This document discusses representing 16-25 year olds in a thriller film. It notes that this age group likes popular films and wants actors they can relate to. The main character, Mandy, is a working class teenager in London intended to represent most viewers. Unlike other thrillers, the film aims to show how teenagers can handle serious situations with strength and knowledge rather than being portrayed as weak. Establishing shots of a school and bus stop emphasize the character's ordinary lifestyle to make the film feel realistic for the target audience.
1. EVALUATION 2Activity 2- How does your media product represent
particular social groups
AS Media- Albiona Ramadani
2. SOCIAL GROUP I
CHOSE
➤ I chose to represent 16-25 year olds as during
this period in their lives they are trying to
establish an identity for themselves. Generally
they choose things that are popular, which
thriller films have been significantly popular for
the past 5 years between teenagers and
young adults.
➤ Due to the focus group that I did, this group
believed that actors that are older, are not
believable.
3. MAIN SOCIAL GROUP
REPRESENTEDThe main social group that is represented within my film are working class teenagers
that live within London. Mandy is seen within the streets of London in ordinary areas
that is not seen as upper class or lower but neutral allowing the audience to understand
and relate to her better.
As she is not doing anything that is seen as extreme where action films such as Furious 7
includes a hospital which is destructed by a villain. In addition, ‘The Conjuring’ includes
many articles about demons etc showing that being inquisitive and determined about a
certain issue is needed within the film encouraging the audience to do the same.
However, Mandy uses an article found at her expense showing that the audience are
able to also do the same as within the younger generation, technology plays a
generously large role in their everyday lives making it easier for them to research about
certain issues.
This was the intention within the treatment as teenagers are the main social group that
are represented seeing as the main character within the film is a teenagers herself.
4. STEREOTYPES WITHIN A
THRILLER/MYSTERY
Within a thriller film, the characters are stereotypically naive as they are not
aware about any occurrences or problems. However as they are inquisitive
beings, they are forced to be less oblivious and become much more aware of
their surroundings. A film in which has targeted this particular type of character
is Insidious as at first they are unaware of what is happening within their
household. However, in order to survive, they had to be prepared and know
enough about the dangers in order to overcome it.
Thrillers also include characters that are fearful and act on those instincts. They
are usually irrational as their state of mind is unwell. Which makes them a weak
and an easier target to danger seeing as they are vulnerable. This is evident
within Insidious as they do not know what the best decision is hence later in the
film, they get help.
However, within my film, I decided that my character is level headed and is able
to handle confusing situations as she could ignore all of the signs but her
curious and determined characteristics cause her to unravel the mystery
regarding the Paris attacks.
5. CHANGES TO THE
THRILLER/MYSTERY GENRE
The changes that I had made in my film opening is the colours as within Insidious,
there is a constant use of red and black intensifying the dangers to come in the
film.
However in my film opening, I decided to show the normal lighting used, making
the scene much more familiar with the audience and will become more aware of
the scene and try to notice the little details. The red within my scenes are much
more subtle emphasising the theme of having to read between the lines.
The character within my film is not the typical character within a thriller as I
wanted her to be more similar to the teenagers that will watch this film. As it is
different this will give the audience a new perspective of how teenagers can
handle serious situations as they are stereotypically weak, irresponsible and
careless. This will encourage them to believe that they have the strength and
knowledge to challenge ideas and adults as they may find out that they are right
all along.
6. ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS TO SHOW
REPRESENTATION OF THIS GROUP
As the social groups of my film are young, middle class
teenagers, the establishing shot of the school and the
bus stop, emphasises their social group showing their
daily repetitive lifestyle.
I decided to do this because the audience will
immediately pick up on their lifestyle as they too, will
most likely have to do a similar routine. Therefore, the
film will become much more real to the audience and
will feel closer and will most likely become aware of real
cases in which people believe about the conspiracy
theory.
7. WHAT EFFECT DOE
THIS HAVE
➤ The effect that this has on the target audience
is that due to the lifestyle being similar to theirs,
they feel as though they can predict what her
life will consist of. However, as it will drastically
change, they are left surprised and will,
throughout the rest of the film, try to expect the
unexpected.
➤ In addition, as the audience and the character
are not too different, they will be able to relate
to her and therefore become emotionally
involved in the film and understand what the
characters is going through, through empathy
as they understand people that constantly
ignore their opinions.