E5: How did I attract/address the audience?

A typical member of our audience would be aged 15-25, female, interested in missing person/thriller films and in particular, films with an intriguing plot.

I addressed my audience in the BBFC age rating for my film (15). Following the guidelines of real films, I decided this was the best age rating based on the content and themes of my film, and this shapes the audience as only teenagers 15 and up would come to watch it. I also cast actors of this age range, so that the audience can identify and relate to the characters on a better level than if they were much older. I addressed my target audience by making it clear who I was aiming at through use of casting and subject matter.

I attracted the audience of people interested in the particular genre of film by conforming to specific conventions and codes. For example, I built suspense in the opening sequence as well as creating a dark atmosphere, whilst also leaving plot clues. These are common conventions of thriller opening sequences, such as Girl, Interrupted. I created tension by using dramatic music in the background, and used the fast paced beat of the character's footsteps to build it up. The dark atmosphere was created by a combination of the sunset natural lighting I used, and a filter I added in post-production. Using commonly seen codes is appealing to my audience because viewers recognise and enjoy the style of film because they are familiar with it, therefore they are attracted and will want to watch the film.

I asked a small focus group what they liked most about the film, and here were some of their responses:

"I liked the use of makeup as it was effective in making me think about what could have happened to the character."

"The fast pace of the sequence made me want to continue watching."

"The music captured and maintained my attention."

"The flashes of the corkboard gave clues to the plot which helped it make sense."

From the responses, I think I effectively captured my audience through the mise-en-scene of makeup and sound but also through narrative clues throughtout the sequence. If I could do this more effectively, I think I'd make the cuts to the police board more frequent and consistent, but also make it look more like an actual police board by using a white board and red string instead of the props I had, which make it look quite amateur. However, I think the mise-en-scene was otherwise very effective in attracting my audience and creating an intriguing sequence which draws the viewers in.