Audiences can be segmented and marketed in different ways, these depend on the way they have been defined. The main ways in which audiences are classified are by age, race, gender and location. Some other ways include class, values, attitudes and lifestyles. A example of one of the latest approaches to audience targeting is LifeMatrix which originates from the field of market research. It is a definition of ten audience categories, centred around both values, attitudes and beliefs as well as more fundamental, demographic audience categories. An example of one from the ten is Tribe Wired which is defined as digital, free-spirited, created young singles.
In order to define our audience we need to use audience segmentation/ levels of audience which is:
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Engagement, this describes how an audience interacts within a media text as different people react in different ways to the same text.
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Expectations, these are ideas an audience may have about a text, and it particularly applies to genre pieces.
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Foreknowledge, this is a definite information which an audience brings to a media product.
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Identification, this is the way in which audiences feel themselves connected to a particular media text, in that they feel it directly expresses their attitude or lifestyle.
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Placement, this is the range of strategies media producers use to directly target a particular audience and make them feel that the media text is specially 'for them'.
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Research, measuring an audience is very important to all media institutions. Research is done at all stages of production of a media text, and once produced, audience will be continually monitored.
We need to look at demographics and psycho graphics include: age, gender, family size, life cycle, generation (baby boomers, x, etc), income, occupation, education, ethnicity, nationality, religion, social class, activities, interests, opinions, attitudes and values.
We also need to take into account the benefits and disadvantages of niche audiences which are small and specific compared mass audiences which is as many as possible. The main fault of niche audiences is, if you get it wrong for the audience you are targeting you don't get views but it is specific and if it appealed to the people you targeted you would get views. In contrast to this, some target as many people as possible, a good factor about this is obviously more people to watch it and like it and dislike it but this means there is therefore too many people to please and the film could get a bit lost within this.
What are the Audience for a media product?
Users, consumers, critics and funders.
What must a creator take into account when considering an audience?
Age, opinions , lifestyle, gender, class, region, season, availability, expectations, wants, needs, what they get out of the media product, expectations from other media products, people, star theory, lives up to the hype, fashion, culture, trends, popularity, pleasure, meaning, people can relate to it (semiotics), audience past experience, money, cross media platforms, how they consume it (get their media).
What do you use films for?
For social events and occasions, for example maslow. These include social needs such as friends, family and award needs such as praise, gifts and self actualization such as influence and actions.
What does media provide audiences with?
Escapism, enjoyment, motivation, influence, aspirations, raise awareness, humour, entertainment and pleasure.
User and gratification theory..
Information: we want to find out about society and the world.
Personal Identity: we may watch the television in order to look for models for our behaviour.
Integration and Social Interaction: we use the media in order to find out more about circumstances of other people.
Entertainment: sometimes we simply use the media for enjoyment, relaxation or just to fill time.
In conclusion, we need to carry out some audience research techniques and gather the information we need to find out who our audience will be in order for them to enjoy our production.
Filming: I believe that we rushed a majority of our filming and we didn't take full advantage of the equipment available as we neglected the tripod for the majority of our shoot. This resulted in a lack of smooth and free flowing shots, instead we have a very wobbly camera which showed in our final product. However, having said this our filming was done within half an hour and was relatively easy to capture.
