Question 4 and Question 5Who would be the audience for your media product and How did you attract/ address your audience.When deciding on what genre of film I wanted to create, it came down to the taste of film I personally enjoy. A light hearted comedy. I conducted a Target research questionnaire and asked all the members in my class who were approximately the same age as me (17) to par-take so that I could value to what extent the quantity of humour I needed to include in my film to attract and please a large enough audience. In 2013 the 15-24 age group made up the largest proportion of UK cinema admissions at 33% according to The Numbers website.

Here are the results from these questions I asked.

When watching a comedy do you?

Laugh out loud

Laugh Smile Just watch0

0.51

1.52

2.53

3.5

MaleFemale

What do you look for in a comedy?

Slapstick Sarcasm Location Music Props012345

MaleFemale

As shown a majority of my target audience preferred to just laugh or smile during a movie. Knowing that the story of the film would feature a dominant female character I took into an account the female response more, making the humour in my film seem light hearted and warming so not to throw off my audience. However knowing the story line featured a group of teenagers of similar ages to my target audience and that it was based on them sneaking off on a group holiday which most teenagers dream of doing when things get stressful and can sympathise with. It was important to not lose sight of what the male audience enjoyed. Luckily these results weren’t catastrophically different and actually upon seeing my audience watch my film there were both smiles and laughter in appropriate parts of the film.

However according to The Numbers website, Comedy has had 2,215 movies produced between 1995-2016, showing the audience is one of the biggest and as a matter of fact adventure movies which ranks second has 666, showing a significant change in demand. The total box office for Comedies in the time period is $41,592,157,817 and 6,552,343,127 tickets have been sold. This shows that even if my movie was targeted at a younger age group there is a substantial audience out there. Comedies own the most shares at 21.96%.

The characters played a huge part in whom my target audience would be, as they all featured different personalities. This was important to me as I wanted to reach out to a number of people when creating this film. The cast is equal, Two Girls and Two Boys. This allows both Male and Female audience to enjoy separately or together. A point to make though would be how the main character is a girl, so the story line will follow her closely which could lead to a female dominated audience. Never the less the two boys within my film will continue to bring humour to the audience and to please a male audience.

Hailey, Played by Rosie Patton was the main character in my film. The audience can assume she initiates the whole idea of sneaking off on this holiday as she is introduced first at 6:00 am (a time a typical teenager wouldn’t be getting up!) and walking to the window, saying ‘ Let’s go’. She drives the car

and ensures that everyone is picked up and that they are on time. But her actions aren’t the only thing I wanted to portray in the character of Hailey. It becomes clear from the clothes she wears that Hailey enjoys being in things she feels good and comfortable in, she simply wants to blend in but be comfortable within herself. I have chosen to leave Hailey’s hair down with light make up to show she is a natural beauty and content with herself, she doesn’t need to impress anyone but herself.

Knowing a female audience would be interested in this film and that Hailey is the main character I wanted her to show that being yourself is a good thing and that dressing to show wealth isn’t necessary. She is a happy, friendly character and I hope she will make the audience connect with her.

Nick, Played by Stan Guilford, Is a character I intended to create the most humour. My male audience in which par-took in my questionnaire said they liked slapstick and sarcasm and to laugh when watching a comedy. Nick has this all, his outfit is outrageous for January. Shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. He lies through his teeth to his mum over breakfast, acting all sweet (Ferris Beuellers’ day off) and asking to stay round a friends, but then walking out the front door with a bright shirt and sunglasses on shouting, ‘who’s ready for the best holiday ever?!’ Nick is a very cheeky chap within my film and his friendship and actions are going to cause a lot of humour within this film. Knowing a male audience are most likely going to what to laugh more, a male actor suited this role more.

The introduction to each of my characters masked each of their personalities. I intended for this to attract my audience due to the realistic qualities each had. As mentioned above, Hailey is introduced first and can be seen as the main character and the ring leader to this trip away. She is calm and collected as she walks to her car and at this point the audience is left wondering where she is going. The character Abi who is introduced next, starts the first bit of humour off, indicating the comedy feel to this movie. She pokes her head out the door like a young child as her dad goes into the bathroom to shower. And again she is seen running to the car not knowing what’s really going on shouting ‘I’m coming, I’m coming’ completely unaware of the fact her dad could hear her. Nick is introduced next and his charming ability around his mum ensures he is out the house on time and ready for the journey to the airport. James is next introduced, his name is mentioned within Nick’s conversation with his mum, leading the audience to see his importance with Nick. For a male audience they would be able to relate to the friend they would cheekily tell their parents they were staying at, but actually wanting to sneak off. However James is a shy and quiet character and is also late. These four different personas would relate to my audience in different ways. So creating the speech and the costumes for each was important when trying to attract my audience.

Feedback from my movie showed I had made the right choices.

A majority of my female audience aged between 16 and 17 said they found the music and the actors went well with my genre and created a happy feel, this meant a lot because it meant the film had done the talking and actually the plot had shown and created a feel good comedy by itself. A number of people said how the actual editing looked good and each scene lead to the next well. I put a lot into my editing as I was new to it, so for my audience to think I had done a good job showed my continued improvement from my Prelim Task. A few females mentioned costume, so I know that next time more emphasise could be added to the costumes to intrigue the audience.

Ellie aged 17:

• Loved the use of sound.

• Actors were good.

• Liked the story line- nice script!

• Nice range of shots.

• Connected well with the audience.

Maz aged 17:

Good shots in the car Music builds up excitement Each different persons perspective works really well Plot is clear Happy feel- fits genre

Elisha aged 17:

Good use of shots Nice costume choice Like the soundtrack, some shots were well placed on the soundtrack Can clearly see a narrative

However the male audience aged 16 to 17 paid more attention to the sounds and the titles within my film. This feedback was very useful as I tried to create titles which started the enigma of a fun, young movie and this was picked up on. The improvement I now know I need to be careful for next time is that the sound quality could be improved. A majority of my male audience picked up on the plot and the genre through the music however a few mentioned how my casting – Stan as Nick helped portray the comedic feel. Overall I am very content as my viewers;

Matt aged 17: I really like the costumes used to show the holiday plotline. The actors were well selected. The character Stan plays definitely helps to portray the comedy genre. The target audience is met due to the teenage ‘friend’s holiday’ concept. Well done.

Solomon aged 17: I thought it was groovy, good music, good camera shots and it was nicely put together.

Cameron aged 17: Good use of colour and shots to create a good atmosphere, Soundtrack also aided this.