It is important to know your target audience so you can represent the different social groups and events in a way your target audience can relate too.
You need to be able to understand what makes your audience scared and use it to make an effectively scary horror film.
The girl represents a typical teenage girl.
She is the victim, which conforms to dominant ideologies, girls are used because they aren’t masculine and butch so they seem more vulnerable.
Another ideology this scene conforms to is that girls get excited and she gets excited about finding a room she likes.
Another ideology about girls is that they care about their appearance and in this clip she stands in the mirror doing her hair and grooming herself.
The ghost is represented because she is stood their watching the girl in the mirror and the alive girl can’t see her.
The threat is also a girl, which conforms to conventions in the ghost sub-genre.
When the threat is watching the girl in the mirror she starts to copy her, almost as if she has forgot what it is like to be a girl and have to care about your appearance.
I think this anlysis suggests the target audience would be of a young age, older teenagers...maybe 17 - 25 because at this age you are still quite young and could relate to the character, also could probably still get scared by it.
The Ring 2002
| Votes | Average | |
| Males | 71,285 |  7.2 |
| Females | 15,524 |  7.2 |
| Aged under 18 | 1,477 |  7.2 |
| Males under 18 | 992 | 7.2 |
| Females under 18 | 477 | 7.4 |
| Aged 18-29 | 52,581 | 7.2 |
| Males Aged 18-29 | 41,950 | 7.2 |
| Females Aged 18-29 | 10,349 | 7.2 |
| Aged 30-44 | 28,070 | 7.2 |
| Males Aged 30-44 | 23,914 | 7.2 |
| Females Aged 30-44 | 3,842 | 7.3 |
| Aged 45+ | 4,625 | 7.0 |
| Males Aged 45+ | 3,863 | 7.0 |
| Females Aged 45+ | 693 | 6.7 |
| IMDb staff | 18 | 7.2 |
| Top 1000 voters | 752 | 6.9 |
| US users | 26,789 | 7.2 |
| Non-US users | 57,574 | 7.2 |
| IMDb users | 107,437 | 7.2 |
I think the target audience for The Ring was mostly females from under 18 because they gave it the highest rating although only 477 voted.
You could also say that it was aimed at the male population in general as 71,285 rated it and gave it a 7.2, which isn't the lowest rating on there.
You can see that the older the people are the ratings go down.
The Grudge 2004 15
| Votes | Average | |
| Males | 35,854 | 5.7 |
| Females | 8,320 | 5.7 |
| Aged under 18 | 786 | 5.9 |
| Males under 18 | 513 | 5.9 |
| Females under 18 | 269 | 6.1 |
| Aged 18-29 | 26,815 | 5.6 |
| Males Aged 18-29 | 21,195 | 5.7 |
| Females Aged 18-29 | 5,510 | 5.6 |
| Aged 30-44 | 14,182 | 5.8 |
| Males Aged 30-44 | 11,974 | 5.8 |
| Females Aged 30-44 | 2,082 | 5.8 |
| Aged 45+ | 2,361 | 5.9 |
| Males Aged 45+ | 1,933 | 5.9 |
| Females Aged 45+ | 404 | 5.5 |
| IMDb staff | 9 | 6.4 |
| Top 1000 voters | 566 | 5.6 |
| US users | 13,641 | 5.5 |
| Non-US users | 29,454 | 5.8 |
| IMDb users | 53,448 | 5.7 |
From this graph we can see that MALES AGED 18 - 29 are watching and commenting on The Grudge the most.
The Ring and The Grudge are quite similar films.
The highest rating given to this film was 6.1 and was rated by Females under 18 but only 269 Females under 18 voted.
What is quite weird is that on this graph Females 45+ gave it the lowest rating, this also happened for The Ring.
The target audience for this film I think is people, both males and females, under 18 because they've both rated it quite high. Also I found that although males aged 18 - 29 were the people who saw and voted the most, they didn't give it a very high rating.
Also out of all the age categories the more males voted than females.
Paranormal Activity 3 2011
| Votes | Average | |
| Males | 10,290 | 6.3 |
| Females | 2,564 | 6.6 |
| Aged under 18 | 1,159 | 6.7 |
| Males under 18 | 834 | 6.7 |
| Females under 18 | 304 | 6.8 |
| Aged 18-29 | 8,817 | 6.6 |
| Males Aged 18-29 | 6,975 | 6.6 |
| Females Aged 18-29 | 1,746 | 6.6 |
| Aged 30-44 | 2,532 | 6.1 |
| Males Aged 30-44 | 2,083 | 6.0 |
| Females Aged 30-44 | 419 | 6.7 |
| Aged 45+ | 445 | 5.4 |
| Males Aged 45+ | 355 | 5.4 |
| Females Aged 45+ | 87 | 5.7 |
| Top 1000 voters | 57 | 5.6 |
| US users | 4,340 | 6.5 |
| Non-US users | 6,018 | 6.3 |
| IMDb users | 13,256 | 6.4 |
From this graph we can see that, again, MALES AGED 18 - 29 are that majority of people than have seen and rated Paranormal Activity 3 the most.
Again Females under 18 rated it the highest, they gave it 6.8.
The target audience for this film I think was people under 18 because they gave it a rough rating of 6.8/6.7 which is the highest ratings on there.
As the voters got older, the less they liked the film.
Insidious 2010
| Votes | Average | |
| Males | 33,029 | 6.8 |
| Females | 7,689 | 6.9 |
| Aged under 18 | 1,950 | 7.6 |
| Males under 18 | 1,362 | 7.6 |
| Females under 18 | 576 | 7.5 |
| Aged 18-29 | 26,468 | 7.0 |
| Males Aged 18-29 | 21,064 | 7.0 |
| Females Aged 18-29 | 5,207 | 7.0 |
| Aged 30-44 | 10,890 | 6.6 |
| Males Aged 30-44 | 9,191 | 6.7 |
| Females Aged 30-44 | 1,582 | 6.6 |
| Aged 45+ | 1,585 | 6.4 |
| Males Aged 45+ | 1,274 | 6.4 |
| Females Aged 45+ | 282 | 6.8 |
| IMDb staff | 8 | 6.1 |
| Top 1000 voters | 259 | 6.5 |
| US users | 10,749 | 7.0 |
| Non-US users | 24,947 | 6.7 |
| IMDb users | 42,428 | 6.8 |
We can see that the majority of people who saw and rated this film were
MALES AGED 18 - 29.
This time the males under 18 gave the film the highest rating, 7.6.
I think it was aimed at people under 29 a these were the people that gave them the highest ratings.
This time Females aged 45+ gave it a 6.8 whereas Males aged 45+ only gave it 6.4 (the lowest score)
The Awakening
| Votes | Average | |
| Males | 302 | 7.2 |
| Females | 91 | 7.7 |
| Aged under 18 | 28 | 8.0 |
| Males under 18 | 17 | 8.2 |
| Females under 18 | 11 | 7.4 |
| Aged 18-29 | 214 | 7.3 |
| Males Aged 18-29 | 159 | 7.4 |
| Females Aged 18-29 | 54 | 7.1 |
| Aged 30-44 | 112 | 7.3 |
| Males Aged 30-44 | 95 | 7.0 |
| Females Aged 30-44 | 16 | 9.0 |
| Aged 45+ | 42 | 6.1 |
| Males Aged 45+ | 30 | 5.9 |
| Females Aged 45+ | 10 | 6.6 |
| Top 1000 voters | 10 | 8.3 |
| US users | 42 | 6.7 |
| Non-US users | 308 | 7.3 |
| IMDb users | 417 | 7.3 |
This graph shows that MALES AGED 18 - 29 have seen and commented on this film the most.
The highest rating was 9 and was rated by females aged 30 - 44. Although females in this age range enjoyed it quite a lot more males in this age range went to see it and did't enjoy it as much. Also for all the other age ranges males voted higher than females so I think that the target audience is going to be older people, up to the age of 44.
The target audience for our film would be 15 - 25 year olds!
U means universal - suitab;e for all.
What is suitable for a U?
No discriminatory behaviour unless clearly disapproved of.
no references to illegal drugs or misuse unless for an educational or anti-drug purpose.
If a film is rated a certificate PG any child can go and see it!
Any child can watch a PG but parents are asked to consider whether the content is appropraite for their child.
What is suitable for a certificate PG?
Any discriminatory behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of or used in a historical context.
Drugs will be unacceptable unless the film clearly follows an anti-drug message.
Frightening scenes must not be prolonged.
There must be no dangerous behaviour which young childen can copy.
Mild bad language only.
Natural nudity, no sexual content at all.
Sexual activity may be implied but should be discreet and infrequent.
Moderate violence without any detail is allowed as long as it is justified by the content.
If a film has a 12 certificate only people 12 and over can see it.
12 and 12A are the same criteria but 12A is for the cinema and 12 is for DVD's. 12A means that if you are 12 you have to be accompanied by an adult, anyone older that 12 can go and see it freely.
What is suitable for a 12 certificate?
Discriminatory language and behaviour is acceptable as long as it is clearly condemned.
The use of drugs is allowed as long as it doesn't give great detail and instruction.
Physical and phsycological threat may be allowed as long as disturbing sequences are not frequent.
Dangerous behaviour must not dwell on detail, so it can't be copied.
Moderate language is allowed as long as it is not frequent.
Sexual activity may be discreetly portrayed, frequent sexual references are unlikely to be acceptable.
Violence is acceptable as long as it does not dwell on detail.
If a film is certificate 15 it means that people 15 and over can see it!
What is suitable for a 15 certificate?
There musn't be any discriminitive language or behaviour.
Taking drugs is acceptable as long as the film does not promote the use of drugs. Any drugs that are easily accesible (solvents, aerosols etc) and are misused is not acceptable.
A strong threat is permitted as long as it is not sexualised or sadistic.
Imitable behaviour is allowed as ling as it doesn't dwell on detail, so it can't be copied.
Strong language is permitted (fuck) but the strongest terms (cunt) can only be used if it is justified by the content. Continueous use of the strongest terms is unacceptable.
Nudity is allowed in a sexual content as long as there is no detail.
Sexual activity is allowed as long as no strong detail is revealed. There may be strong verbal references to sex but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable.
No themes are prohibited as long as the theme is acceptable for a 15 year old.
Strong violence is acceptable as long as it doesn't dwell on the pain and injury. Strong gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Sadistic or sexualised violence will be unacceptable. References to sexual violence is allowed but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and justified.
If a film is certificate 18 people 18 and ove can go and see it!
What is suitable for an 18 certificate?
Strong sexual activity
Strong Violence
Strong drug use
The audience for our film would be 15 - 25 years.
It would start at 15 because that would be the age certificate given to our film. People between these ages are still quite young and can relate to our character. I'm sure that everyone has had that moment when they are at home alone and they hear a bang and i think the audience between my age gap would be the people who could still get freaked out by the thought of it.
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Our target audience would get sucked into our story because of the tension we build from the first shot when we see something is hiding in the bushes watching the house to actually seeing the threat for the first time at the window. Our audience want to see what and how the threat is going to attack our victim.
We chose a regular house, my house, because we thought that we would try and make the stroy as realistic as possible and also it's just a normal house so our audience can definitely relate to our film in that way. it would freak the audience out because they will se the threat can go into any normal house! Obviously using a normal house challenges regular stereotypes because horror films are usually set in an isolated area such as a haunted house or graveyard etc.
We cast my sister as the victim because she is a girl, so she will seem more vulnerable and also because the audience can see she is just a regular person and the threat targeted her, so the audience know that the threat chooses randomly, it could be them next. We made my sister do things teenagers do so the audience can relate to her and sya yes i would do that.
We started with the curtain blowing because that gives a ghostly eerie feel and went on to different images that related to our threat.
We panned across the images of her as a baby and had her scribbling them out to symbolise maybe her death because she is deleting herself from the images, also that she hates her family, the audience don't know the backstory of our threat but can learn alot from this clip.
We also had her drawing satanic symbols up her arm. This showed the audience that she has something to do with the devil and that she is evil!
We had her scribbling in the picture to show that she is quite young, because sheis colouring in.
Our titles will engage our audience because they will tell the audience more and more about the threat and make them want to learn more.
Our music will create an eerie atmosphere in the titles, to symbolise the horror genre. We put tension building sounds at critical times into our film such as when our threat pops up at the window to make the audience jump and realise the threat wasgetting closer.
I think our film needed more music because there are moments when it really needed something to fill the silence such as when the threat is climbing up the stairs and when we see her in the reflection of the light switch. Also when the lights go out and to end the scene.
The feedback from the class was really good, they gave us pretty high marks.
Most people thought the ending should have been clearer, which I agree with and was obviously our fault because we didn't follow the storyboard close enough.
They just generallythought we could have used music to make it more scarier.
But overall they liked it, they especially liked the variety of shots we used such as the fridge shot and the light switch reflection shot.
