Audience research

Audience Research is crucial during the creation of a short film, because you have to take into account what an audience member will relate to and therefore enjoy. In order to make our short film appealing to an audience we composed a survey in which we would ask different age groups, in order to dictate a target audience for our film.

1) What is your favourite genre to watch and why?

2) Do you prefer the central protagonist to be male or female and why?

3) Would a film about the 7/7 London bombings appeal to you? If so, why?

4) Do you like the tagline, ‘What not to expect when you’re expecting?

5) Does the title, ‘Calamity’ appeal to you? If so, why?

“My favourite genre to watch is horror. I am enthralled by the unknown in terms of the paranormal and like the element of anticipation the genre brings”

“ I like comedies and dramas, because I like the idea of someone creating a realistic approach on life rather than a fake interpretation that I cant relate to”

“ I really like dramas because I always find a character that is like me, therefore I am able to understand and respect the lifestyle that they are living”

“ "I like action movies like star wars. They are exciting to watch and I would like to be in them”

“Male because I can normally relate to them on a serious level and enjoy watching a film more if I can understand the characters point of view”

“Female because its nice to see female empowerment and a female getting the chance to be the main character in a great film”

“I like the idea of there being a male and female main character and their lives interlinking. It gives the audience a chance to feel emotionally connect to both genders”

“It appeals to me to a certain extent. I like the idea of show casing a fundamental part of history, however, sometimes with films that do so, it lacks realism”

“I love this idea! I would definitely watch it because I know for a fact I would cry and everyone needs a good film that can make them feel a strong emotion”

“ If someone asked me to see this film in a cinema I wouldn’t be jumping with joy to watch it. However, with the right actors and story line I feel like it would be a film I could enjoy. It all depends on the trailer”

“ Not really. Although it sounds like a pun and I like puns, it lacks any insight on the narrative of the film”

“ Yeah I like this tagline!! It makes me question what the character hasn’t expected and what they were expecting. Mind boggling that one”

“I’m liking the sound of this tagline. It's quite ambiguous in a sense because it makes me wonder whether there is going to be a plot twist in the film. I love a good plot twist”

“ I like the fact that it is just one word because that makes it quite hard hitting, but I’m not sure what the film would be about judging but this title”

“ I love this title! It creates an enigma as to what situation occurs for it

be categorised as a calamity”

By Tamia Mullaney-Downer

Why is audience Research important?

The questions we asked are as follows:

1) What is your favourite genre and why?

Name: Susan Mullaney

Age:41

Name: Mehdadul Kazi

Age: 18

Name: Tanisha Mullaney-Downer

Age:21

Name: Lucas Ince

Age:7

2) Do you prefer the central protagonist to be male or female and why?

Name: Kieran Ince

Age:25

Name: Tony Ince

Age:51

Name: Olivia Lizzimore

Age:17

3) Would a film about the 7/7 London Bombings appeal to you? If so, why?

Name: Teresa Russell

Age: 46

Name: Niambh Maher

Age: 17

Name: Taylor Mullaney-Downer

Age:19

4) Do you like the tagline, 'What not to expect when you're expecting?

Name: Robert Mullaney

Age:69

Name: Erlandas Barkauskas

Age: 18

Name: Daniel King

Age:19

5) Does the title, 'Calamity' appeal to you? If so, why?

Name: Lisa Lizzimore

Age:43

Name: Ragavan Mangleswaren

Age:17

Types of Audience

Types of Audience:

Target/Primary Audience
Secondary
Tertiary Audience

Audience Response:

Reception Theory (Hall)
Uses and Gratification model

Survalliance
Diversion/Escapism/Entertainment
Personal Identity
Social Interaction/Intergration

Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of needs

Maslow's Hierarchy of needs exemplifies a structure emphasizing human needs. The pyramid depicts crucial aspects of audience gratification, which are important to take into account when creating a film, in order for us to understand the aspects we need to incorporate in order to understand our audience and immerse them into the experience. Maslow wanted to emphasize the fact that in terms of an audience members needs, some are more significant to others. He epitomizes physiological needs at the bottom of the pyramid which demonstrates the first thing that motivates audience behavior. Maslow first believed that 'individuals must satisfy lower level deficit needs before progressing on to meet higher level growth needs'. However he then stated that, 'satisfaction of a needs is not an“all-or-none” phenomenon'. This means that in order for us to successfully aid Maslow's conventions, we must statisfy every part of the five tier pyramid.