Main Production - Research - Target Audience analysis

I don’t think that one can classify the target audience of a film noir on the NRS scale [1] as our target audience does not seem to fit into one specific category.
Based on the film opening that I have watched as well as the additional background research into target audience I believe that our film should be mainly targeted towards people over 50, perhaps aimed slightly towards men rather than women.

How I reached these conclusions:
• Based on our survey, younger people have no interest whatsoever in Film Noir, or black and white films in general – Therefore it would be pointless to aim our film at them and based on the negative reaction from other adults our film needs to be aimed at the older generation.

• Our film will appeal to both older men and women as it is centred around a murder case, that has taken place at a dinner party. The dinner party creates a more neutral location so that the film can be enjoyed by both men and women.

• However, film noir is often aimed more towards men. This is implied though the Femme Fatale character; appears to be youthful, beautiful and is often seen drinking and smoking. This portrayal of women is more appealing to men as women are presented as manipulative as well as beautiful. If a woman is not a femme fatale then she is the “traditional” woman who is completely subservient to her husband [2].
Sylvia Harvey suggests that women in film noir are often "presented as prizes, desirable objects"; this objectification of women would probably be less appealing to a younger more modern audience, therefore the target audience ought to be over 50.

• Although these people do not fit into a single NRS Scale category, I think that our film is more likely to appeal to those who are well educated as Film Noir’s sardonic humour is unlikely to be appreciated less well educated people.

In an article about target audience it stated that: “You identify your target audience, frankly, by guessing. But you have to make an informed guess.”
Therefore, we will be aiming our film at people over- 50 but will test our product before release on our target audience to make sure that we have the right age group and can tailor our ideas based on the test screening.

[1] An example of the NRS Scale
social grade social status occupation
A..... upper middle class higher managerial, administrative or professional
B..... middle class intermediate managerial, administrative or professional
C1... lower middle class supervisory or clerical, junior managerial, administrative or professional
C2... skilled working class skilled manual workers
D..... working class semi and unskilled manual workers
E...... those at lowest level of subsistence state pensioners or widows (no other earner), casual or lowest grade workers

[2] Examples of this can be seen in many film noir movies including:
Out of the Past:
Kathie: the femme fatale; tries to escape from her relationship with Whit, then by manipulating the two men who would try to love or control her.
Ann: “traditional woman”; stands by her man even when he tells her that he is mixed up with murder and another woman.

The Big Sleep:
Vivienne: When we first see Vivienne she is smoking alone which at the time would be considered socially unacceptable, she is then seen drinking shortly after that.

The Postman always rings twice:
Cora: has no say in her husband's decision to sell the diner and move to Canada — a decision that leads her to murder him.

Main Production - Risk Assessment

This is a copy of the risk assessment we carried out before the shoot.