Could / should we have a new UK rating of E for Exempt?

Some UK DVD's (usually music videos) are listed as E

This is kind of like NR - but not really, as any DVD, HD-DVD Blu-Ray, etc... has to go for BBFC Classification, and only then can they be Exempted

This means that even "Unrated" versions of films get rated over here

Also, should we have Uc which is also used on some DVD's etc, to show "Universal, sutible for children"

Oh, and while I think about this, although I will never use it, can we also have R18? or does Adult cover that?

So that is

U
Uc
PG
12
15
18
R18
E
Adult
Not Rated

Uc shouldn't be included - it's not a distinct rating - it's merely a 'U' + advisory. Note that the BBFC lump these together, just as they do 12 and 12A.

Uc is just a sub-categorisation of U.

U = Universal = Suitable for All
Uc = Universal = Suitable for All (particularly suitable for pre-school children)

The 'c' is just consumer advice. Nothing more.

Although the main website doesn't mention it explicitly, the BBFC guidelines do - Uc is quite clearly a subset of U.

btw - the Uc page you linked to on the BBFC site is also the page for 'U'.

Quoting Squirrel.God:

Quote:
I don't know what to conclude about that 2005 document, Doug, as it only mentions Uc in passing and doesn't show the Uc symbol anywhere at all.

Exactly - it's not a standalone classification.

Quote:
However, the Uc is clearly plastered all over the website, shown at the top right of every page and listed first in the banner at the top of each classification screen. Material is also being quite clealry classified explicitly as Uc, not U.

I never said nothing was being issued a Uc certificate - it is an issued certificate. However it is not a classification all by itself.

Quote:
U is also for viewers aged 4 and over, meaning that it wouldn't cover the audience that Uc material is geared towards, which would be presumably 0-5 years.

Since U is 'Suitable for all', by definition it's not age restricted/limited in any way! The 'over age 4' thing is because by age 4, children have the mental development to understand what they see in front of them - hence the wording in the guidelines about providing a moral framework and positive reassurances - i.e. it would be OK to show someone stealing something, if a policeman came along shortly afterward and took them to jail. Basically a parent should be able to leave a 4 year old to watch a U film by themselves and not have to be worried about elements of the film that are not utopic - anything bad has very clearly identified consequences.

A Uc is issued to films that are completely utopic in nature - absolutely nothing 'bad' happens. A parent doesn't have to be worried about their very young child remembering an 'interesting' scene that might be harmful in any way (e.g. a fight), but not making the mental connection between the boring part afterward where the participants are in hospital being treated for their wounds and the interesting fight that took place 5 mins ago.

Quote:
Both U and Uc are 'Universal' classification ratings though, which is why I believe they are grouped together.

'Universal' is the classification. U and Uc are just (slightly) different ways of symbolising it.

Quote:
I didn't see anything to say that it's just consumer advice while browsing quickly - all I can see is "classified Uc". Can you point it out please?

Going from the (factual) basis that U and Uc both symbolise the same classification of 'Universal - Suitable for all', then the addition of 'particularly suitable for pre-school children' is nothing more than advice.

There's also the 1984 VRA, which is the reason UK DVDs even have ratings. That makes it pretty clear that the difference between Uc/U/PG is parental advice.

Quoting FunkyLA:

Quote:

So that is

U
Uc
PG
12
15
18
R18
E
Adult
Not Rated

I'm undecided about U/Uc. Uc is a subcategory of U, but is a classification in it's own right.
But we don't need Adult, as R18 is our Adult rating. And if we get E added then we don't need Not Rated as, if it's not an E then it has to be rated in the UK by law.
So the list would be:
U
(Uc)
PG
12 (12A is cinema only)
15
18
R18
E

What puts me most off at this present time for adding/changing these ratings, is another great chunk of contributions changing NR to E 

Bad enough the huge volume of CoO only changes being made 

deleted

I emailed the BBFC for clarification on the Uc issue. They have confirmed that it is indeed a distinct classification category, but is for video and DVD only.




Here is the email I sent them:

Quote:
Dear Sir/Madam,

I wonder if you can help me.

I am trying to determine whether 'Uc' is a distinct classification rating in its own right, or whether 'Uc' is just a 'U' classification with additional consumer advice and nothing more. Please can you advise?

Many thanks.

XXXX XXXX

The reply I received:

Quote:
Dear XXXX XXXX

Thank you for your email.

'Uc' is a separate classification category for video and DVD works only. 'Uc' denotes that works classified at this level are particularly suitable for pre-school children and normally will raise no issues, or contain no material likely to harm or offend. Examples of 'Uc' works include TELETUBBIES, BOB THE BUILDER, ANGELINA BALLERINA and THE TWEENIES.

Our Classification Guidelines are available on our main website - http://www.bbfc.co.uk - under the section headed 'downloads'.

Yours sincerely,


XXXX XXXX
Chief Assistant (Policy)

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The contents of this email may be confidential. If you have received this email in error please delete it and inform the sender by return.

British Board of Film Classification
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Visit the BBFC web site at http://www.bbfc.co.uk

(I thought it polite not to publish the person's name on the Internet, but am happy to provide privately.)