Who would the audience be for your media product?

Evaluation Question 4

Why would people consume my film?

My film belongs to the film genre of Social Realism. I believe that people who would consume films from this genre would be people who are not concerned being given a slice of life, which is a view of life as it really is. These people should not be uneasy about being away from the mainstream.

Who would consume my film?

People who consume my film would be British realist enjoyers, people who enjoy niche film, and people with a wide variety of interests. I believe social realism can be consumed by both genders, whilst teenagers and young adults, who are mature, would enjoy it, as they can relate to the social realism issues and themes.

Overview
Theatre is an iconic aspect of art form. Cinema has been dominated over an extended period of time, by the theatre. There are different types of theatre, which can be consumed by different subcategorised audiences. Some of these different types of theatre may include:
High Street cinema Independent cinema Art Houses (a form of independent cinema)

High Street Cinema

This type of cinema refers to cinematic branches that can most likely be found in the average English High Street. Mainstream film is the focal area publicised within High Street Cinema, with genres such as action, comedy and drama very popular among high street cinema. Frequent branches may include:
Odeon Empire Cineworld

The Target Audience

The target demographic for venues like this are younger, less educated people (in regards to media knowledge) who prefer mainstream genres, such as action and adventure, to less popular genres such as social realism.

 Odeon cinemas provide film for a mainstream audience, and therefore will have a focus on mainstream American, and occasionally, British cinema. Social Realism is not a popular genre around these cinemas, therefore high street cinemas will not screen them. Without an audience for Social Realism in mainstream cinemas, it will not be consumed by a mainstream high street audience.

Independent Cinema
This refers to a cinema that is not part of a corporate chain of cinemas, thus detaching it from mainstream cinema generally. Consequently, it will not make nearly as much money as a high street cinema, though will not have to contain itself to mainstream cinema. They are more inclined to cater for the Social Realism/independent niche. This therefore gives independent cinema an exclusive aspect as being the only cinematic means of viewing these kinds of film.

Screening social realism films

These cinemas screen social realism films:
Arnolfini Bristol British Film Institute (BFI) Cornerhouse Manchester Icon Films Axiom Films National Theatre Live

There is no such thing as a social realism cinema.

 National Theatre Live broadcasts the best of British theatre live from the London stage to cinemas across the UK and around the world. Each broadcast is filmed in front of a live audience in a theatre, whilst satellites allow the productions to be broadcast live. They are trying to attract an audience who are interested in modern drama, as it is a theatre project.

Art Film
Art film is a form of independent cinema, which is aimed at a niche market audience. Art film is intended to be a serious artistic work, often experimental and not designed for mass appeal, made up for aesthetic reasons, rather than commercial profit. Different types of media exhibited at these art houses are art, dance, performance, and many more.

 Arnolfini, Bristol, is a Space For Ideas, and is a fantastic waterside location at Bristols harbour side, and is a registered charity, which is core funded. It is one of Europes leading centres for the contemporary arts, performance, dance, film, music and events, and much more.

Overview
Accessing film through the internet is one of the most popular means of consumption. These websites over a wide variety of film genres to choose from. Social Realist films can be viewed on these websites. Streaming films have become much more available and easier, due to the recent advantages in technologies.

The Target Audience

The films on these websites are usually consumed online by teenagers, and young adults. We can deduce that this platform is designed for groups who enjoy criticising films, are eager to give feedback, and mainly, are interested in accessing media content online.

 LoveFilm is the most popular screening site and film rental site. Films can be purchased, and then watched online, or delivered directly to the buyers house. From my Secondary Research, I have found that users can express their views of a film by rating it and commenting about it.

 MUBI is a social networking site made for film streamers, with classical, independent and foreign films being the highlighted film topic. You can share your opinions and comments on MUBI. From this, we understand that the audience are fans of low budget films, and are interested in international films, eager to explore the ways in which films worldwide are made, or how they are similar or dissimilar to British films.

 IMDb is a site used as a reading source for films. This site is different to LoveFilm and MUBI, as you can create an account and become involved in it; you can still share your comments and views. From this, we can understand that the film watchers are eager to express their opinions, and perhaps add to the existing film information, because they have watched the film, and would want to add information about the film, in their own words.

 BBC TWO had a seven week period, where they screened a variety of films to do with one genre, over each week. Week 3 was dedicated to social realism, and this suggests that the audience must at least enjoy these films for the BBC to screen them. This method benefits the popularity of social realism, as non consumers of this genre will come across these films, and may feel interested in them. A way of expressing social realism to non consumers is to screen social realism films on this particular channel, due to BBC Twos status as being rather substantial.

 BBC FOUR shows a wide variety of programmes, including drama, documentaries, music, international film, and original programmes. This channel is an alternative to programmes on the mainstream TV channels. Therefore, this channels target audience are likely to be more intellectually and artistically open to watching some films some viewers may find difficult in terms of entertainment value. This audience is similar to those who consume social realism.

 Film4 is a sister channel to Channel 4, which frequently has themed nights or seasons in which a number of films centered around one genre, director or actor are shown. This channel clearly tries to promote a certain topic. This channel broadcasts a vast majority of genres, namely mainstream ones, such as action and drama. Film4 targets old fashioned films, including independent films, or social realism films. Therefore, this channel does not have a particular demographic, as they are targeting both non users and regular users of social realism.

Radio

 BBC Radio Three do shows relating to social realism, such as adaptations of kitchen sink realist plays, such as the adaptation of John Osbornes play, Look Back In Anger. BBC Three listeners are clearly ones who enjoy social realism (and possibly other forms of the arts, such as theatre). This connotes an intellectual audience. The audience may be an elder generation, due to the presence of older forms of social realism, some of which occur in the 50s. This period of time helped inform the later generation of realist directors.

 BBC Radio Four does not air music, but compromises of intellectual discussions and reviews. Their target audience is therefore going to be people who are older and more intellectual, and enjoy logical talk shows. This radio station helps hold screenings for social realism films. Social realist actors and directors are interviewed on this radio programme, suggesting the audience would be interested in these films. An example would be the actress Olivia Colman, who appeared on BBC Radio Four to discuss her new film Tyrannosaur. Directors of arts style films, have also featured on this radio station, such as Aronofsky.

Print

 Sight and Sound is an example of a serious film magazine aimed at more intellectual readers. It is generally considered a magazine for Serious Film fans. They are associated with the BFI, suggesting their audience as being one interested in this aspect of British film; heavily involved in Social Realism.

My Target Audience research

 My own target audience research has taught me that the people who will consume my film are people who enjoy the social realist genre, and are not affected by the material not being particularly eye-catching.

This questionnaire concerning my film, is printed in black and white. It has no real eye-catching material. This will undoubtedly decrease the percentage of my audience who take an interest in my film.

Qualitative and Quantitative Results

From my quantitative and qualitative research, I found that younger people do not tend to consume social realism films, in the way older, intellectual people do. From my evidence obtained, I concluded that my demographic target audience for my film should be older people who have a higher education, and an advanced explanatory knowledge of social realism.

The age of my audience largely affected their answers based on questions asking them what type of film they consume, where they are most likely to watch a film, and whether they understand the term social realism.

For full analysis and evaluation on my responses, please refer to my Target Audience Research Objective (s) I, II, III and IV.