opening make the film opening better because if they had chosen a younger actors to play the men in suits then it would ruin the feeling of the film as it would just seem like 2 lads chasing another lad around a parking lot and looking stupid. However, the chose the appropriate ages for the roles. The young boy was the right age and he showed that when kids get in trouble they don't pass the knowledge to get themselves out the situation.

This will help me create my own film because I will be able to apply the techniques used in this detailed analysis such as the camera shots, editing, sound and mise-en-scene in my own film and make it as good as this one.

What Makes A Good Student Film

• Be specific on what genre you choose :- There are various genres to work in however, when you finally come to a decision in which genre you are going to work in, you have to make sure that you portray the features of that genre throughout the period of that film. The link below is a good example of a student film that did very well in portraying the genre they were working with which was Action.

• It should be kept simple:- You have to make sure that you keep your film simple as possible, nothing to complicated to get your head around doing this will draw the audience attention even more due to the reason that they understand what is going on and an example of a student film that done that is the one below I could see that it was shot in simple places and the shots were also simple and not much special effect was utilised.

• Get your story straight : - When making a student film you need to get your story straight and ensure that from an audience perspective they'll be able to follow the story and engage with it as the film goes on an example of a student film that made their story very clear and straight forward is below:

• Make the genre more clear : -The film should convince the audience that it is delivering the core requirements of that genre. For example if your film opening is horror you have to portray features of horror in the early minutes of the film to make your audience aware what genre they are witnessing. This film did just that and as an audience I saw that in the early minutes of the film.
• It has to have something that will compel the audience to continue watching it: - A hook is referred to an opening that entices the audience in to the early moments of the film by beginning a clear moment with action or interaction serving as a tease, revealing just enough information to ground the audience in the moment while maintaining enough mystery within the opening of the film.

• It should make the audience see thing in the eyes protagonist: - It's good to begin in a moment of action or interaction, something to grab the audience attention right away a good opening scene grounds it's audience in the main character's perspective, showing us the world through his eyes, from the very beginning.

•  It should suggest the end of the film :- The first 2-3 minutes of the film should give the audience a rough idea of how the film is going to end. Doing this will entice the audience to continue watching the film so that they will be able to find out if what they assumed really happens at the end or not. 

• Suspense:- Suspense in the early stages of the movie hooks the audience to continue watching the film and to find out what happens next. A student film that did that well was the one below:

• Setting & Location: - The early stages of the film should disclose the setting and location to the audience enabling them to know where everything took place whether in a city, village, a small town, the forest or even in a house. A film that did that well was the one that has been uploaded below you could clearly see that it was shot in the afternoon in a house.

Sound:- Sound can send a message to the audience about the film especially in the early stages sound can show connotations of fear, joy, anxiety, sadness, excitement and even happiness a clip the clip below brought excitement because the sound was fast paced and made me think to myself what is going to happen next?

Independent Research On Film Openings

Film Opening Analysis: Deadpool

During the opening sequence of Deadpool, there is an action scene that has been frozen and the camera goes around the scene whilst credits are shown. To start off with you see the Marvel animation which will be recognizable by nearly everyone who watches the film. Putting this at the start of the film helps the audience recognize that films made by Marvel have been successful so this film should enjoyable which would create a larger audience as the people who have been to watch it will recommend it to their friends and family.

The first part of the 'frozen' scene, the camera pans out to show a man who has a mark on his head and then the camera continues to pan around the scene going 'through' different gaps and showing different props like magazines, spilled coffee and a wallet with all its contents falling out. You also continue to see different men all wearing similar outfits who have been beat up.

The text used is san serif and white which suggests a certain innocence about the movie or its hero (Deadpool). The text could also be representative of how the themes and attitude of the movie are quite immature as san serif text isn't very formal in comparison to serif text. The opening credits also have credits such as the ones below which are very comical and set the scene for the rest of the film as being very immature with a lot of adult humour. 

 

 

The camera is just on one continuous shot which loops through the car. Whilst moving throughout the car it shows us jokes put in by the director as well as what we would expect to be the main actors. Instead it calls the Directors “over-paid tools” and Ryan Reynolds “Gods perfect idiot”. As the camera mover, it reveals another name which is then hidden by another object as the camera pans round. The camera starts with a villain and slowly works its way around the car until it reaches Deadpool, before moving outside the car. This builds up suspense as we are wondering what has caused all the stuff previously shown.

During the opening the scene the song 'Angel of the Morning' by Juice Newton. This shows us that the film is partly comedy as it has gentle music over what appears to be a large car crash. This could also be done to show that it is partly romantic as the song itself is about love. This links with the film as Deadpool states that this is a romantic film.

This will help me create my film opening because I will be able to apply the the ideas and knowledge I analysed through the opening into my film opening and make it look professional.