Question 4

Our target audience will be in the physiographic groups of explorers and strugglers, because explorers want to find out who’s behind the murders and strugglers will like this film because it is very different from their reality and would like to escape their lives. Our audiences age between 15 and 40; this is so we can have a larger audience. We think that more males would watch this film because the protagonist is a male and the antagonist is a male. ­­

We researched the physiographic groups to find the correct audience for our film.

Struggler

Alienated, disorganised - with few resources apart from physical. Consumers of alcohol, junk food and lotteries, also trainers. Brand choice involves impact and sensation. Escape reality

Mainstreamer Domestic

Conformist, conventional, sentimental. Part of the mass, favouring big and well-known value for money 'family' brands.

Aspirer

Materialistic, acquisitive, image, appearance, charisma, fashion. Attractive packaging more important than quality of contents. (Younger, clerical/sales type occupation)

Succeeders

Strong goals, confidence, work ethic, organisation. Brand choice based on reward, the very best. Also attracted to 'caring' and protective brands. Watch films to get rid of stress (Top management)

Explorer

Energy - autonomy, experience, challenge, new frontiers. Brand choice highlights difference, sensation, adventure, indulgence and instant effect - the first to try new brands. (Younger - student) want to discover the truth

Reformer

 Free from restrictions, personal growth, social awareness, value for time, independent judgement, tolerance of complexity, anti-materialistic but intolerant of bad taste. Curious and enquiring, support growth of new product categories. Select brands for intrinsic quality, favouring natural simplicity. (Higher Education)

Resigned

Seeks survival, typically older people with an interest in the past and tradition. Rigid and authoritarian values.

Once we finished this piece of research, we chose to make our production appeal to Explorers because they seek adventure and want to find out the truth. Also Strugglers because the want to escape reality and want to find something new.

We did Vox Pops to find out what the public wanted from a thriller. We asked two questions what is your favourite thriller? and why?, the Vox Pop also showed each interviewee’s age and occupation. This was very helpful, but it didn’t go into much detail, I wish our group had done questionnaires to get better results. Also from these results we couldn’t clearly see our target audience, because everybody we interviewed had very different jobs to one another and where of many different ages. If we did this again, I would like to still do the Vox Pops with much more questions and even do questionnaires as an additional source of information.

Our Vox Pops told us that our audience is mainly male. We found out that the interviewee’s loved the most popular thrillers like, Physco, Training day, James bond: Skyfall, Jurassic park and Snatch. Training day and snatch are more male oriented films. We inter viewed harry and he said that “physco really sets the benchmark for thriller films” we took these five films into account when we were in the planning stages. Also we found out that our audience likes to have a character, who they can really relate to and like. Also somebody well known in the film industry. The also said that the film has to be suspenseful, the audience like to be kept on the edge of their seat. Someone said they like a hint of the sub-genre sci-fi in the films, but we didn’t include any, so if I did it again I might have added some science fiction.

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is an independent, non-governmental, notfor-profit, co-regulatory body. We are funded through fees charged to those who submit films and video works for classification.

Usually a team will agree on the age rating because we base all our age rating decisions on the BBFC’s Guidelines, but if we do not, the work is sent to another examining team. If they still disagree, works are brought to the weekly examining meeting for further discussion or sent to the BBFC’s Director or Presidential team. Really contentious works, like former 'Video Nasties', like the good the bad the ugly or cinema releases right on the border between two age ratings and likely to provoke comment, will often be seen again even if the first team agrees a decision.

Here is a list of the classifications from BBFC:

U Universal – Suitable for all.

A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over, although it is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. U films should be set within a positive framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.

PG- Parental guidance.

 A PG film should not unsettle a child aged around eight or older. Unaccompanied children of any age may watch, but parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger, or more sensitive, children.

12/12A- suitable for 12+ or under 12 with an adult.

Suitable for 12+ or under 12 with an adult. Discrimination must not be endorsed by films message. Drug use should be infrequent, and instructional details should not be given. Sexual references can be briefly portrayed, although the activity should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers. Moderate violence is allowed, although it should not dwell on gory details.

15- No one younger than 15 may see a 15 film in a cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a 15 rated video work. The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour, although there may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language. Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Sexual activity may be portrayed, but usually without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour.

18- No one younger than 18 may see an 18 film in a cinema. No one younger than 18 may rent or buy an 18 rated video work. Adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas: where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence. Where material or treatment appears to us to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society. For example, the detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use.  Contains detailed explicit images.

R18- Restricted 18

They can only be shown on licenced premises or licenced shops. Usually contains material that breaches criminal law. Material that encourages sexual abuse, the infliction of pain, or any sexual threats or humiliation which isn’t clearly defined in the plot.

From what I found out in my research, thrillers usually have a high age rating from the BBFC, because of the material that is in the film. For example violence or nudity is very common in thrillers. This tells me that a wide range audience will enjoy these films more because the film is quite mature.

If I were to send off your thriller to the BBFC, I would hope we got the age rating of 15, because it won’t be really detailed gore, but to still show some characters deaths. There will be no sexual content, but suggested drug taking. This is beneficial because this age rating will suit our target audience. But we also would hope for the 15 rating because there are still adult/mature content and which we thing is inappropriate for persons under the age of 15 we don’t want they to see the film. Also if we make the film an 18 then it will make our audience small.

Audience Profile-

Aged 15to 40

Mainly male

Wealth- Explorers earns a good amount of money, can afford nice clothes. Is very smart. Wear many different clothes. Strugglers earns an “ok” amount of money, spends money of things they enjoy.

Music- Listens to modern music, for example house and pop. On the radio or on an mp3 player.

Job- Typically a student or someone who has adventurous job, like the navy. Could also be a normal factory worker or unemployed.

Interests- Reading, the paper or late teen/young adult magazines. Watching films, thrillers, action and adventure. Uses social media like Facebook