Audience

Motion Picture Rating System (Audience)

The reason for a rating system is to monitor the viewing of films depending on the suitability for particular audiences, with the main issues being sex, violence, substance abuse, profanity, impudence and various other types of mature content. They carry age restrictions (or sometimes recommendations).

Various factors may influence the decision of a particular rating of a film, these may include:

• The country showing the film in their movie theaters/ cinemas. 
• Whether it's set within a non-fictional historical context.
• If violence or drug use is shown, whether it is carried out by the protagonist or the antagonist, this is because some viewers tend to sympathise with the protagonist and could potentially encourage drug use. 

Here are a few certificates used to restrict viewers in the United Kingdom:

(This information was extracted from http://www.imdb.com/updates/guide/certificates)

E - Exempt from classification 

U - Universal / Suitable for all 

PG - Parental Guidance / Some scenes may be unsuitable for children

12A - Parental advisory / Children under 12 must be with an adult

15 - Those aged 15 and above

18 - Those aged 18 and above 

R18 - Those aged 18 and above, in specially licensed sex shops or movie theaters/ cinemas. 

Our Film Teaser

We need to make the decision as to whether we wish to add an age restriction on to our film teaser. Here are some of the ideas we had when making this decision:

12 Rated Movie:

• Dangerous techniques of violence such as hanging, suicide, self-harming and drowning should not be frequently displayed as they can be copied and appear to be pain and harm free, which is not true. They should not be encouraged. 
• Scary scenes are allowed and can be intense and last a while but gory moments involving blood and injuries should not come about as a result of violence. 
• Any substance abuse should be infrequent and cannot teach viewers how to take drugs or appear to be glamorous or attractive. 
• The film must not approve of language/ behaviour that would offend someone's religion, colour, gender, sexuality or disability as it could be seen as encouraging discrimination. 
• The themes of the film must be appropriate for those aged 12 and above. 

15 Rated Movie:

• These rated films may include: strong violence, fairly strong language, portrayals of sexual activity, verbal references to sex, sexual nudity, brief scenes of sexual violence, discriminatory language/ behaviour and substance abuse. 

18 Rated Movie:

• Strong language has no restrictions with regard to 18 rated films, very strong language can be used aggressively, frequently, directly and accompanied by strong violence.
• Racist, homophobic and other discriminatory language is allowed. 
• There may be strong violence that can lead to dwelling on pain and injury as a result.