Bernard’s Watch “A Bit More Time”

Codes of practice

A children’s drama should be legal, decent and safe, there are certain rules and regulations that when filming a children’s drama you have to follow.  Firstly when working with child actors you need to consider their health and well being. For a start if the under 16, they will need a license from their local authority, so that they can participate in the film. The licence will include a medical certificate and a statement on the performing hours; if they don’t have this then they can’t be in the production. There are also a restriction on how long a child can be on set for, this is due to maybe their education, which is important as a child as every child is entitled to an education and just because their an actor/actress doesn’t mean they don’t need qualifications, so the director will have to fit filming around that, also maybe to do with their health, as having a break every so often may be needed and having some free time to themselves.

Other than that there are certain things you shouldn’t have in the children’s drama to protect the child viewer. Gore and strong violence such as fighting, shouting or physical and mental abuse or even animal cruelty should not be shown on a children’s drama as it could traumatise the viewer, by scaring them, as it could be happening to them at home and could be too realistic, if showing violence in a children’s drama it would have to be very bland and carefully thought out. Other things such as adult humour, inappropriate dress and nudity shouldn’t be in a children’s drama because, it isn’t necessary for a children’s drama and children wouldn’t understand the humour. Use of bad language such a swearing and sex references shouldn’t be used in a children’s drama because a child may copy the words that aren’t needed, also it could offend a viewer watching it, but in general swearing and sex references also are not needed. Murder shouldn’t been shown on a children’s drama as it can be traumatising and upsetting for the child, if showing death it should be subtle and have a meaning behind it that isn’t horrific such as a family member dying of old age. Racism and negative stereotypes shouldn’t be used as it is promoting discrimination to a person that isn’t appropriate and may offend a viewer. Using real weapons and law breaking shouldn’t be in a children’s drama as its also promoting bad behaviour and isn’t needed. Using drugs and alcohol also shouldn’t be used because it isn’t age appropriate in a children’s drama and could also traumatise the viewer seeing someone their age in a bad position. And finally have flashing lights shouldn’t really be used as it could really affect people with epilepsy which isn’t fair and is discriminating against them as they cannot watch it.

My episode of Bernard’s watch doesn’t have any of these in it, I liked the fact it is a very calm programme. The start up isn’t flashy and in your face, and the episode as a whole is very calm and slow moving so it isn’t discriminating people with epilepsy. However other children’s dramas such as The Sarah Jane adventures and Tracey Beaker both have flashy opening credits so children with epilepsy may not be able to watch them. The only thing that may be wrong with this episode of Bernard’s Watch and the series as a whole is that he uses his watch to cheat. In this episode he uses his watch to stop time and see the answers to the maths test, and look at his friend’s answers, which may not be good as it could be promoting cheating. Other than that they use full grammar with no slang or swear words, the dressing is just average clothing and age appropriate and there isn’t any violence gore or sexual references, on a whole it’s a good children’s drama.