Does the BBFC offer the British Filmmaker a servic

[Marino]

Hello Mike.
>
> Of course somewhere it is a huge money maker, and I agree we should
> have more freedom for sales. However they are most definitely not the enemy.
>
> I have only good things to say about the B.B.F.C. Even though I wish I
> did not have to spend what little money I have.
>
> If you are dealing with them, there is a chap called Edward Lambertti,
> he always helps me, and as I have slight dyslexia, if I do fuck up a
> submission, they don?t wait weeks sending it back and making go to the
> bottom of the list, they phone me, and make adjustments over the phone
> or by e mail.
>
> I originally thought they were some kind of evil from the establishment.
> But
> to be honest, they try and pass as much of my stuff as possible, and
> when they ask for a cut, I don?t argue, and we get on fine.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Marino.

[eroticartist]

Marino,
To supplement your income you could apply for a job at the BBFC. They are always looking for examiners!

[Marino]

I would last about an hour, all that porn and me locked in a wanking booth. Fantastic.

[Officer Dibble]

Checkout this website
and in particular the first sentence, where it says ? ?The British Board of Film Classification is a completely independent and non-governmental body.?

It says pretty much the same thing on the official BBFC site. It also says -

?Amendments to the Video Recordings Act in 1994 laid down certain formal tests which the Board must always apply, namely to assess the harm which may be caused to potential viewers (including children or young persons) or, through their behavior, to society because of the manner in which the work deals with: criminal behavior, illegal drugs, violence, horror, or sex. The Board's own internal guidelines have always covered all those issues, but the fact that it has become a statutory requirement means that the Board must be able to demonstrate that it has taken these matters into account in every case.

The amended Act also requires the classification of some works which had previously been exempted, such as instructional videos or music videos, if they fall foul of any of the above tests, eg, if they teach criminal techniques or how to inflict serious injury or if they contravene relevant legislation like the Obscene Publications Act or the Protection of Children Act.?

Which is what I alluded to earlier when I stated that the BBFC had to comply with existing legislation ? a statuary requirement since 1985. So, if the BBFC is getting guidelines it is not from the Home Office, but from Parliament in the shape of the law. Which is why I suggested that if anyone was unsatisfied by the present situation they should take the matter up with their MP. I assume, when talking about guidelines, you were alluding to the bit where it says ?Amendments to the Video Recordings Act in 1994 laid down certain formal tests which the Board must always apply? - But when you are talking about 'The Video Recordings Act' you are talking about the law, not diktat from the Home Office. The Home Office does not make the law. Only Parliment can do that.


Officer Dibble - being pedantic

[eroticartist]

Yes, but its all precensored. To get the genuine uncensored versions you would have to go to the unlicensed porn shop round the corner from the BBFC's offices in Soho Square, or order it by mail-order from the States or the EC!

[nachovx]

Or get it from countries who are known for their 'liberalism' - Ukraine, Moldova or Slovenia. It's a funny old world when the home of democracy is less free than the former East Bloc where they offer any dvd you want for $4 maximum, courtesy of organised crime of course - well at least they give the consumers what they want at a price they can afford.

[mart]

Dangerous ground you are treading on if you think liberalism and democracy might be defined by what you can buy. Crack cocaine and kiddy porn?

Mart

[joe king]

freedom is dangerous - lets have more restrictions now!

'dangerous ground you are treading on if you think liberalism and democracy might be defined by what you can buy. Crack cocaine and kiddy porn?'

Why doesn't it define democracy? What the hell defines democracy then?
You might just as well include a reference to the Nazi's - when you start to include 'kiddy porn'. What sort of a stupid comment was that - 'liberalism and democracy might be defined by what you can buy'.

Freedom is dangerous, what you see should be none of anyone elses business.

[eroticartist]

The debate is about whether the BBFC offer the British filmmaker a service.
In other words if the Video Recordings Act were repealed and the R18 certification scrapped would British filmmakers be better off?

[eroticartist]

Joe,

A reference to the Nazis aboout state censorship would be relevant here.
Hitler said in Mein Kampf: I will clean-up the billboards, the theatres and the cinemas to eradicate the sweet sickly smell of modern eroticism.
He did not mind the smell of the gas ovens though!

Incidentally Mary Whitehouse was a member of the Oxford Group affiliated to the Moral Majority whose leader Adolph Buchmann met Hitler at the 1936 Olympic Games. He remarked to the media: Thank God for Adolph Hitler who opposes the Anti-Christ in the east.

Mike.