The answer to one of my questions for my AS media evaluation

1. How does your
media product
represent
particular social
groups?
Hafsah Zaman

2. During the process of making our film we had to consider
who are target audience was going to be whether it
would be young children, older children, teenagers or
adults. After, much discussion we decided to go with
targeting our film at teenagers because we are in the
age group so we know what teenagers our age enjoy
watching and this made it easier to produce our film. We
then had to think about what genre our film would be, we
came to a decision that teenagers our age usually enjoy
films which are of the horror genre and we thought this
would be the best way forward. However, after looking at
famous film openings and trailers we understood that it
would be quite hard to make the film look professional
and like an actual horror movie because our equipment
was limited. So, we decided to ensure our film looked
professional as possible we would change the genre. We
then did research into films that were about teenagers
specifically like Kidulthood, the genre of this film is social-
realism. After this we thought as we are teenagers social-
realism would be a good genre for us to put across, this is
what we decided in the end. Our film is just about girls so
we targeted it more towards girls although boys still could
watch the film.

3. • The reason we chose to target it at girls is
because we thought teenager girls would
be able to relate and understand the girls
within the film therefore making it more
touching and interesting story.
Furthermore, the fact that we just had girls
within the film fits in with the storyline as
girls are noticed more in the media for
having eating disorders than boys, this is
stereotypical in a way because boys
could also have eating disorders too and
also we were stereotypical with the other
storyline too, as boys can also be bullied.
The whole context and meaning behind
our film is fairly stereotypical by the way
the girls are dressed and the fact that the
bullying is done through social media that
a typical teenager would use. This was
done intentionally because we felt that by
doing this the majority of teenagers would
be able to relate better to the film making
it more interesting for them to watch.

4. • During the production of the opening of our film we
ensured that different social groups were reflected
and represented in different parts within the
opening. We considered a variety of different things
such as interests, style of our target audience and
what would engage the target audience into
wanting to carry on further into the film.
• ‘THE AFFECTED’ is aimed at teenagers who range
from the ages 13-19 years old and who are
interested in real life issues surrounding todays
society as that is what our storyline is based on.

5. What does our film have in
common with other films?
• Our film is of the genre of social-realism and by looking at
other films which are of this genre we can see that
typically they are based within a school and our film has
a scene with one student that is within the school she
goes too, this also another stereotypical aspect within our
film.
• Films of this genre we have also noticed all contain some
kind of bullying it is not always the main focus of the
storyline, like ours, but it is there. This also takes part within
a school and is normally face to face. However, our film
has challenged this stereotype because the bullying is
taking place over the internet, a more modernised way,
and it is not set in a school but in fact it is within the
comfort of the character’s own home.
• Within other films which are of the same genre as ours we
have also noticed they strive hard at trying to attract the
target audience. This is something we have also strived to
do because we wanted to make a film that was
relatable because they are the type of films a typical
teenager girl enjoys, heart touching movies that make an
impact. We have kept that in mind when making our film.

6. What does our film have in
common with other films?
• How the lighting is expressed in other films is similar
to how we expressed it. We noticed that the lighting
of the film usually reflects the mood that the film is
giving off. We tried to duplicate this by using dark
and dim lighting throughout the whole of the film
because we felt that the mood of our film was sad
and solemn and we felt this was the best lighting to
reflect the mood of the storyline and the film as a
whole.

7. Social groups
• A typical teenager girl will look up to celebrities who
define the ‘perfect’ image that every girl who is within the
13-19 age range strives for. People such as Rihanna,
Beyoncé, Katy Perry and models such as Kiera Knightley
and Kate Moss. This types of people make teenagers girls
feel like that they need to look the way they do because
these are the people who get noticed by the media so
girls feel like in order to have worth and feel noticed they
must look a certain way. This gets to a point were girls
would even try to match what these big icons wear just to
feel a little more like them. Our film has definitely not
challenged these stereotypes of what girls feel they need
to look like and feel by the way the characters, dress, act
and even talk to some extent. This is reflected in the
storyline where one character has an eating disorder the
character actually explains within the film that she hates
the way she looks and feels, this is because of the pressure
put on girls by the media which makes them think they
need to act and look a certain way. It is this same thing
which leads to issues such as bulimia in society and this is
an issue which our film does address on how it can effect
a person mentally and physically. Another example is that
the use of internet is used in part of the film, the internet is
a big part of teenagers lives nowadays especially and
plays a big part in these young girls following big icons so
they can be exactly like them, which we all know is
impossible.

8. Social Groups
• A typical girl teenager would be sociable and have
loads of friends. Girls are usually described as the
gender that likes to gossip with the friends this is why
they are associated with being in large groups. Our
film does challenge this as the girls within the film
are among those who are more vulnerable and are
sort battling through what they are facing alone.
Our film shows that girls can also have a sense of
loneliness and this is evident through both
characters within the film.

9. Age, Gender and
Ethnicity.
• Even though are main focus was to target girls it doesn’t mean
that boys can’t watch the film too because they can also have
eating disorders and be bullied and they also may be able to
relate the films. We just thought because the characters are girls it
would be easier for girls to relate as a whole
• Our characters are all of Asian backgrounds. However, there is
nothing within the film that makes it offensive to other ethnic
group. We are not ignorant to the fact that only Asian girls suffer
with problems like because anyone can go through it. This
doesn’t make is just for Asian teenaged girls, it is meant for all
ethnic groups to enjoy.
• The film is targeted it at girls within the 13-19 age range, we
thought this was the most suitable age range because firstly, the
girls within the film are of similar age. However, this doesn’t mean
adults can’t watch it because issues like this are also common
within adults but it is just noticed more within the media to be
associated with teenagers which is why we chose this age range.
However, we don’t feel young children would be able to grasp
the meaning and message behind the film as well as teenagers
and adults would but they could still watch it.