Research into age certificates and our target audience

Our target audience

When deciding our target audience we looked at every single type of age group in order to draw up a conclusion as to what age and certificate we were going to aim our film at. We researched all the different certificates and then decided upon a specific age and certificate.


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.

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.

Suitable or 12 years 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.

Suitable only for 15 years or over
No-one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema.


Suitable only for adults
No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema.
Research found on: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/

We looked at all the different certificates before deciding upon the certificate of 15. This was chosen for several reasons; firstly as we are students aged 16-17 this certificate is one that we can relate to very well and we have a good insight into the types of films aged at this group. This will give us an advantage when creating our opening sequence because we are going to know what things we like to see. The second reason was because 15 is in the middle of the certificates and it gives us a wide audience because we will aim the film at the certificate 15 however we also think that the older audience we also want to watch our film.