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1. Research
Hannah Wilkinson

2. Audience Research

3. Target Audience Profile
The age group that my product is targeted to will be people between 14 and 18. This is
because the adventure structure of the film will be appealing to a younger audience. I
know that sci fi is a popular genre amongst older groups as well however I think this
type of light hearted time travel film will be more appealing to younger audiences. It
will also have elements of the adventure genre which will be more appealing to the
younger age groups. The main characters of the film will both be similar ages to those
of the target audience. This makes the characters more relatable to the audience and
also help to market it towards younger people as it will attract to them.

4. Audience Research
A target audience for a film is typically aged between 18 –34. This is because they tend
to have more money and social influence. Sci fi films can be older. The reason it can
vary is due to the content as some can be more family friendly and others can be more
graphic. This can be seen with films like E.T (1982) which is rated U and Alien (1979)
which is rated 18. Sci fi films also appeal to a more niche group because it can require
more knowledge of sci fi.
General audience facts and STATS
• In 2014, 15-24 year olds made up the largest proportion of the UK cinema
audience, at 31%.
• A wide range of genres appealed to women, whereas men were drawn to films
with a strong action element.
• 22 Jump Street had the largest above-average audience share among the 15-24
age group, while Mr. Turner had the largest share among cinema-goers aged 55
and above.
BFI film Forever - https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-audiences-2015-11.pdf

5. Audience research
Share of Americans who watched science fiction and fantasy programmes on
television in 2021 by age.
Number of respondents: 4,817
35% of the respondents were between the age of 50 and 64, 34% were aged 30 to 49.
This shows that sci fi media is heavily absorbed by an older audience.

6. Audience Research
Figure 1 shows the age trends of cinema admissions from 2003 to 2014.
This shows that number of cinema admissions between 15-24 year olds is the highest
and also the most consistent. Making product that appeals to this age group will
ensure that it is appealing to a majority group
This graph wont get a full idea of audiences because there are other reasons why
older people simply wont go to cinemas. Younger people also have more free time and
money to spend of fun activities.
Source - BFI Research and statistics

7. Audience Research
Film preferences by age
Comedies and action films appealed mostly to the 15-24 age category. This shows that
younger adults and teenage audiences like watching comedies. This is something I can
try and incorporate into my final project. This will be helpful because comedy is a
common subgenre in sci-fi films so this is how I can aim it towards a younger
demographic.
Source - BFI Research and statistics

8. Market Research
Existing Products

9. Existing Product
Back to the Future – audience appeal
When the writers sat down to start
writing the film, they wanted to make
sure that you didn’t need to know
anything about the history before
hand. They wanted everyone to be
able to enjoy the film for its comedy
and drama. This makes it appealing to
a much wider audience and makes it
more fun to watch for casual viewing.
Having a film that goes from the
present day and then back in time to
the 50s can also help to appeal to a
wider audience. It can create a sense of
nostalgia for an older audience whilst
also keeps a younger generation
attracted by the pop culture references
and young main character.

10. Existing Product
The lighting in this film represents the
genres of the film which are sci-fi but also
fantasy. The fantasy elements can be seen
with how colourful the film presents itself.
Most of the film uses high key lighting
which highlights the light nature of the
film. High key lighting is used In more
positive scenes to portray this emotion. It
also helps to set the more comedic tone
and pace the film has. This is important in
the scenes that could have a darker impact
on an audience like the scenes where
Marty is being bullied. It helps keep the
audience aware of the light-hearted
comedic nature the film wants to portray.
The other type of lighting used is three-
point lighting. This is used in scenes with
more action. Three-point lighting uses
three lights to help better illuminate the
character on screen.

11. Existing Product
Back to the Future - props
This films time trave element revolves
around the use of the DeLorean. If the
characters drive the car at 88mph then
they, and the car, will time travel. Using a
car relates with time travel since it is a
mode of transportation. This adds a sense
of familiarity to the otherwise unfamiliar
concept. Using this car also adds comedy
and tells us about Doc's character. This
was also used because the writers felt like
this car looked like an alien spaceship
which ties to the sci-fi elements of the
film.

12. Existing Product
Harry potter: the Prisoner of Azkaban –
Time turner scene
This scene shows the two characters
Harry and Hermione travelling back to
earlier that day. Hermione uses a magic
pocket watch to turn back the time. The
use of this object makes an obvious
choice as it is a watch so it relates with
the theme of time travel.
As the characters begin going back in
time, they stay still in the center whilst
the other characters blur around in the
background. This creates the idea that all
the people around them are being
reversed at a fast pace. The characters
themselves stay clear in the center
because we, the viewer, are also going
back in time with them.

13. Existing Product
Harry potter: the Prisoner of Azkaban – Time turner scene
The lighting in this scene is neutral giving the idea that it is just the natural sunlight illuminating
them. This creates a friendly tone and helps defuse tension by creating an atmosphere that is
bright and sunny. It makes the audience feel hopeful and diffuses the tension especially since the
stakes are high for the characters at this point in the film. It also helps the characters enjoy the
whimsy of the time travel because it is another new aspect of a magical world which is important
since this film is targeted to a younger audience. The lighting also changes from brighter warm
tones to cooler tones to show that the time of day is changing.
The camera angle during this scene are eye level. This creates a sense of balance and equilibrium
which could help bring comfort and reassurance to the audience. It also shows that we are going
along with Harry and Hermione as we are on the same level. This angle also helps to show off the
effect in full form to display the time travel effect.

14. Research Analysis
• What common features do the researched products have?
• Both product have used bright lighting to help portray a happy and light-hearted
tone for the scenes. This shows that lighting plays an important role in
communicating tone and emotion to the audience.
• Both films also have focus on a specific object that allows the time travel to take
place.
• What aspects of the research will you include within your on work?
• I will include bright lighting to portray the uplifting tone that I want my product to
have. I feel this is especially important to my product because it is targeted to a
younger teenage audience.
• I will have an object that makes the time travel possible.

15. Questionnaire Analysis

16. Audience research
• Observation: 50% said they preferred comedy as a subgenre to sci-fi films
• What this says about my audience: This says that younger people prefer a more
light hearted easy going film experience.
• How will your product appeal to this audience: I will make sure thar there aren’t
any dark themes and that it has comedy in it. This can be done with the editing
and dialogue.

17. Audience research
• Observation: 100% of my audience wanted to see time travel in a sci fi film.
• What this says about my audience: Everyone who took the survey was aged 18 and
younger. It says that this is an area that this younger group are interested in seeing
and it is something they enjoy.
• How will your product appeal to this audience: I will create my project around the
time travel aspect.

18. Audience research
• Observation: 75% of the audience picked back to the future as their favourite sci fi
film from the list.
• What this says about my audience: It says, that compared to alien films,
they prefer the time travel aspect. They also enjoy films that are light hearted,
easy going and fun.
• How will your product appeal to this audience: I will create a product that is light
hearted with the theme of time travel.

19. Interviews

20. Interview 1
What do you look for in a sci-f film?
What I look for is good world building. If a sci fi film doesn’t have a really good and
creative world then its not as immersive and appealing.
What is your favourite sci-fi film and why?
My favourite film would be Blade runner. I think that the cinematography Is really nice
and the colours are really nice.
What are some stereotypes in adventure films that you dislike and why?
One thing I dislike in adventure films is the lack of development on the characters.
They are always grouped up straight away and never get much focus outside of the
group. I would like to see individual character development.

21. Interview 1
• Observation: They like sci-fi films with nice cinematography and a good
world. This shows that an important part of sci-fi films is the new and
different world that surrounds the characters.
• What this says about my audience: It tells me that people of this age
group appreciate films that look nice and have a lot of thought and
creativity put into them.
• How will your product appeal to this audience: There will be a new world
for the characters to explore once they go back in time. I will also put
focus onto the cinematography and make sure that the outcome looks
nice.

22. Interview 2
What do you look for in a sci-f film?
Having a good world that is separate to ours and that has thought of new and creative
ways to have the characters interact with it in a way that is new yet familiar.
What is your favourite sci-fi film and why?
My favourite sci-fi film is Akira. This is an animated film that has nice cinematography
and art style.
What are some stereotypes in adventure films that you dislike and why?
It annoys me when the characters get everything conveniently handed to them. It
feels so obvious that they have given them these things to keep the story moving. I
feel like I would prefer if the characters got to their conclusions in a more naturally
progressive way. It feels like the characters don’t have to face many challenges or
consequences for their actions.

23. Interview 2
• Observation: Having good cinematography is important in sci-fi films as it makes
them more attractive to the audience. It is also very important to have good world
building to entice the audience. If people are going to watch a sci-fi film they are
expecting to see a new innovative world with interesting characters or creatures
that are separate to our own world. They also dislike the story progression of many
adventure films and feel that they feel too staged and easy for the characters.
• What this says about my audience: It shows that the audience enjoy to watch
exciting and creative films with worlds that they can escape into and experience
with good visuals and cinematography.
• How will your product appeal to this audience: I will make sure to create a good
world and have story progression that feel natural and realistic. I will also make
sure to have appealing cinematography to attract viewers.

24. Bibliography

25. Bibliography
1. Wilkinson, H . (2022) Target Audience Research Survey (conducted on 20/04/22)
2. Murawska, M . (2022) Target Audience Interviews (conducted on 29/04/22)
3. Brooke, H . (2022) Target Audience Interviews (conducted on 29/04/22)
4. The Nitpick Critic. (2014). Analysis of Movie Lighting Effects Through Back to the
Future. Available: https://nitpickcriticblog.wordpress.com/2014/09/05/analysis-
of-movie-lighting-effects-through-back-to-the-future/. Last accessed 25/15/22.
5. BFI Film Forever. (2015). Audiences. Available:
https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-audiences-2015-
11.pdf. Last accessed 25/05/2022.