(B2 GCE 2016 SUMMER - English Medium - MEDIA ST.:TEXT,INDUS.& AUDIENCE MS4 - QUESTION PAPER)

All media texts are subject to regulation. How has regulation affected your three main texts?

Regulation is a system put in place in order protect vulnerable people, such as children, from viewing anything that that will disturb them or will influence them in a negative way. In the film industry, the film's distributed through Britain are regulated by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), whereby it is considered based on different elements such as violence and sexual references, then given an age rating for who it recommends will be able to consume the text. The age rating of a film will have a direct impact on the audience in which views it, both in size and demographic. An example of this would an Andrew Haigh film Weekend (2011), which is classed as an 18 due to its explicit sexual references. Despite the audience being limited anyway due to the film's release through film festival's such as SXSW and showings through Arthouse cinemas, the 18 rating could have an adverse effect on the film with audiences deterred from viewing due to its controversial explicit content. However, there may be a preferred response to the rating with the targetted demographic recognising the content as real and relatable to them, which demonstrates both the positive and negative perspectives on a BBFC regulation. 

Some films are conscious of their BBFC regulation before and during their production, as they are aware how a higher rating may affect their audience numbers. The James Bond franchise, in particular, Skyfall, Sam Mendes (2012), has manipulated their content to classify under the 12A BBFC regulation. This means that despite the violence and sexual references, families can view the film together and the 007 brand can maximise its audience and it's profit. Other films in the franchise such as Spectre, Sam Mendes (2015) and Die Another Day, Lee Tamahori (2002) also fall under the 12A classification. Although this may restrict the amount of violence and sexual scenes used in the film, in comparison to Weekend, Skyfall not only has a larger audience to consume the text but also allows them to explore more advertising opportunities, for example a television advert for Skyfall would be able to be shown by the watershed (9pm) on British television, demonstrating that by manipulating the BBFC regulation, Bond has optimised the success of the film.

To be continued.....