Audience Expectations

Audience Expectations

Before film companies create films they need to know what the consumer expects and wants in a film. This will be the same for my film opening I will be exploring audience expectations and existing film openings to help me develop a film opening what will fore-fill the audiences cravings.

Audience theories?

When looking at audiences The Uses and Gratification Theory by Bulmer and Katz can be useful in understanding what audiences want with the media they

Consume.

Diversion- People who want diversion enjoy fiction films as it brings the consumer out of the real world. A highly CGI film would go to there needs as it takes them to another world visually widening there imagination. Also the technology such as 4D and IMAX would help the consumer feel part of the films world and escape from life. Realistically I can’t make such a high cost film with advanced technology. To create the sense of escapism I can use different shot types to give the audience a real sense of setting and character. 

Personal relationships-People who want personal relationships within media enjoy reality TV as it lets you look in to the life of someone else and gives the illusion of you knowing whom the person is and being connected to there world. Geordie Shore is a perfect example of this. In films a relationship can be made for example with the main character. Producers position the audience to care for this character, as they will be invested within the films plot creating impact if anything happens to this character. My film opening will

Not be long enough for the audience to develop an emotion towards the characters so I cannot accomplish creating a personal relationship.

Personal Identity- People who watch for personal identity watch soap operas as they include real life problems what are relatable to the audience. Audiences want to be reflected in texts, as they can feel emotionally connected with the program. My film genre will be a Horror so I can’t create content what audiences can relate to.

Surveillance-People who want surveillance watch media what is informative and useful for living such as news or the weather channel. This is the complete opposite of diversion as audiences want to consume media for information rather entertainment and escapism. In my work I will not be going to the criteria of a surveillance audience as my film is fiction and its purpose is to entertain.

When making my film opening I will be focusing of audiences who watch media for diversion. Due to my genre being a Horror, audiences can escape with in the scenes, as they are unreliable and unrealistic. Sound is a main focus in horrors as they make audiences feel within the scene and experience discomfort like the characters themselves. In my work sound will be very important to set the mood for the audience and let them escape within the film.

What do audiences expect in a film opening?

Titles

Directors name

Actor’s names

Setting of scene

Introduction of the main character

Non-diagetic sound

Diagetic sound

Genre reveled

Enigma codes

Production Company