Beth Wilson AS Media

Who Would Be The Audience For Your Media Product/ How Did You Attract and Address Your Audience?

Podcast Transcript:

Interviewer: And todays Not SO Late Podcast we have Beth who is going to talk to us about her most recent project which is titled “Rosaline.” Hello Beth

Interviewee: Hi, Thanks for letting me come to talk to you today.

Interviewer: So first things first, who would be the audience for your media product?

Interviewee: We are aiming to have a target audience of 15 year olds plus. My research into BBFC film ratings revealed that films with a 15 certification allowed me to have more explicit content such as blood, gore and traumatic scenes. Seeing as our target audience is targeting the younger demographic it would be safe to assume that the audience expectation would be to see more revealing content in order to really enhance a ‘fear factor.’

Interviewer: How did you come to that conclusion?

Interviewee: I looked at the psychographics of our desired target audience to see if their traits were compatible with the generic codes and conventions of the horror genre, and our intended media product. Stereotypically the younger demographic are more likely to take risks and watch something that is scary and explicit, compared to the older demographic that stereotypically choose to be less risky and watch more conservative products. The younger demographic are more creative when deciding on how to interpret the information presented before them in my finished media product.

Interviewer: What do you mean by that?

Interviewee: The use and gratifications theory, as described by Katz, Blumler Gurevitch, places emphasis on the consumer by stating it is what people do with the media and how they interpret and not what the media does to people which is described in the hypodermic needle theory. The audience are responsible for how they respond to the media product. There are many ways in which the uses and gratifications can be applied to different media products, but in my case the theory is applicable through its entertain and social interaction form.

Interviewer: Can you elaborate on that at all?

Interviewee: Yes I can. When watching horror films in general, not just my product, the audience often decided to see the film because they want to have an enjoyable time. This could be because they are out with friends, or alone because they want to relax.

Interviewer: It’s a bit strange to watch a horror film if you want to relax though

Interviewee: (Laughing) I don’t judge others. Another reason for watching a horror film could be to escape from reality for a while and forget about your worries. For teenagers it would most probably be a chance to escape from exam stress

Interviewer: True. So, how did you attract and address your audience?

Interviewee: We worked with companies such as Blood Lust Productions and Twisted Pictures who already had a large following of young viewers, interested in the horror genre. We created posters to advertise as well as promotion Goody Bags sent to YouTuber’s that would mention and show in their videos, encouraging their personal subscribes and audience to go watch Rosaline.

Interviewer: I also heard that the cast is apparently very good.

Interviewee:
Yes well the cast itself features new up and coming young actors of ages 17, therefore our target audience can implement the actions of the film into their own life experiences, making it

realistic, completing the themes of mystery and fear; making it believable for an audience that are well educated and are able to make their own opinions on what they are watching even its just for general gratification.

Interviewer: I’m afraid that’s all we have time for but thank you very much for speaking to us today; I wish you and your film all the best.