Audience Theory Analysis: Uses & Gratifications

Hello again,

So, in this blog post I thought it best to include a little segment of what exactly I've been researching and how I've been preparing to help make our film opening.

One very useful audience theory, the Uses & Gratification theory gives us an insight into audience needs which is essential if we want to make an effective thriller opening; it will allow us to utilise certain aspects of audience needs so we can play on them and use those needs as a sort of mould in which we can place our ideas into. I'll present the theory, highlight & then pick out areas which my team and I think will be key to accessing higher marks and creating a good thriller opening.

Information

• Finding out about relevant events and conditions in immediate surroundings, society and the world
• seeking advice on practical matters of opinion and decision choices
• satisfying curiosity and general interest
• learning; self-education
• gaining a sense of security through knowledge

Personal Identity

• Finding reinforcement for personal values
• Finding models of behaviour
• Identifying with valued other (in the media)
• Gaining insight into one's self

Integration & Social Interaction

• Gaining insight into circumstances of others; social empathy
• Identifying with others and gaining an sense of belonging
• Finding a basis for conversation and social interaction
• Having a substitute for real-life companionship
• Helping to carry out social roles
• Enabling one to connect with family, friends and society

Entertainment

• Escaping, or being diverted, from problems; relaxing
• Getting intrinsic cultural or aesthetic enjoyment filling time
• Emotional release
• Sexual arousal

The first thing you'll notice no doubt is that three parts have been highlighted in the Information area whereas only one aspect has been highlighted in the other areas. This is mainly due to the sub-genre of the thriller which is mainly a Detective & Mystery thriller. The focus and underlying message does not revolve around the detective but more the villain; how the internet damaged him and the repercussions of that. This is not to say we think the villain is justified in killing people, but we wish to infer that bullying affects people in many different ways, and it has transferred across to the web. By relating to the current audience through social media and whatnot, we're able to impact the audience in a more real way.
 This leads onto the next point, that we're trying impose this message of awareness and thinking about one's actions before committing to them by informing the audience and giving that lesson through the medium of film and involving the internet. As today the internet and media play a large role in society through film but also news. Although we're aware of a much larger interest in film than news. So by converging the two and creating a film that will educate its audience, we feel it will have the largest influence.

Creating a good film opening, let alone a film, not only requires good camera-work and editing but also the ability to turn the right keys and open the right doors that invoke the intended reactions from audiences. By creating a visually good work of cinematography,  we're able to draw in all types of audiences who seek a good film. If we do create a good film opening, we'd be able to make the audience focus on the message more as they would remember the film. So, we not only have to subtly weave the message within the film opening, we also have to make it memorable so that the message stays with the audience once they've finished watching.

Moving on from this, to make the audience feel empathetic it requires more than just a film opening. However if we were to create an entire film, we know that the moral of the story would have to reach through somehow. As we show the path of death our villain follows, more of his past would be revealed. Let me re-iterate, we do not wish the audience to condone his actions. But to understand the consequences of what might seem at the time, meaningless actions. By showing an extreme case of the consequences, we're able to create a good film (opening) and also integrate a basic moral pillar; think before you do something.