In this post, I will be talking about the different types of audiences and groups. I will also use and example of a horror movie I have watched, who it is targeted at, and which groups the film would theoretically appeal too.
What are the different types of audiences?
There are 2 main types of audience. A Niche audience, and a Mass audience.
Niche Audience: Is small, and specific. An Example :
This kind of magazine would usually be aimed at the elderly, in Group E. This is because elderly people tend to be more interested in gardening.
Mass Audience: Is aimed at everybody. An Example :
Big brother is aimed at a large audience, aging from teenagers, to even the older generations, as putting a bunch of different people into a house and making them live together is interesting to watch
There are 6 different group in the media industry. Group A, B, C1, C2, D and E. Each group targets different types of people. These groups are used to help aim specific TV shows, Movies, Books, Adverts etc. at specific groups people, as shown below.
Group A targets:
Lawyers
Doctors
Scientists
And Very well paid professionals
Group B targets:
Teachers
Middle management
Group C1 targets:
Junior management
Bank clerks
Nurses
And 'white collar' professionals
Group C2 targets:
Electricians
Plumbers
Carpenters
And 'Blue collar' professionals
Group D targets:
Manual workers
Labourers
And Drivers
Group E targets:
Students
The unemployed
And Pensioners
I have decided to include a horror movie examples within this post. I have watched this film, so I will be able to introduce the main ideas of the film, and then talk about the target audience, and what group the film could be classified under.
Paranormal Activity, 2007
"After experiencing what they think are a series of "break-ins", a family sets up security cameras around their home, only to realize that the events unfolding before them are more sinister than they seem."
So basically, the film is about this couple, Katie and Micah, who have moved into this new home in hopes of living a happy life together. However, there is a spiritual presents that follows Katie where ever she goes. As these supernatural events grow worse, Katie and Micah decide to start filming everything around them, in the house, in hopes of catching some of this supernatural activity on camera. They do this by, simply, walking around the house with a camera, and having the camera filming them whenever they are sitting down, working, and sleeping etc.
This footage basically makes up the entire film.
I believe that Paranormal Activity is aimed at teenagers, in Group E, as it is about a young couple who have been experiencing supernatural activity. Teenagers are more likely to find this interesting but professionally trained professionals in groups such as A, B and C, probably wouldn't be interested in a movie like this. They may see it as 'crummy' or 'boring' as it is a movie made up from the couples video recordings. It was obviously a low budget film. I also believe it has been aimed at teenagers as the BBFC rated it a 15.
Paranormal Activity has been aimed at a Niche Audience, as not everyone would be interesting in this type of film. Children under the recommended age would find this too scary, and people outside of groups E, D and maybe C may find this type of film boring.
"After experiencing what they think are a series of "break-ins", a family sets up security cameras around their home, only to realize that the events unfolding before them are more sinister than they seem."
So basically, the film is about this couple, Katie and Micah, who have moved into this new home in hopes of living a happy life together. However, there is a spiritual presents that follows Katie where ever she goes. As these supernatural events grow worse, Katie and Micah decide to start filming everything around them, in the house, in hopes of catching some of this supernatural activity on camera. They do this by, simply, walking around the house with a camera, and having the camera filming them whenever they are sitting down, working, and sleeping etc.
This footage basically makes up the entire film.
I believe that Paranormal Activity is aimed at teenagers, in Group E, as it is about a young couple who have been experiencing supernatural activity. Teenagers are more likely to find this interesting but professionally trained professionals in groups such as A, B and C, probably wouldn't be interested in a movie like this. They may see it as 'crummy' or 'boring' as it is a movie made up from the couples video recordings. It was obviously a low budget film. I also believe it has been aimed at teenagers as the BBFC rated it a 15.
Paranormal Activity has been aimed at a Niche Audience, as not everyone would be interesting in this type of film. Children under the recommended age would find this too scary, and people outside of groups E, D and maybe C may find this type of film boring.
