BBFC - 18 Rating

Suitable only for adults
No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema.
No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video.

In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:

For a film to be classified as 18 Rating it must comply with the following guidelines:

• where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
• where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault
• where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category.
• In the case of video works (including video games), which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films.
• Where sex material genuinely seeks to inform and educate in matters such as human sexuality, safer sex and health, explicit images of sexual activity may be permitted.
• Sex works are works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing only material which may be simulated are generally passed ‘18’. Sex works containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images, or other very strong sexual images will be confined to the ‘R18’ category. Material which is unacceptable in a sex work at ‘R18’ is also unacceptable in a sex work at ‘18’.

BBFC - 15 Rating

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.

For a film to be classified as 15 rating it must comply with the following guidelines:

• The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.
• Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.
• Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.
• Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.
• There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’). The strongest  terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.
• Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.
• Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.
• No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.
• Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.

BBFC - 12/12A/PG13 Rating

Suitable for 12 years and over

Exactly the same criteria are 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 particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult.

The ‘12’ category exists only for video works. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work.

For a film to be certified a 12/12A/PG13 it must comply with the following guidelines:

• Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be endorsed by the work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly condemned.
• Any misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or give instructional detail.
• Moderate physical and psychological threat may be permitted, provided disturbing sequences are not frequent or sustained.
• Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied, or appear pain or harm free.  Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.
• Moderate language is allowed. The use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’) must be infrequent.
• Nudity is allowed, but in a sexual context must be brief and discreet.
• Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Sex references should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers. Frequent crude references are unlikely to be acceptable.
• Mature themes are acceptable, but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers.
• Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by the context. Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated, and must have a strong contextual justification.

BBFC - PG Rating

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 or more sensitive children.

A PG rating film must comply with the following:

• Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of or in an educational or historical context.  Discrimination by a character with which children can readily identify is unlikely to be acceptable.
• References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be innocuous or carry a suitable anti-drug message.
• Frightening sequences should not be prolonged or intense. Fantasy settings may be a mitigating factor.
• No detail of potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy. No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons.
• Mild bad language only.
• Natural nudity, with no sexual context.
• Sexual activity may be implied, but should be discreet and infrequent. Mild sex references and innuendo only.
• Where more serious issues are featured (for example, domestic violence) nothing in their treatment should condone unacceptable behaviour.
• Moderate violence, without detail, may be allowed, if justified by its context (for example, history, comedy or fantasy).

BBFC - U Rating

Universal – Suitable for all

It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But 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 counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.

If a work is particularly suitable for a pre-school child to view alone, this will be indicated in the Consumer Advice.

For a film to be classfied U rating it has to comply with these guidelines: 

• No discriminatory language or behaviour unless clearly disapproved of.
• No references to illegal drugs or drug misuse unless they are infrequent and innocuous, or there is a clear educational purpose or anti-drug message suitable for young children.
• Scary sequences should be mild, brief and unlikely to cause undue anxiety to young children. The outcome should be reassuring.
• No potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy. No emphasis on realistic or easily accessible weapons.
• Infrequent use only of very mild bad language.
• Occasional natural nudity, with no sexual context.
• Mild sexual behaviour (for example, kissing) and references only (for example, to ‘making love’).
• While problematic themes may be present, their treatment must be sensitive and appropriate for young children.
• Mild violence only. Occasional mild threat or menace only.

Final Filming Schedule

March 1st - Film 9/11 news clips. For this scene I will be filming news footage which was actually shown on the day of 9/11. Rather than trying to recreate the footage and the audio I have decided to use real life footage as I want to keep the film as authentic as possible as well as quite literally taking the audience back to September 11th 2001 when they were witnessing the World Trade Center on fire and eventually collapsing.

March 7th - Film establishing shots and location shots. I will be going to London to film establishing shots as in the beginning of the film and the trailer the audience see Jack and Kate meeting one another, telling each other their names (the audience know who they are by doing this) and subsequently getting engaged. Before the audience these clips the audience will see a shot of London with 'London, 1995' on top of the clip to show the audience that this where and when Jack and Kate met.









March 11th - Film Jack and Kate meeting one another, spending time with each other (portraying a loving couple) and then getting engaged. This will be filmed locally at Blenheim Palace grounds next to the lake and using the bridge which I feel will add to the romance of the scenes that are being shot, but will also show the audience that whilst being in this vast open space all they want to do is be with one another and not leave each other which is another reason why I have chosen Blenheim Palace.

March 12th - Film Jack on the phone to Kate whilst he is at the airport waiting for his plane. This scene will be shot at Water Eaton Park and Ride due to the seating arrangement as it looks similar to an airport departure lounge with its rows of seats, the shot will be solely focused on Jack so everything around him will be blurred which will also allow the fact that it is actually a bus station to be disguised.

Once I have filmed all of these remaining scenes I will then start to focus on editing my trailer and creating the promotional poster to go with the film.

Music for 'Reflecting Absence'

After spending a long time on YouTube researching various tracks for my trailer I have come to a conclusion. I felt that rather than having a sombre song through out the trailer I would have two songs; one being a sombre reflective song which is used to reflect the emotions of the character and the intensity of the plot. The second song will be a positive song this is to reflect Amelia moving on with her life and then realising that Jack has come back to say goodbye.


I feel that by using two songs it will give the trailer a balance between sadness and happy which is what the film is about; a person dealing with their grief and the saddness of losing somebody they love and then what they do with that grief and the positive outcomes of what happened.

The first song; 'Delicate' by Damien Rice.

For me it was the beat of the song that attracted me and the repetiveness of the lyrics which conotates Amelia constantly replaying the moment Jack died in her head and that feeling of constantly reliving what happened on 9/11. To complement this sombre track I have selected a song that has repetitive lyrics but with a happy beat that conotates to looking forward to the future and what is going to come next, which is what is happening in Amelia's life.

The second song; 'Good Life' by OneRepublic