How did you attract/address your audience?

Q5)
In order for a film to be successful it needs to target its audience appropriately. Our film is targeted at 15 to 19 year olds, who are a fan of horror movies. In order to attract our target audience we used many horror conventions giving the audience something they expect. We shot in many dark areas to create eeriness and tension within the opening sequence and we used a teenage victim as it was an ideal role to base a horror movie around. We decided to stick with the original conventions of a horror movie rather than having a unique selling point as we thought the selling point of our movie is the similarities and likeness it has to other successful horror movies. (I.e Halloween, which is based in an ordinary house yet inside it, lives someone rather deadly.) Furthermore we used many close up and extreme close ups. (I.e the zoom out of the eyes which in my opinion, is the most intimate shot in the sequence) creates maximum impact and to really engage the audience with the character in order to make them empathise with her. Contrastingly, ‘Exorcism of Emily Rose’ (2005, Derrickson) has many establishing shots to guide the audience through each step the charater makes. We also had many long shots, otherwise known as establishing shots to create an eerie atmosphere and to familiarise the audience with the location aswell as emphasising how empty the house is. Our opening sequence is very enigmatic in the way it leaves the audience on a cliff hanger wondering what is going to happen next. The last bit of our opening sequence, when the door slams open, leaves the audience in anxiety making them wanting to watch more. This attracts the audience as it involves them with the story line. It also leaves it to their imagination to decide what will happen next. In order to make it appeal to teenagers rather than another age group, we got a young teenage girl to be our actress as this gives the audience something to relate to. We used an old creaky house rather than an office of building as this involves the audience. We had to also make many decisions in order for our target audience to understand the opening sequence without any difficulties. We had to make sure the continuity was invisible, avoiding any distractions which may take away the audiences focus on the film itself. We had to also make sure the lighting was bright enough to prevent unwanted shadows which may have confused the audience. We had to make sure the lighting was spot on in every shot to avoid continuity errors. Sound and volume was another thing we had to alter to make it seem realistic and appeal to its audience. Sounds we had to alter include the soundtrack of the movie being watched on the TV (frame within a frame). If the sound didn't match with the previous shot it would confused the audience and wouldn't look realistic. The soundtrack really keeps the viewer engaged with the sequence. The music’s eerie undertone sets the atmosphere, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.
Finally, we had to take out thirty seconds worth of a phone conversation as it would've bored the audience and dragged the opening sequence on for too long. These were all factors we had to decide within our group to make sure we can target our audience in the most efficient way.
Our opening sequence attracted horror fans by its typical horror conventions. It engages the audience and keeps them on the edge of the seat as they urge to know what will happen next. It creates a sense of tension and fear which confirms the audiences’ expectations and therefore satisfies them. The sudden actions and enigma codes I.e the door opening at the end of the opening sequence, gains the audiences attention and therefore keeps them engages throughout the film. Finally we used the Soundtrack- 'Into the Mist' (Internet) to really engage the audience and to create more impact on the horror of the film.