Legal restraints

Legal Restraints

There are a number of legal restraints that I could need to bear in mind during the process of creating and writing my short film in terms of what age rating it could end up getting. The legal rules on copyright and on each age rating are as follows: 

Copyright:

·         The acquisition rights in the intellectual property (in short who owns the rights to the book, the script, the rights to the life story and the screenplay). This legal restraint does not affect my groups' short film as we will all write an original idea then pick the best one so we will own the rights.

Other Work/Film Related Things to Keep in Mind:
·         The legal guardian rights of any under aged crew members (this means parents or legal guardians must give there permission for there child to be filmed)
·         A written agreements which gives staff far working hours, the length of there employment, any compensation required and on screen credits for people such as screen writers and other crew members.
·         The secure releases of the location where film is taking but must be approved by property owner. This legal restraint meant we had to ask the school if we could film on there property so we could film on it for are short film as this was the main location filming took places.
·         Don’t use copyrighted music, unless the person or people have given you the rights to do so. For example for my groups short film we used a bands song and had to ask for there permission so we could use it in are short film.

The final legal side to films is the age ratings in the UK and America.

Which in the UK go as followed:

U (Which stands for Universal meaning anyone can watch it)

PG (Which stands for parental guidance’s this means its my be unsuitable for young children)

12 and 12a ( Which means its suitable for children from 12 above and sexual behaviour may be discreetly portrayed)

15 (Which is suitable for over 15’s and nudity and strong violence’s can be allowed) This is the zone which my groups short film will fall into as it includes strong violence however does not include nudity or drugs so does not fall under the 18 age rateing.

18 (Suitable for over 18’s and can involve strong langue, sex, nudity, drugs and strong violence’s)

R18 (This category is a special and legally restricted classification for films which involve consenting sex or strong material fetish.

The American age ratings are as followed:

G (everyone is allowed and suitable for all)

PG (parental guidance’s is needed other wises everyone is allowed)

PG 13 (you need to be over 13 or older)

R (You need to be 17 or older but you can have parental consent) In America my groups will fall into this age certificate because it is not suitable for PG 13 so it falls under the R rateing.

NC-17 or X (no one gets in unless they are 17)

In conclusion, I think I now know enough about the basic laws and regulations that could impact product so I will move onto the next part of my planning and research.