Research - Target Audience

Target Audience

About: 

Hey guys,

I want to learn about target audiences in film and how different demographics function. I’m going to explore the typical target audience for a crime thriller movie and discover what draws them to the genre and what they expect from it. I’ll also discuss the techniques a film like Se7en used to attract its audience. Identifying who a movie is catering to is extremely important, and it’s one of the first things many filmmakers focus on.

What is Film Demographics?

Film demographics describe who watches movies based on audience characteristics such as age, gender, education, and ethnicity, helping filmmakers identify and reach their target audience. Filmmakers do many things to tailor their films to specific audiences. One of the most interesting things I discovered is that they measure catchment areas, which means they determine how far people are willing to travel to see a movie—often depending on public transportation. This is a strategy I never would have imagined, but it shows just how important target audiences and demographics really are.

Age Range:

The age range is a crucial aspect of any film because it determines both the film’s style and the audience it targets. For example, if a movie is made for a younger audience, it will usually be more kid-friendly, featuring bright colors and lively animations that appeal to children. In contrast, films made for adults often include more violence and explore deeper, more complex themes that wouldn’t appear in children’s movies. This is where the main difference lies.

To help define these age groups, an organization called the Motion Picture Association (MPA) created a film rating system that is still used in the United States today. Here’s what each of their ratings represents:

Crime thrillers typically appeal to young adults and older audiences, generally ranging from ages 15 to 40. Many films in this genre are rated R by the MPA, which makes sense since the themes and content shown in most crime thrillers are far too mature for children. I will be analyzing three different crime thriller movies and their film ratings.

• No Country for Old Men (2007) is rated R
• Se7en (1995) is rated R  
• Prisoners (2013) is rated R

The main reason they’re rated R is because of the graphic action and intense investigations shown in these movies. The R rating indicates that I need to target an adult audience, since that’s the primary demographic for my genre. Many of the conventions within this genre are specifically aimed at adults.

What Gender Does It Appeal Too?

Crime thrillers are statistically enjoyed by both men and women. I expected the genre to attract a larger male audience, but the viewership is actually quite balanced among people aged 15 to 40. This even split may be because crime thrillers often reflect the realities of true criminal cases, which appeals to both genders since crime can affect anyone.

What's Next?

Next I'm going to research how my genre makes titles and the importance of the colors.

Research- Convention

Crime Thriller Conventions 

About:

Hey guys,

In this blog, I’m going to explore the key conventions of the crime thriller genre. After watching three films, I’ve started to understand how these conventions connect with mise-en-scène to help the audience interpret what they’re seeing. I’ll also define what a genre convention is, explain how it applies to crime thrillers, and see how this understanding can support my future production work. In the crime thriller genre, there are specific elements that appear frequently, helping viewers recognize it as part of that genre. I’ll include examples of mise-en-scène and common themes typically found in crime thrillers.

Genre Convention:

I liked how the website Fiveable explained genre conventions: “Genre conventions are the established norms and characteristics that define a specific genre, helping audiences identify and categorize films based on familiar patterns. These conventions can include elements like themes, character types, settings, and narrative structures that resonate with viewers’ expectations.” This definition was clear, and I’m going to take note of it in case I ever forget what “genre convention” specifically means.

Mise-en-scene:

 -Location:

• Empty houses or buildings
• Big cities that can be filled with crime.
• Remote islands
• Police station
• Dark forest

 -Props:

• A variety of weapons like knifes, hammer, and guns; weapons are probably the most common prop. Used by killer or investigator.
• Flash light
• Clip board or something they use to write details about the crime.
• gloves

 -Clothing: 

• Suits that investigator have on while on the scene.
• Coats
• Normal clothing for a disguised serial killer.
  

-Lighting

• Usually low-key light
• Natural light
• dim light

Important Conventions:

• MacGuffin are the objective or desires a antagonist has.
• Investigative Red Herrings: Clues that mislead the protagonist through out the film.
• Challenging desires: The protagonist will try to stop the antagonist desires which will make them want to beat the protagonist as painful as possible.
• Clock: The protagonist has limited time to act before the antagonist reaches their goal. 

Before researching these conventions, I didn’t know what MacGuffins or red herrings were. This research definitely helped me with the development of my opening scene. I now understand that it’s vital to know my antagonist’s desires in order to structure the beginning of the movie effectively. Knowing when to apply these elements will be a challenge, but it’s something I’ll make sure to focus on.

What's Next: 

I’m going to work on identifying the target audience and understanding who is most attracted to this genre. I have a general idea of who the target audience might be, but I’m not completely sure yet. I want to fully capture what my audience is looking for because I think that’s an essential part of creating a successful film in any genre.


Source
https://storygrid.com/thriller-genre/

https://windsorgirls.weebly.com/gemini-productions/codes-and-conventions-in-thriller-opening-scenes

https://fiveable.me/film-and-media-theory/key-terms/genre-conventions

https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/criminal-fashion/

https://www.savannahgilbo.com/blog/crime-conventions