How did we attract/address your audience?Jack Simmons

Attracting our audience

Creating a demand

• To attract our audience we found that the easiest thing to do is use the conventions of something that has already created a demand. In our case we know that horror genre sells, so the best action to take was to follow the conventions of the horror genre. Demand has also been heightened by the rising number of popular horror/supernatural TV dramas such as The Ghost Whisperer, especially within the teenage generation.

• Another way that we created a demand was to use a storyline that everyone could relate to. By using a generalised storyline its more likely that the audience will be able to empathise with the characters involved, it also makes the storyline more believable which will expand the TA to people who don’t like far fetched action movies.

Horror stereotypes

• Stereotyped Characters make big money. This is because its a generalised view recognised by most people. For example, when thinking of a victim within a horror movie most people assume they will be female, young and alone (making the vulnerable).

• As proved by box office results movies such as the Saw franchise and The Final Destination Franchise have sold in their millions and they are some of the most stereotypical horror films available with maximum blood and gore throughout the narrative.

Social networking

As I have said in another one of my posts, social networking is key to attracting your audience. By using things such as Facebook adverts, Pages & Groups you can quickly, cheaply and easily start to grown a fan base. Everyone in industry has started to realise that things spread far quicker by word of mouth when people have a genuine interest so viral marketing seems to be the way forward.

addressing our audience

How did we address them?

We addressed our audience through use of Camera shots/angles, mise en scene, editing and sound. We found that by using dramatic camera angles and fast editing we we able to create suspense whilst giving the very unsetteling feeling of an ordinary home by the use of mise en scene. Music was also used to heighten the audiences emotions and allowing them to become more involved with the movie; this is the most powerful mode of address.

Here are a few examples...

Here is a close up low angle shot of the killers feet. By addressing the audience in this way they get the impression that the antagonist is really big. Big also has connotations of strength and domination. By using the costume it also reaffirms the audiences already strong stereotypical view.

Terror...

This high angle medium close up clearly shows the emotions of the victim. She is quite obviously scared for her life. This is a good shot to use as it a direct mode of address. Almost looking at the camera its as if shes crying out for help yet the audience can do nothing to help.

Normality...

In this shot the mise en scene is powerful; with all the books it shows how ‘normal’ she must be, books also have connotations of intelligence. Furthermore the calm ‘Aftermath’ scenes between the action sequences are made lighter so that the darkening of the shot is seen as well as taken literally; as in a dark act is taking place.