Criteria 4: Who Would Be The Audience For Your

Media product

Criteria 5: How Did You Attract/Address Your

Audience.

Criteria 5: How Did You Attract/Address Your

Audience.

How To Find My Audience

» In order to find the demographic for my film, I looked at production companies of the social realism genre, individual films, mainstream and niche audiences.

» I also conducted two questionnaires of my own that identifies the audience.

» In order to find the demographic for my film, I looked at production companies of the social realism genre, individual films, mainstream and niche audiences.

» I also conducted two questionnaires of my own that identifies the audience.

Production Companies

» Companies such as BBC films, Film Four and Vertigo are large producers and distributors of social realism films

» BBC films have produced the likes of “Last Resort” and “Fish Tank”

» Film Four have funded films like “This Is England” and “Trainspotting”

» Vertigo have in their repertoire “London to Brighton” and “Football Factory”

» Companies such as BBC films, Film Four and Vertigo are large producers and distributors of social realism films

» BBC films have produced the likes of “Last Resort” and “Fish Tank”

» Film Four have funded films like “This Is England” and “Trainspotting”

» Vertigo have in their repertoire “London to Brighton” and “Football Factory”

» All of these films are social realism films, like my own media product.

» They all have very similar mainstream audiences, which are younger (16-25), middle class student. This is the audience due to the films content i.e. all the films, given as examples, have younger actors, and some represent more current themes with youths (e.g. teenage violence in Fish Tank).

» However, some of the examples (Last Resort), would still have the “traditional” older (30-40), middle class audience, due to the themes, such as immigration and discrimination.

» All of these films are social realism films, like my own media product.

» They all have very similar mainstream audiences, which are younger (16-25), middle class student. This is the audience due to the films content i.e. all the films, given as examples, have younger actors, and some represent more current themes with youths (e.g. teenage violence in Fish Tank).

» However, some of the examples (Last Resort), would still have the “traditional” older (30-40), middle class audience, due to the themes, such as immigration and discrimination.

Niche Audience

» As well as the mainstream audiences the films also have a niche audience, whom the film isn’t necessarily targeted at, but they watch the film regardless.

» An example of this is “Last Resort” who had a niche audience in Spain (Vertigo distributed film to Spain), which is surprising given the language barrier, but the attraction to the the film may be due the fact that Spain

also have immigration problems like England.

» As well as the mainstream audiences the films also have a niche audience, whom the film isn’t necessarily targeted at, but they watch the film regardless.

» An example of this is “Last Resort” who had a niche audience in Spain (Vertigo distributed film to Spain), which is surprising given the language barrier, but the attraction to the the film may be due the fact that Spain

also have immigration problems like England.

My Film Audience

» Taking into account the mainstream and niche audiences explored in other films it is fair to assume who my audience will be.

» My mainstream audience would be middle class youths (16-25). This is because the actors in my film are young and the themes are bullying, teenage violence, domestic troubles and running away, which are current with the youths of today.

» My niche audience could be social realism enthusiasts who watch all social realism films in order to analyse. Another could be middle aged adults, who are curious to see how youths are being represented. Even school teachers could be a niche audience as they may wish to see how school is represented.

» Taking into account the mainstream and niche audiences explored in other films it is fair to assume who my audience will be.

» My mainstream audience would be middle class youths (16-25). This is because the actors in my film are young and the themes are bullying, teenage violence, domestic troubles and running away, which are current with the youths of today.

» My niche audience could be social realism enthusiasts who watch all social realism films in order to analyse. Another could be middle aged adults, who are curious to see how youths are being represented. Even school teachers could be a niche audience as they may wish to see how school is represented.

Target Audience Research

» For obvious reasons I could not just assume this was my demographic so I printed of a questionnaire in order to find my audience.

» For obvious reasons I could not just assume this was my demographic so I printed of a questionnaire in order to find my audience.

Questionnaire

» My questionnaire was separated into 4 sections: biographical information, viewing habits, tastes and preferences and the audience’s knowledge of the genre.

» From these four sections I could easily identify my audience and find out what appeals to them

» My questionnaire was separated into 4 sections: biographical information, viewing habits, tastes and preferences and the audience’s knowledge of the genre.

» From these four sections I could easily identify my audience and find out what appeals to them

» Two of my questions were “have you ever seen a social realism film (please state which one if answered yes)” and “did you enjoy the film you saw”.

» The majority answered yes to both, however I discovered that almost all the films listed in the results were either a hybrid genre (i.e. The Full Monty, comedy/social realism), or a film portraying young people (i.e. Kidulthood, negatively portrays youths).

» This told me what my audience likes to see, and from the biographical information I could tell that my audience was middle class youths (16-20).

» Two of my questions were “have you ever seen a social realism film (please state which one if answered yes)” and “did you enjoy the film you saw”.

» The majority answered yes to both, however I discovered that almost all the films listed in the results were either a hybrid genre (i.e. The Full Monty, comedy/social realism), or a film portraying young people (i.e. Kidulthood, negatively portrays youths).

» This told me what my audience likes to see, and from the biographical information I could tell that my audience was middle class youths (16-20).

» This linked into my next question which asked whether the audience likes films portraying anti-social youths (which is a large theme in my two minute introduction).

» The majority answered “yes” or “sometimes” showing that the people answering the questionnaires would enjoy my film.

» This now tells me the audience would appreciate the themes and representations of my film.

» This linked into my next question which asked whether the audience likes films portraying anti-social youths (which is a large theme in my two minute introduction).

» The majority answered “yes” or “sometimes” showing that the people answering the questionnaires would enjoy my film.

» This now tells me the audience would appreciate the themes and representations of my film.

Addressing My Audience

» Despite finding my demographic, one of my other questions asked what the audience understood about social realism in the film genre. Most participants were unable to answer this question, meaning most did not fully understand what social realism actually is.

» So instead of further questionnaires about social realism, it seemed sensible to make my introduction then show this to a focus group who knew what social realism was and make a questionnaire to acquire their thoughts and criticisms on my film.

» Despite finding my demographic, one of my other questions asked what the audience understood about social realism in the film genre. Most participants were unable to answer this question, meaning most did not fully understand what social realism actually is.

» So instead of further questionnaires about social realism, it seemed sensible to make my introduction then show this to a focus group who knew what social realism was and make a questionnaire to acquire their thoughts and criticisms on my film.

» This questionnaire asked questions like “did you enjoy the film” and “did it seem like a social realism film”.

» Fortunately all answered yes, and the rest of the questionnaire was to simply find out their criticisms then improve my film based on it.

» Questions included “were there any major flaws with the film” and “did the titles work well” etc.

» Because of the knowledge my focus group had all the answers linked back to social realism, which meant my introduction could be fully relatable to my mainstream demographic after the improvements were made.

» This questionnaire asked questions like “did you enjoy the film” and “did it seem like a social realism film”.

» Fortunately all answered yes, and the rest of the questionnaire was to simply find out their criticisms then improve my film based on it.

» Questions included “were there any major flaws with the film” and “did the titles work well” etc.

» Because of the knowledge my focus group had all the answers linked back to social realism, which meant my introduction could be fully relatable to my mainstream demographic after the improvements were made.