So there is a kickstarter up.
The British Board of Film Classification (previously known as the British Board of Film Censors) was established in 1912 to ensure films remained free of 'indecorous dancing', 'references to controversial politics' and 'men and women in bed together', amongst other perceived indiscretions.
Today, it continues to censor and in some cases ban films, while UK law ensures that, in effect, a film cannot be released in British cinemas without a BBFC certificate.
Each certificate costs around £1000 for a feature film of average length. For many independent filmmakers, such a large upfront can prove prohibitively expensive. Luckily, there’s a flipside to all of this: while filmmakers are required to pay the BBFC to certify their work, the BBFC are also required to sit through whatever we pay them to watch. That’s why I’m Kickstarting a BBFC certificate for my new film Paint Drying — a single, unbroken shot of white paint drying on a brick wall. All the money raised by this campaign (minus Kickstarter's fees) will be put towards the cost of the certificate, so the final length of the film will be determined by how much money is raised here.
I've shot fourteen continuous hours of footage, on crisp 4K digital video. This should provide enough material for the film, as long as this campaign doesn't raise more than £6057.
I'm in love. This is the best idea ever. (The fee for the film certificate increases as the running time goes up.)
A wonderful way to protest this archaic piece of censorship enabling, the BBFC.
It could represent the start of a wave of trolling tactics against the BBFC, hopefully it does.
Obviously, i'm opposed to the BBFC and it's practices. I do not believe films should have these ratings, and definitely should not be censored.
I could be persuaded to support specific warnings about content within the movie. (This movie contains scenes of x,y,z.).
What do you think about Paint Drying, the movie, and also, the BBFC and it's practices? Will you be seeing Paint Drying at your local theater? Will there be a plot twist? Will you take a date? Oh boy, that'll open up a whole world of opportunities for trolling people.
The BBFC have confirmed they are legally required to watch the movie in it's entirety.
The point the project manager makes about independent filmmakers is also important.