Audience research

Blumler and Katz theory:

The theory states that different people in an audience will use a form of media for different purposes. The audience is aware what they are taking from the media, whether it be for personal relationships, identity, escapism or surveillance. 

Personal relationships – an audience maybe using the media for personal relationships we should be to talk to people online and form relationships. An example of this is social media like Instagram and Facebook. This allows people to talk to their friends and meet new people. Another example is when the audience forms of personal relationship with a character in a show this gets them attached to the show.

Identity- An audience may use the media to create an identity. This means that by what someone would see in the media, they will use that to shape their personality. A person may be influenced by what they see and relates to themselves to it. An example of this is where the audience relate to a character therefore is more interested in the production.

Escapism- escapism is where the audience will use a form of media such as television programmes to escape from the real world and all of their problems. And example of this is big Hollywood blockbusters such as Marvel and all their films that defy reality with their amazing storylines with genres such as action, adventure, thriller, horror.

Surveillance- the audience may want to educate themselves and find out about the world and society by reading media texts watching media. And example of this is newspapers as they provide us with information and what is happening in the world through coverage of current events.

How audience are grouped:

Audiences are mainly grouped into two groups, demographics and psychographics. Demographics are in population which are based on factors such as race, gender, age, ethnicity and others. Psychographics or a population which are based on factors such as interests such as ideologies, lifestage, lifestyle, personality and opinions. By understanding what groups in factors my audience fitting to I can work out a better idea of what my through the opening scene will be based off.

I made a survey about thrillers films and different demographics and these were my results:

    Q1: the survey show that there is an almost even gender ratio therefore it I can target my sequence at either gender

Q2: the most common age ranges in my survey is 15-18 and 19-24 therefore my opening sequence should be targeted at those age ranges.

Q2: the majority of people are white British and often with films people can connect and relate with characters of the same gender and ethnicity. Therefore I will use predominantly white British actors.

Q3: the majority of respondents said they were a student this emphasis the age range my opening sequence will be targeted at.

Q5: most people are students or unemployed therefore they might want to see a setting that they are more used to such as a home or school.

Q6: the majority of respondents said they 'seek status, are materialistic,' 'concentrated on their appearance.' This gives me an idea that I may want a smart, well dressed good looking character. 

Q7: from the survey I have found many respondents want to be on the edge of their seat, exited. They want to see plot twists and violence. This gives me and idea of basing my opening sequence on a more crime/ action thriller.

Q8: many respondents like 'the joker' for its action and other works with lots of action such as 'peaky blinders' and 'the purge,' this emphasis that my target audience want to see action and violence. This helps with the planning of my sequence.

Q9: although many respondents have said they like psychological thrillers, many have said they like crime   thrillers/ action thrillers. Along with the feedback from the previous questions the results show that a exiting, action packed sequence will work well with my audience.