Target audience and age certificates

Whilst thinking about our target audience, it was important to take into consideration age ratings, also known as censorships. This is because there is certain limits as to what content can be used at different certificates. Furthermore, we wanted to make sure we could include content that would conform to certain thriller conventions, that will make the audience have feelings of fear, anxiety and a high level of suspense. In addition, we want to achieve this and allow for teenagers to see the film, but without having to sacrifice specific themes that we want to show in our film. A common theme that I found when researching thriller films, is the fact that most of them have a 15 age certificate, or above. This shows a convention of thriller films, it is a stereotype that in the thriller genre, there is content that should not be shared with people under the age of 15.

This is the age rating we intend to use for Love me.
The role of the bbfc- The bbfc are in place in order to protect children from unsuitable or even harmful content that are in films. The classifications are put in place in order to prevent any content being exposed to children that are not suitable. For example, with the age certificate of 15 that we intent to use for our film, nobody under the age of 15 will be able to see the film in a cinema, and will be unable to buy and rent the film.

I chose the age certificate of 15 for different reasons, relating to the commandments that have to be met for the certificate.
The bbfc take into consideration the following:
・Discrimination
・Drugs
・Imitable behaviour
・Language
・Nudity
・Sex
・Threat
・Violence
These categories look at the level of exposure shown in a film.
After looking at what makes a certificate of 15, this is what I found:

・May be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language

・Drug taking can be shown, but cannot encourage or promote drug misuse. Highly dangerous substances such as solvents are likely to be unaccepted

・Dangerous behaviour should not dwell on details that can lead to it being copied. For Love me this could be the kidnapping of the girl

・Strong language

・Nudity in sexual context without strong detail

・Strong threat and horror

・Strong violence without dwelling on the infliction of pain or injury

Our film includes a scene where a girl is kidnapped by the antagonist who is a 'creepy' stalker, and there is likely to be scenes where some or little strong language, violence, horror, pain and drug taking will be involved. However, this will meet the guidelines of the 15 certificate, where there will not be a strong emphasis on the pain inflicted on the protagonist, and the drug use will not be portrayed in a way that could promote drug misuse. This will help contribute to our film creating a feeling of realism, where the audience believe this could actually happen, which give the film a sadistic feel. 

Here is an example that I found of a trailer that is a thriller film, which is a 15 classification: