First, it was the audience size. Depending on the theme and plot of the film, the audience size will vary. A mass audience makes up 40% of the population and is a large and broad audience which enjoys mainstream media and film whereas a niche audience is a select group with a common, particular interest. We decided that to get the most enjoyment out of our opening and to entertain the widest audience that a mass audience would be appropriate.
The audience size and interests would also depend on the demographic grouping of our audience to suit the plot and themes of the film. The groups are as followed:
Group A: top management, bankers, lawyers, doctors, etc.
Group B: teachers, graphic designers, etc.
Group C1: supervisors, junior management, nurses, clerical staff, etc.
Group C2: skilled workers, etc.
Group D: semi-skilled, manual labourers, etc.
Group E: unemployed, students, pensioners, etc.
The audience and those allowed to see the film would also be limited due to its certification. The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) control the films released to the public in the UK by setting age restrictions of U, PG, 12A, 12, 15 and 18 decided through the amount of violence, language, sex and nudity, drugs, discrimination, imitable behaviour and themes of the film. However, these are only guidelines and councils can choose their own rating. As a group, we decided that we wanted adult themes for our film and it to be enjoyed by both adults and teenagers. This made our film around the rating of a 15.
Using different audience theories, we can also understand how a film can be viewed or interpreted and the effect this can have on the audience.
The Hypodermic Needle Theory describes how the audience can be manipulated throughout the film as they take the film as it is. Films of this theory are just for entertainment purposes as the audience does not need to do much working out and the plots tend to be basic and linear. However, the theory describes media as a syringe injecting beliefs and attitudes into the audience which can influence an audience. This can be damaging and there have been several cases with young children watching violent films and then repeating this violence.
The Uses and Gratifications Theory (McQuail), however, explains the audience's participation in a film to be more active and engaging to gratify individual needs. The basic need is entertainment; the audience watches the film to relax and to be entertained. The audience can also engage through personal relationships or social integration in which the audience can identify with the film and it's characters, as well as through personal identity in which the audience member compares their life to the character's in the film. An audience may also watch a film to gain information and be educated about the world or others in it.
The Reception Theory, like the Uses and Gratifications Theory, explains the audience's participation further specifically when the enigma code has been used in a plot. The media is encoded by the producer and it is up to the audience to decode and understand it. This creates questioning as to whether each audience member receives the same experience and watches the same film.
With an understanding of these three audience theories and the target audience we will be targeting, it will be able to help us to decide on a narrative for our opening and to be aware with what we put into it and which certification it should have. It has also let me think about other mainstream film and what their target audiences and certifications are and why they have been chosen.
Using different audience theories, we can also understand how a film can be viewed or interpreted and the effect this can have on the audience.
The Hypodermic Needle Theory describes how the audience can be manipulated throughout the film as they take the film as it is. Films of this theory are just for entertainment purposes as the audience does not need to do much working out and the plots tend to be basic and linear. However, the theory describes media as a syringe injecting beliefs and attitudes into the audience which can influence an audience. This can be damaging and there have been several cases with young children watching violent films and then repeating this violence.
The Uses and Gratifications Theory (McQuail), however, explains the audience's participation in a film to be more active and engaging to gratify individual needs. The basic need is entertainment; the audience watches the film to relax and to be entertained. The audience can also engage through personal relationships or social integration in which the audience can identify with the film and it's characters, as well as through personal identity in which the audience member compares their life to the character's in the film. An audience may also watch a film to gain information and be educated about the world or others in it.
The Reception Theory, like the Uses and Gratifications Theory, explains the audience's participation further specifically when the enigma code has been used in a plot. The media is encoded by the producer and it is up to the audience to decode and understand it. This creates questioning as to whether each audience member receives the same experience and watches the same film.
With an understanding of these three audience theories and the target audience we will be targeting, it will be able to help us to decide on a narrative for our opening and to be aware with what we put into it and which certification it should have. It has also let me think about other mainstream film and what their target audiences and certifications are and why they have been chosen.
