Film Target Audience

Age
15-25
This is because our film is about two young characters (aged 18) who fall in love, and therefore we want our audience to be able to relate to them. The romance film will have two very likable easily relatable, typical teenagers. So part of the appeal of the film is our audience relating to the characters, because they should be feeling like they want to be the character.

Gender
Females
This is because our film is a conventional romance film, and they are usually aimed at a female audience. Stereotypically females enjoy romance films more than males, so being a typical romance film we are targeting females. The female protagonist in our film is a typical girl for her age, and so girls who watch the film will be able to relate to her. The male protagonist has the characteristics of a girls 'dream boy', and so girls watching will want to be like the female protagonist, because the characters fall in love.

Relationship Status
We are aiming at single people, so that they can watch the film and relate to the main two characters. Also because we want the audience to feel escape when they watch the film, so they can imagine that they are the main character falling in love with the other main character.

Social Demographic
The intended social demographic of our film is E. This is because we are aiming our film at students who would not have much money. Our two characters in the film are students and they do not have much disposable income, so the places they go on dates is usually relatively cheap and a typical place for a teenager. Therefore by aiming at students with little disposable income, they can relate to the two main characters.

Occupation
People in high school, college or university
Our film is aimed at people who are currently in education, because our two main characters in the film are currently in college. Both characters are in college, and are not looking for love because they are focused on their education. However they accidentally meet and begin to start a relationship. Therefore our audience can relate to the characters if they are currently in education. Also if our audience is people in education, it is young people, which is the age we are aiming for. Although we are not aiming our film at any age below 15, because before that age children do not care about romance and our film is a 15 so it may be to hard for them to understand.

Hobbies and Interests
Our target audience is people interested in commonly popular entertainment. This includes going to the park, cafés, ice skating and watching films. These are going to be the places and activities that the main characters are going to do/go together, whilst they are on their dates. Therefore an audience would be more interested in the film if they understood or like typical activities. The audience should like typical activities because we are aiming at a typical female audience, and they usually like these activities.

Personality
Our audience should be kind so that they can relate to the main two protagonists. Also because the audience should be rooting for the main characters to get together, and feel happy when they do. Our film is about making the audience happy, and our audience can only be happy if they like the main two characters, and therefore want them to get together.

Media Grouping
Our target audience is an audience that enjoy typical romance films such as: Jerry Maguire, Silver Linings, Titanic, and The Fault in Our Stars. This is because our film is a very conventional romance film.

Uses and Gratification
The theory contains a list, which involves things an audience gain from the media product, suggesting that audiences enjoy products that offer something from the list. Our film will lets people feel escape and lets them be entertained. The film is aimed at a single audience, that are meant to relate to the main female character. This means that the audience should be able to feel escape watching the film and imagine that they are the main female character falling in love with the male character. Our film is about making the audience feel good, so the escape provided is positive and will let the intended audience enjoy the film. The film will also entertain, partly because of the escape, but also because the film is meant to be enjoyable to watch. Fans of conventional romance films will enjoy our film because it is no different, and keeps a popular romance story line.

Utopian Solutions
In Richard Dyer's theory, he suggests that audiences have various problems and that if a from of media helps to solve this they will be more attracted to it. Our film can help solve peoples problems, therefore attracting a larger audience. The film can solve sadness by making people feel happy. This is because our film is a 'feel good', where the male and female protagonist will get together and have a happy ending. The film can also help loneliness because someone who may feel lonely because they are single can watch the film and feel escape, and imagine they are the main character in the film falling in love. In addition the film will also solve boredom, by entertaining. The main purpose of our film is entertaining, so someone can watch it when they are bored.

Filming Evaluation

On Saturday 13th December we captured nearly all of our opening sequence footage. We went to London for the day, starting early in the morning. The reason we started early was so we could capture daytime shots, to signify a happy atmosphere. The first shot we took was of the main male character on the train. This was fairly easy to take, only being a short shot. On the train he used a newspaper for a prop in the shot, which connotes his personality to the audience. The shot also showed that he was travelling alone. Because we planned to split screen this shot with a similar one of the female character on the train, we did this on the way back. We filmed this shot on the way back so it would look like they were both on different trains. Also to show this we filmed from a different facing seat.

When we arrived at Victoria we took a Bus to Westminster. This gave us a good opportunity to film from the top floor of the bus, the journey. The shot turned out surprisingly well, considering it was from a shaky bus. We were lucky because the front seats of the bus were free, and the window was relatively clean. This was not the case the second time we took the bus, when we tried to capture more footage. The second time the seats were full up, and the windows were dirty. After we took the footage from the bus, we took various shots around Westminster. These shots included a shot from a bridge, a shot of London Eye, shots of The Thames, and a street shot.

We also took shots of the two protagonists walking. These shots would take a few takes, because people walked in the way or looked at the camera. The shots we were happy with look genuine, because they were filmed amongst a crowd of strangers. One of the final shots we took was of the characters on a bench. These shots were separate, but we filmed them on the same bench. When we edit we will split screen the shots so that it looks as if the characters are sitting next to each other, when they are actually alone. This will signify to the audience that the characters will meet later in the film.

Both costumes for the characters, signify something about them. The female character is wearing casual clothes, because she is on a casual outing in London. Pink shoes were worn, which signifies her femininity. The male protagonist is wearing a suit, which signifies he is smart, and careful. It also connotes that he is a clever character, because suits are usually worn by educated people.

To conclude the day was successful. We captured all of the expected shots, and some unexpected shots such as the one on the bus. Only a few more shots are needed now, which should be easy to film, such as shots of alarm clocks and coffee stirring.

Film Pitch Feedback

*Test audio.


*Good locations.


*Will they bump into each other too much before meeting ?

No they will only actually bump into each other at the end of the sequence, instead they will be just missing each other.


*Will they let you film in the Shard ?

We have contacted the main desk at the Shard, and they gave us permission.


*For the sunset times, make sure you look up the times correctly because now it is winter it gets dark very quickly.


*Shots are very hard so make sure the cameraman knows what he is doing.

We have planned the shots we need, in enough detail.


*Good strong character ideas.


*Good development in the story line.


*Are you going to have credits ?

Throughout the establishing shots, at the start.


*Romance is an original idea.


*Detailed ideas regarding location.


*Complex shot types.


*Contrasting characters-ideas that 'opposites attract'.


*Would be a good idea to go out and practice complex shots.

We have created a preliminary filming sequence, where we tested using a split screen, which was something we thought would be complex.


*Well structured.


*Who will be playing the main characters ?

We are using actors within our group, with Josh and Sara as the two protagonists.


*Like the idea of a split screen completing different activities and then joining shots when they meet.


*Like the idea of the meeting at Hyde park, very romantic/typical.


*Will you have dialogue as cafes are quite noisy.

The cafe will have one dialogue line, this may be an issue so we may film this shot in a park instead.


*If your main cameraman is not filming, who will be confident in shooting the pull focus shot ?

We have practices this shot, and so we know what we are doing.

Our filming plan

Tomorrow my group and I are going to start filming for our opening sequence. Our plan is to get the majority of the filming done tomorrow, spending the whole day filming. We are going to London to start our filming, where we can get the establishing shots and some shots of characters done. We will not be getting interior shots such as: stirring coffee, the alarm clock and the opening of the door. These shots will be done at the start of next week. Our checklist for tomorrow is:

•  Shot list
•  2 Cameras
•  Tripod
• Props- folder, train ticket

Our two actors will need to be dressed according to their characters personality. With the suitable clothes we planned. Our list for tomorrow is as follows:

• Establishing shot of London (London Eye, London Bridge, The Shard, River Thames e.t.c.)
• Characters walking down the street
• Female protagonist weaving through the crowd
• Train ticket close ups
• Female protagonist being charitable/generous
• Both protagonists sat on the train.
• Characters almost meeting.

In some of these shots our plan is to create a split screen, so we will have to take that into consideration when filming tomorrow. Hopefully our filming tomorrow will go as planned.

Film Pitch

The Princess Bride Opening Sequence Analysis

After the institutional logo the title appears, which suggests the films setting. The font is fancy, and it looks like typical old fairy tale writing, signifying the film is set in the past. In addition it connotes that it is a fantasy, similar to a fairy tale. The title is before any seen of the film, signifying to the audience the films setting from the start. This contrasts with the scene after the title of the video game, creating narrative enigma of why the film is set in modern day with a title which suggests otherwise. The shot of the TV is the focus of the first scene, with a black outline around it. This signifies to the audience that the screen is the only thing the boy is focusing on, ignoring his surroundings, suggesting he is immersed. When the shot changes to the boys face, it is clear he is playing this game, which can be shown by his serious expression which signifies he is very focused. In this shot the boy blinks rapidly, connoting that he has been playing this game for a long time because it is putting strain on his eyes. On the other hand it could signify that he was concentrating so much on the game he kept his eyes wide open before needing to blink rapidly. A normal shot angle is used at 0:41 to show the boy, his mum, and the TV screen in one shot, showing that everything is in one room. When the boys mum is feeling his temperature, the boy is paying no attention, still looking at the screen. This suggests to the audience that the boy may be pretending to be sick so he can play his video game. The boy in the sequence is dressed in pyjamas, signifying that he has not left his bed, connoting that he has been playing video games since he has awoken. On the other hand the mother is fully dressed, in casual clothes. This signifies that the time is past morning, so the boy is not dressed for a reason. This is because he is ill

In the boys room is lots of decoration props. These include a number of posters, toys and snacks. Posters are associated with children, being in a conventional kid's room. Some of the posters in his room contain: a motorbike, a car, an american footballer and a wind surfer. These posters denote that the boy likes sport, connoting that he is a typical boy for his age. This is because these things are typical hobbies for boys. The toys in the room signify the boy is young, and enjoys to use his imagination, which he will have to use in the book read to him later in the sequence. A drink and a packet of crisps can be seen behind the boy at 1:48. The crisps suggest that he enjoys junk food. Conventionally kids like junk food, signifying that the boy in the clip is typical for his age. The boy's room looks quite cluttered, full of items. This also signifies he is a typical boy his age. At 1:00 the boy's mum opens the curtains, this is a conventional motherly thing to do, which connotes she is a typical mum. Through the use of props, the audience can learn that the family in the film are average people. This means the audience can feel a connection to the film, because they can relate to it.

At 1:10 the boy's mother says that maybe his grandad wont pinch his cheek, which is followed almost instantly by the grandad entering and pinching his cheek. This scene is a joke, and it signifies this film is partly a comedy. The grandad enters quickly, with the audience assuming that he is going to pinch the boys cheek, because of the line before hand. As soon as the grandad enters it can be signified that he will be quite a comical character. The present he gives to the boy is wrapped in bright gold paper, which is usually associated with expensive and grand special items. This connotes that the present is something special both to the boy and the audience. The boy is already excited because it is a present, and kids are usually excited by them, but the gold wrapping could of made him even more excited. However the fact that the wrapping is gold emphasises the disappointment he feels when he finds out it is a book to the audience. The gold wrapping could connote that the story to come is very special, because the book represents the main story of the film. This book is read later on, and so the gold wrapping could signify that the story is going to be special. The grandad at 1:50 tells the boy all of the features in the story. In the sequence the boy could represent the audience, because he is an average boy which is the films target audience. Therefore by the grandad telling the boy about all of the features in the story, the audience are also being sold on the book. From the present opening shot, the sequence has been building excitement for the audience. By showing the grandad reading the book, the audience can feel a connection with the narrator, something unique to this film.

Only diegetic sound is used in the scene of the boys room, separating the real world to the story told by the grandad. This creates a realistic atmosphere when the boy and the grandad are shown. When the grandad starts telling the story non-diegetic music begins to play. The soundtrack is peaceful and happy, signifying everything is happy at the start of the story. It also connotes the feeling of love the 'farmboy' feels for the woman. The music gets louder, when the man and woman are together and about to kiss, to signify the feelings the two feel for each other.

Lots of close up shots are used when the story is being told of the man and the woman. These shots clearly show the characters facial expressions, showing their feelings for each other. At 3:10 the woman looks stunned, signifying she is happy to of found out the 'farmboy' loves her. The two characters always look at each other affectionately, clearly connoting their feelings to the audience without the need for the grandad's narration.

When the man and the woman first kiss there is a sunset in the background, which is very conventional of a romantic scene. The sunset is bright orange, signifying the love of the two characters is passionate. Only the silhouettes of the characters can be shown making the audience focus on the action of their kiss and not their expression.

Research into the Thriller Genre

Thriller Definition:

Thriller is a genre of literature, film, and television programming that uses suspense, tension, and excitement as its main elements. Thrillers heavily stimulate the viewer's moods, giving them a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and terror.


The aim of most thriller films is to create suspense for the audience. This is often done through narrative enigmas, which are either for the audience or the protagonist to figure out. For example in Se7en the two protagonists are trying to find out who the killer is. This starts as a narrative en
igma for the characters and the audience. By the end the audience and the characters usually solve the mystery. Most thriller films contain violence, either through action scenes or when the antagonist is shown. The violence varies depending on the age rating, sometimes showing gore in a high rated film such as Pulp Fiction, or showing gun fights but no blood like Inception. Conventionally thriller films have a realistic explanation for narrative enigmas, as opposed to supernatural. Usually the film is a horror if it is not realistic, such as The Shining. Although there are some exceptions such as Sixth Sense. Quite often there are two sides in the thriller genre of the good and the bad. In thrillers the good character is shown in a positive way, so the audience can be rooting for him. The two sides are usually clearly shown, through their binary opposites. Therefore supporting the theory, with the good characters having a shared good nature and the bad characters having an evil or deceived view. Often in the genre there is a confrontation between the protagonist and the antagonist. The film would of built up to this dramatic climax, where the two characters will have some form of battle.















Conventional colours in thriller films are bland, not being very colourful apart from a title or a key object. This is because thrillers usually have a serious, realistic tone,which is signified by the colours. Bright colours usually connote a happy, upbeat film, which goes against the connotations a thriller is trying to show. Typically the images shown are of the main characters in the film. This is because famous actors usually play roles in thriller films, and so showing them can draw the audience in as celebrity endorsement. Also the expression of the faces shown can signify their personality and views. Characters usually are wearing everyday clothing, or a uniform suitable to their job. This is because most thrillers are set modern day, and are about realistic serious characters. Common props used are weapons, usually guns, because there is conventionally a battle between the protagonist and the antagonist. Sometimes the villains have a unique 'bad guy' weapon such as an axe, or the captive bolt gun in No Country for Old Men.

Other props used in thrillers are usually everyday items, such as a pen and paper to write reports or a newspaper. These items are in thrillers to bring the film to life, and make it seem realistic to the audience. Phones are a common prop, because it is a way of characters communicating, providing suspense as the person on the other end cannot be seen. A phone is iconic of the Taken films, used in a dramatic way, where the protagonist and antagonist can talk before a confrontation. Music in thrillers is almost always instrumental, and usually creates a tense dramatic atmosphere. Films by Christopher Nolan show this with a very loud and intense soundtrack, which makes the film seem much more dramatic. Because thrillers aim to provide suspense, music which shows this is important. The moment that the mystery is discovered is a key part of the film and so normally tense music which complements this is used. Thrillers use a variety of different fonts that are relevant to the film, for example the font of the new Robocop looks technical and robotic.

Some typical actors in thrillers are: Liam Neeson, Steve Buscemi, Samuel L Jackson, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.
Conventional thriller directors: Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino and the Cohen brothers.

According to the Uses and Gratifications theory audiences would enjoy thrillers for entertainment, because they would enjoy the film. But possibly also for interaction, because thrillers can have a complex and unexpected storyline, that can be a strong talking topic.

Famous examples of Thrillers: No Country for Old Men, Fargo, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Sin City, The Departed and Taken.