TARGETING AN AUDIENCE
How these films target particular social groups (age/gender/ethnicity)
Films usually choose a target audience to help specify how they promote and market their film. By choosing a target audience it allows film makers to communicate and success at the box office, a targeted audience can be an audience of the same age range, gender, or ethnicity. For example the film 'Inception' has successfully reached their target audience with the use of their teaser trailer. They tap into their targeted audience with the use of mise-en-scene and iconography to reinforce the genre thus reaching out to a specific audience that watch those type of films. E.g. the iconography of the guns shown in the trailer is one of the conventions of the Action genre. The plot of the story some may perceive determines the targeted age range for this film. From what the audience sees in the trailer, the plot seems to be quite complex as it is also from the genre of Sci-Fi. The age range for this type of film could be for sophisticated young adults and adults that have a better understanding of how the mind works as it is the basic plot of the film. Also in the trailer the use of only male characters can target a male audience but then negatively narrows their target audience.
How these social groups are attracted to these products (adverts/film trailers/junkets/colours/layouts/word of mouth)
The advertisement for this film was significantly promoted as the last of the Saw film series and used a new tagline "The Traps Come Alive", this taps into a more narrow audience that enjoy watching films in 3D thus widening Saw's targeted audience. Also the use of teaser posters that were released before the film were used to help promote the 3D experience. Taglines were used on the poster such as 'In Eye-Popping 3D' and 'In Mind-Blowing 3D' to help push forward to the audiences that the very last film of Saw is in an impressive 3D experience. The use of film trailers also attract social groups, usually the release of the teaser trailer is out first before the theatrical to attract an audience and 'hook' them in, then the theatrical trailer is release shortly afterwards to elaborate more from the previous teaser trailer. Reviews are very useful when it comes to attracted a social group, an audience before watching the film may read film reviews and critics to see other opinions. If the reviews are positive, this then creates a positive judgement towards the film thus making the box office take-in more successful.The technologies by which these products are marketed
Social groups can be attracted to these products by the use of technologies in which these products are marketed, for example the film 'Saw 3D' attracted their already targeted audience from previous Saw films but to attract new audience by rebooting the Saw franchise in 3D experience.
MY CHOSEN GENRE
The chosen genre we have chosen for our products is going to be HORROR. Our reasons for this choice is because the conventions of the genre Horror are clear and easier to portray than other genres as we have found in our research. For example the use of Mise-en-Scene can significantly portray the genre of Horror, e.g. the use of a murder weapon such as a knife can connote the sub-plot of a 'Slasher' Horror movie. The iconography is much simpler and can reinforce the genre of Horror clearly with the use of blood or a 'screaming victim'.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HORROR GENRE
Themes: There are themes of good vs evil, normal vs abnormal, male vs female and dark vs light. Often these themes lead to the messages and values presented in the movie. Usually the basic theme for the plot will be for one character or a group of characters to overcome fear or evil an antagonists evoke to them.
Setting/location: The setting/location of the film from the Horror genre is typically set in an isolated environment. The atmosphere is usually intense and fast pace, the disturbance of peace in a quiet location.
Characters: The characters usually each play a specific role in the Horror genre. There is an antagonist which is the villain of the story, 'the bad guy' and the protagonist which is the character that tries to overcome and 'defeat' the antagonist. The role of a woman portrayed in the Horror genre is significant, usually in the beginning of a Horror plot the woman is seen as weak and feeble but then as the plot unravels she is seen to be strong and is the character that defeats evil. This follows the 'Final Girl Theory'. The heroes or heroines have different attitudes towards the antagonist than the 'Human Fodders'. The protagonists usually run away at first to either find a more destructive weapon or an effective method to overcome the antagonist. In addition the other characters that accompany the protagonist depend on them to keep them alive.
Sub-Genres of Horror
Haunting and Demonic Possessions - These types of films play and evoke the audience's fear of the unknown, superstition and the idea that evil forces such as ghosts and spirits exist in the world. These forces are usually portrayed in a spiritual presence of the dead such as witches, spirits, ghosts or demons. These kind of plots include the fight between good and evil by referencing religion. For example in films like 'The Grudge' which includes an American nurse being exposed to a mysterious supernatural curse.Apocalypse - Mankind is threatened with extinction of the human race by inhuman creatures of monsters. The antagonists in plot may consist of creatures out of space or a threat of a plague or virus that can spread and wipe out man kind. Films like 'Resident Evil' or 'Rec' portray this sub-plot and the film usually ends with mankind dying out and the disturbing noises of the creatures dominating.
The Human Monster - This deals with the horror of abnormality of the antagonists personality such as psychopathology and murder or psychosis and insanity. This plot explores and takes the audience inside of the mind of the killer who appears to be insane, usually these sort of antagonists seek out revenge on innocent victims. The characteristics of this sub-pot portrays the idea that some people are born with no sense of morality therefore leading them to become a cold-blooded murderer.
