This document analyzes the target audience and genre conventions used in the trailer for an action thriller film starring Liam Neeson. The film targets working class males ages 15-35, drawing on conventions like scenes set in a large city and bars and of violence using guns and cars. These conventions appeal to audience expectations for the action thriller genre. The trailer provides context about the main character through narration and hints at plot points like a kidnapped girl to intrigue audiences and draw connections to Neeson's previous successful films.

1. I think the producer has targeted this film at people in the grades C1 – E social classification,
mostly males at the age of 15 – 35. This is because it is an action thriller it is more appealing
to males. The film is about someone picking themselves up and starting again. They would
have looked at other target audiences for similar films such as Taken and Taken 2, which
have a similar plot and with the same actor.
A lot of genres conventions have been used
throughout this film, a lot of them are shown
in the trailer. Within the mise en scene there is
a wide / long shot of New York, this shows how
big the city it. Most action thrillers are set in
large cities, usually New York.
A few seconds into the trailer Liam Neeson is sat in a
bar, this is stereotypical in an action thriller genre.
Guns, car crashes are also very stereotypical, after
this scene of him sat in a bar he runs outside with a
gun and shoots at people after a car crash has
happened. These scenes are very iconic for this
specific type of film as this is what the audience
wants to see.
From what he says, we know he was an ex-police
officer but is now a stray officer as a boy asks him
why he isn’t a cop anymore. We know this
because Liam Neeson narrates the trailer. This is
appeals to the audience because it helps us understand
what is happening throughout the trailer.
The girl in the trailer that was kidnapped was wearing a
red coat; the antagonist was stood behind her. This
could symbolise the child story ‘Little Red Riding Hood’.
Enigma is created here making the audience question
whether or not the film’s story line is imitating the child story, little red riding hood.
The short clips towards the end of the trailer and the non-diegetic sound that sound like a
heartbeat builds up suspense. This makes the audience intrigued to know what’s going to
happen at the end. Liam Neeson has starred in films like this before such as Taken and
Taken 2, this will also grab the audience’s attention as he is a very popular actor. This
creates enigma because the audience will wonder if this film is going to have the same story
line as his previous films.