4 Golden Questions

1) Who is the target audience of the text?

You need to know this so that you know what sort of things to include in the film for example you are not going to have a film aimed at 4 year old's with lots of death and blood, same as your not going to have a film for 18 year old's with bunny's. 

To know this you would do; surveys, look at websites, statistics/demographics, similar texts, and the BBFC ratings (12A,15,18) 

2) What does the audience expect form the text?

If the film is a comedy the audience expect to laugh, similarly if its a horror they expect death. 

To know this you would look at; genre conventions, and do some questionnaires and/or surveys. 

3) How does the text appeal to or cater to the target audience?

A film for young children (0-10) is going to have  a very basic story line, with lots of bright colours.

To know this you would look at textual analysis. 

4) To what extent does the target audience feel the text is successful in targeting them?

If the film was a horror and the audience believe there was not enough death then, they may feel that it was targeting younger people. Or if the child's film with rating U was to swear in it they may believe that it was not of the right rating. 

To know if it did succeed then you would look at; audience research, questionnaires, surveys, and focus groups. 

Target Audience Case Study
Genre Research
'P.S I Love You'

Question 1) This film is aimed at young adults due to the BBFC rating of an 12A. The film is also a romance film meaning there aren't going to be any scary scenes and possibly disturbing ones.
I believe the target audience is 15-24 year old's, even thought there is a BBFC rating of 12A, I don't think that 12-14 year old's will still be as intrigued as older watchers.

Question 2) Audience would expect to feel good about themselves and for the couple to either fall in love or to realise why they were in love. Also they expact the film to be upbeat and not scary, they expect to either be made to cry or made to feel that love can conqure anything.

Question 3) This caters to the audience as the characters are young and people who watch can relate to it. It makes them feel good about themselves and makes them feel good about love, also the main male character is good looking and has an appealing accent which attracts female attention

Question 4) As someone in the target audience I feel that it was successful in targeting me as it was self aware of what type of genre it was which made me want to watch it as well as wanting to watch it because Gerard Butler was in it.