INTRODUCTION TO HARM AND OFFENCE/TASTE AND DECENCY

Television has a long and well-established family viewing policy and you will, no doubt, be aware of the 9pm watershed and the fact that programmes that appear before the watershed should be suitable for a family audience.

Films broadcast on the Internet, as in the case of FourDocs, are not bound by the same rules but since the Internet is available to all, including young people and children, we intend to categorise films and give them certifications, so that adult films can only be accessed in a restricted part of FourDocs. What determines whether your film will be placed in this section depends on the content of your film and whether it raises issues of harm, offence, taste and decency. These can be broken down into a number of categories, as follows:

• Strong language: films that contain strong language may be categorised as adult and placed in the restricted access section of the site. Editorial checkers will make this decision before it is published on FourDocs. For your information, a few instances of low-level language in your film e.g. "bloody", "piss off", "dick" etc. are unlikely to warrant it being classed as adult in nature. However, films that contain the words "cunt", "fuck", "motherfucker" or any derivative of these words will automatically be placed in the restricted section.



• Sex and nudity: films that contain scenes of a sexual nature may also be certified as being adult. Generally, mild sexual content and nudity e.g. people kissing, cuddling, above waist nudity, brief shots of someone's bottom etc. would not warrant a film being placed in the restricted section of the site but more graphic or explicit material e.g. genital contact (even through clothes), intercourse, full frontal nudity is likely to. Each film will be considered separately and on its merits but you should note that it is very unlikely that we will accept films containing very sexually explicit material e.g. close-ups of bare genitalia, sexually explicit acts e.g. masturbation, intercourse that leave little or nothing to the imagination. If your film contains material that either is or is verging on being pornographic, then it will be rejected.



• Violence: similarly, films that contain any sort of violence, either against property or against a person, may also be certified as being for adults only and placed in the restricted section of the site. In the case of serious violence where there is damage or potential damage as a result, you should have regard to other potential legal jeopardies, for example those committing the acts may have committed a criminal offence. See section regarding filming criminal activity above.



• Dangerous Behaviour: does your film contain any dangerous behaviour capable of easy imitation by children. If it does, then you should question whether it needs to be there at all. However, if you consider that it is essential, it may be that the film needs to be placed in the restricted viewing section of the site. Any potentially dangerous behaviour, particularly with household items that children can easily find around the house, is also likely to be restricted.



• The Occult and Psychic Practices: any films dealing with the occult i.e. exorcisms, the invocation of unknown spirits or negative forces need very careful handling. Any films dealing with such practices are likely, if accepted at all, to be placed within the restricted adult section of FourDocs. Similar considerations apply to films that deal with psychic practices such as clairvoyance and clairaudience.



• Treatment of Minorities e.g. ethic minorities: films that intend to stir up racial hatred or are likely to do so will not be accepted. In addition, you should try to avoid including in your film racist terms unless they are editorially justified.



• People with disabilities: References or comments about disability should only be included where necessary and editorially justified. Any humour based on disability, even where no malice is present, can cause offence so, again, should only be included where there is strong editorial justification.



• Other minorities: similar considerations apply to the treatment within films of other minority groups e.g. homosexuals, older people, minority language groups.



• Religion: Religion is central to many people's lives and its discussion is capable of evoking very strong passions and emotions. Whilst, of course, it is perfectly acceptable to make films on the subject of religion or that simply contain references to religion, your film should not amount simply to an abusive treatment of the religious views and beliefs of those belonging to a particular religion or religious denomination. That is not to say that contributors in your film cannot make critical comments about religion or religious views but they always should be put into context and where appropriate balanced with an alternative point of view. The important thing is that your film, taken as a whole, does not amount merely to an abusive treatment. Similarly, you should ensure that if references are made to religious beliefs and practice in your film, they are fair and accurate and are not misrepresented.