Luke Newcombe

Target Audience Analysis

Part 1: Understanding my audience

The chosen genre of my opening sequence will be a drama. The reasons for
choosing drama as the desired genre for my opening sequence is because this
genre can be widely associated with all types of audiences and most importantly
drama films can be associated to a large extent with my preferred target
audience, male adults. Drama films allow for the viewers emotions to be
expressed due to having a storyline or character which can be connected/
related to by the viewer, this is a feature which will be evident during my
opening sequence as the main protagonists will be shown to be suffering with a
drug addiction, an aspect which can be connected with modern society,
especially within Britain. By choosing this audience to aim my opening sequence
at the target audience can relate back to both the footage and the storyline due
to the content and how it can be applied/ reflected within modern day society
and therefore the target audience can relate back to the footage. Furthermore,
the drug culture is mostly prominent within students (late teens) and older
generations and therefore by directing my opening sequence towards this age
range they will have an increased connection with the opening sequence, in
comparison to younger viewers who wont have knowledge or knowledge to this
extent around the use of drugs and drug culture in general.

The main target audience for my chosen genre is males of the ages 18 and
above. However, although my desired target audience is young adult males of
this age range, sections of the research carried out do contradict with this aim.
For example, from the below graph (1) it is clear to see that drama films are
preferred by a male audience over a female audience, and therefore coincides
with my target audience. Despite this although, the graph to the right (2)
highlights how despite my intended target audience being of the ages 18 and
above, in actual fact the age range that noticeably prefers drama films are of the
ages 50 and above. This is likely due to drama films portraying realistic events
that reflect both life and society, a topic which would more likely attract older
audiences compared to younger audiences who would prefer films based on
romance or action depending on their gender and preference. Even though a
particular part of the research carried out doesnt match with my intentions I will
be challenging the demographic of the research and will continue to aim my
opening sequence at males of the ages 18 and over. This is due to the fact that
regardless of the perspective presented by the research carried out, based upon
my own knowledge I strongly believe that aiming my opening sequence at older
students/ young adults who are of a male gender is ideal and better tailored in
comparison to aiming my opening sequence at an older age ranged audience,
due to the content that my opening sequence will contain. I have chosen to
challenge the research conducted because I personally believe that by aiming
the opening sequence at my desired target audience instead of that of the
market research, the target audience I have chosen will have an increased
connection/ be able to relate more to the footage in comparison to an older
generation audience. This is largely due to the fact that the footage within the
 Luke Newcombe

opening sequence is largely focused around the society that we live in today, and
not based around society and cultures from the past. Therefore, by aiming the
footage at an audience that are currently experiencing modern day society and
youth cultures within this time period they will be able to better relate back the
opening sequence, in comparison to older generations who may not fully
understand/ be able to relate to the footage as the opening sequence isnt
relevant to the time period that they grew up in. Furthermore, the main
protagonists of my opening sequence are also of the same age as that of my
target audience. Again, this further reinforces a stronger connection between the
target audience and film as the characters are a reflection of modern day society.
In doing this it limits to an extent to how older generations can relate back to the
footage as older audiences wont be able to directly have links to what is being
shown on screen and the terminology used, in comparison to younger viewers as
the opening sequence is a mirror of the current youth culture within Britain today
and not that of the time period older audiences would have grown up in.

1 2
http://web.calstatela.edu/faculty/sfischo/media3.html
 Luke Newcombe

The following graph highlights which

gender prefers drama films. From the
information presented it is clear to see
that drama films are preferred by a male
audience (with a frequency of 32%) in
comparison to a female audience (with a
frequency of 23%). The following
information indicates how drama films
are mostly viewed by males and from this
information I have opted to aim my
opening sequence at a male target
audience as not only are they more likely
to watch my opening sequence. But will
also be able to relate more to the footage
http://web.calstatela.edu/faculty/sfischo/media3.html
in comparison with females. This is
because the footage is largely focused
around the use of drugs and drug culture
in general. A topic which will
stereotypically be more associated with
males. Also, males will more than likely
have a larger interest in this topic in
comparison to females as the footage
presents a more masculine approach to
present day society, therefore a male
audience will be able to relate back the
footage and have a stronger connection
with the footage in comparison with
females due to the following reasons.
Also, with the protagonist of the opening
sequence also being of a male gender,
there is a further connection with a male
audience in comparison to a female
target audience due to the protagonists
being the same gender as the desired
target audience.
The table pictured here highlights the age
ranges of people who watch specific
genre of films. From the following table it
is clear to see that the most popular age
range that view drama films ranges from
50 and above. As this figure contradicts
with my overall target age range I will be
challenging this demographic and aiming
my opening sequence at a younger age
range of 18 and above. This is due to the
content of the opening sequence being
more suited/ relevant to the current time
 Luke Newcombe

period and therefore more relatable to

http://web.calstatela.edu/faculty/sfischo/media3.html
http://web.calstatela.edu/faculty/sfischo/media3.html
younger audiences on comparison to an
older audience. From the data present in
the table younger audiences (13- 25)
watch dramas considerably less than
older audiences (ages 26 and above),
however, despite this I will still be trying
to aim and focus my opening sequence
towards younger viewers instead of older
audiences due to the type of content
within my opening sequence which will
be more relevant to my desired target
audience of 18 year olds.
From the table shown to the left the
highest majority of ethnicity that view
drama films are of black ethnicity.
Despite this my overall opening sequence
isnt specifically aimed towards certain
ethnicities. Even though all three
protagonists are of white ethnicity, with
the information interpreted from the
graph 24% of people of this ethnicity
watch drama films and this could result in
a large majority of people of the same
ethnicity viewing my opening sequence,
the second largest ethnic demographic
after the black ethnicity which has a
viewing percentage of 56%. Regardless of
the figures presented, I will still choose
not to specifically aim my opening
sequence at a certain ethnicity due to the
content within my opening sequence
being diverse and relatable to all
ethnicities, not just one ethnicity.

The codes and conventions which will be present throughout the entirety
of my opening sequence are as follows

Relatable character/ characters going through an emotional/ physical

journey

Using a character/ characters that are relatable and can reflect real life social
situations makes it easier for the audience to have an understanding to that
characters/ characters. Not only does a relatable character make the film seem
more realistic, it also allows the audience to gain empathy for the character(s) as
the viewer will have an increased understanding of the situations presented to
the character(s). To add to that, having the correct type of character can help to
Luke Newcombe

create tension and an atmosphere which reflects what circumstances are faced
by the character(s). Often, in order to create a character that can be related to
by the viewer, the subject is exaggerated and based around typical stereotypes.

Within my opening sequence there will be three main protagonists. All three of
these protagonists will be based around over exaggerated stereotypes of people
who struggle with a drug addiction. In doing this it results in the audience being
able to relate back to all three characters as the protagonists will be shaped
around people who are present within modern day society throughout Britain and
therefore, this result in a set of characters being created which can be associated
back to society throughout towns and cities across Britain. Creating empathy by
the viewer for the characters due to the characters portrayed being believable/
realistic and also because of the situation the characters are facing (suffering
from a drug addiction). Due to this both the characters themselves and also the
emotional/ physically journey the characters are going through help form a bond
between the audience and characters as the viewer feels empathy towards the
characters due to the events shown on screen which can be easily referred back
to the types of people that are present within Britains modern day society.

Run down/ suburban settings

The types of settings chosen to be used within a drama film are settings which
the audience can easily relate to. For example, using a council estate or run
down house allows the viewer to have an instant connection with the film as
these types of settings are a common throughout England. If the film was located
abroad, ghettos and shanty towns could be used as they still portray to the
audience that gritty, dirty look which is associated with a drama film. As dramas
are designed to be relatable and realistic its important that the setting chose do
not come across as fantasised, which will take away the realistic feel of the film.
Often, dramas showcase the use of drugs and violence, by presenting to the
audience a run down, stereotypical location for this to take place, it further
allows the audience to try and relate to that character.

The location chosen for my opening sequence will be the working class, Northern
town of Halifax. By using a location such as this town the audience automatically
have a connection/ link with the film as drama films portray hard hitting realities
of life, and by using a town which is known for having a working class
background this is reflected to the viewer. Whereas choosing a location such as
Beverly Hills for example, wouldnt correctly portray the type of dull lifestyle/
poverty which would mostly be associated with a working-class town and not a
city renowned for having a wealthy community. To add to that, the types of
buildings and the area used for filming in my opening sequence will be a council
estate, further enhancing the sense of poverty faced by the protagonists. By
using a council estate for the filming of my opening sequence it results in the
footage being both more believable (due to the stereotypes based around drug
abusers being poor) and also keeps the constant dark and gloomy theme
throughout. This is because council estates are often referred to as not being
pleasant places to live and by using this belief the sense of poverty and the
Luke Newcombe

harsh life the characters are living is strengthened as the viewer will find this
location more believable and relatable to the events shown within the footage, in
comparison to using a location which may present ideas of wealth.

Dull Lighting

Drama films portray to the audience the harsh realities of life. Often, this is
presented a way which is dark and gloomy. By using dull lighting in helps to
create a bleak natured atmosphere for the audience and further helps to reflect
the overall mood of the film, whereas using vibrant coloured lighting wouldnt
correctly correspond with a film thats trying to show a character/ characters that
are suffering from a drug addiction.

Throughout my opening sequence there will be a constant focus on presenting a

dark/ gloomy atmosphere to the audience. This is in order to reflect both the
affects the constant abuse of drugs are having on the characters physically and
furthermore also reflect the dark side to the use of illegal drugs in general. The
footage within my opening sequence will mostly be filmed in locations such as
council estates and alleyways, and by adding dark/ dull lighting to these scenes
and also by recording footage at times when the sun isnt bright, the sense of
misery is increased to the audience. Again, this helps support the dark and
overall sombre undertone message that my opening sequence is trying to
portray and overall fortifies how my opening sequence is a hard-hitting drama
based around the harsh realities of life for a specific group of people.

The presentation of audio within drama films is based around key components in
order to create an overall outcome that can manipulate audiences emotions.
One of these components is the use of music in order to reflect whether specific
scenes should create either positive or negative emotions for the audience. The
type of music used within drama films is non- diegetic. By using music which is
added over the top of footage it creates an increased sense of dramatic affect for
the audience and also helps enhance the tone of a specific scene, for example,
the use of slow paced music strengthens and reinforces the element of sadness
within a specific scene which may not be fully present if non- diegetic sound had
not been used. The use of music within drama films helps to aid the overall mood
and atmosphere present within different scenes and this causes the viewer to
express different emotions. Another factor used in order to contribute to
manipulating the audiences emotions is that of ambient sound (natural sound).
Ambient sound is used throughout dramas in order to create verisimilitude which
matches the overall aim of what drama films are designed to be, realistic. The
use of ambient sound helps keep the realism within specific scenes within drama
films resulting in the viewer being able to believe the events on screen and
express different emotions depending on what the footage is showing. To also
help add to the sense of realism, the use of sound in general, excluding music, is
diegetic (can be seen on screen). This is because similarly to ambient sound, the
use of diegetic sound helps to create an increase sense of realism for the
audience as the sound can be seen on screen and isnt added in. By adding
sound effects over the footage, the realistic affect drama films are trying to
Luke Newcombe

create could be lost and as a result of this I will choose not to include sound
effects within my opening sequence.

Part 2.1: My Target Audience

My preferred and desired choice of target audience for my opening sequence will
be males of the ages 18 and above. Despite the research carried out not
coinciding with my own personal vision, I have decided to challenge the
demographics presented of older audiences (from the ages 50 and above) being
the main consumer of drama films and have opted to age my opening sequence
at a younger audience. The main and initial reason for choosing to direct my
opening sequence at the age range of 18 and above is due to the majority of the
content within my opening sequence being relevant and fitting to this age group
and the current society/ youth culture which this age range is currently
experiencing in modern day Britain. My goal for my opening sequence is to
create a mirror image of the types of different youth cultures that Britain
currently contains in society, in this case the main focus being directed towards
the use of drugs by young people. By having this specific type of content an
instant connection is gained with the target audience and the characters within
the opening sequence, a bond which may not be formed if my preferred target
audience was of an older age range. The main reason for this is the relevance to
present day my opening sequence will have. For example, the content and
dialogue used will not be as relevant to older audiences as they will not have
experienced this type of content to the same extent when compared with
younger audiences, who are experiencing the different type of styles and
language shown within my opening sequence first hand. This is largely because
of older audiences growing up within a different era to that of when my opening
sequence is set, resulting in audiences of the ages 50 and above for example not
being able to relate to the content as much as 18 year olds for example, if the
content I produced cant be related to by the viewer, then the main priority of
drama films playing on peoples emotions cant be met as older audiences wont
visualise/ relate to the content in the same way in comparison to younger
viewers. Furthermore, as the content is a reflection of modern day society and
not a recreation of society previously seen within Britain, choosing to aim my
opening sequence at audiences currently experiencing this type of society and
the cultures within society makes the content as a whole easier to both
understand and follow. To add to that, the age range of the main protagonists
reflects the age range of my preferred target audience. In doing this there is a
further reinforced bond between both the characters and viewer due to the
viewer being able to relate back to the characters because of their ages. This
would not be as directly possible if my target audience were of a much older age
range to the protagonists.

In order to gain and attract audiences to my opening sequence I will combine the
codes and conventions within drama films, listed above, in coordination with an
overall storyline which can be related to by the audience, in order to gain an
overall outcome of producing an opening sequence which will both physically
and emotionally act upon the viewer. By creating characters which are suffering
Luke Newcombe

through a physical journey, a drug addiction, and by using characters of an age

range which matches my target audience. An opening sequence which the
audience can easily relate to will be created and therefore this will entice the
viewer into the opening sequence as the content will be both believable and
relevant to present day, and therefore relevant to the society they are currently
experiencing/ growing up in. To add to that, it could also be noted that audiences
could be drawn into my opening sequence in order to gain a different perspective
and a different viewpoint to the current way of life that and experiences that
different types of people are living in. A perspective which may not coincide/ be
known to other groups of people. This could also result in my opening sequence
attracting wider audiences and not just my desired target audience, due to the
perspective which my opening sequence is reflecting. A perspective which may
not be shared/ known to certain types of audiences, for example older age
generations who havent experienced the society being reflected within my
opening sequence. By having an overall storyline which reflects the current state
of society and the current youth cultures which are present within Britain and
that is therefore realistic, combined with fast paced action (content which
stereotypically attracts male audiences as this gender prefers action within films
in comparison to females) such as the chase seen which features in my opening
sequence and the frequent use of drugs (again attracting male audiences due to
the use of drugs more likely to appeal to males in comparison to females) will
come together in order to intrigue audiences towards my opening sequence.

The profile of my preferred target audience will consist of males of the ages 18
year olds and above, the following physiographic will break down elements
within this age range in order to create a profile for my desired target audience:

Going into further education (university) or employment.

Part time work or recently gone into full time employment. Therefore will
now have a steady source of income or spare money due to still living with
parents, with freedom to spend this money.
Reached the age where they are now legally allowed to drink and smoke,
this could further lead to possibly starting to experiment with drugs,
especially males who are more linked with this culture in comparison to
females (this could also be due to the summer holidays after leaving
education giving this audience a large amount of free time).
Possibly in a relationship or going into/ coming out of one.
Large friendship groups based on friends from previous years in education,
such as high school.
Possibly have personal possessions such as cars, allowing them more
freedom to travel (such as travelling abroad and visiting festivals).

The following physiographic breaks down different elements that are more than
likely contained within my desired target audience. Aspects such as going into
further education or full time employment fit perfectly with my target audience
as more often than not young adults of this age will either be leaving college or
Luke Newcombe

sixth forum in order to continue into further education, or if not opting to choose
to find full time employment in the workplace., both free time and money can
also be linked backed to my preferred target audience due to this age range
more likely than not, still living with their parents or guardians (therefore not
having to pay for food for example or housing). Free time also coincides with the
holidays that come after leaving education such as sixth form or college, or even
apprenticeships. Due to this and the freedom this audience have due to
becoming adults (and being 18 allowing them access to alcohol and cigarettes) it
is also more likely for this age range to start beginning/ experimenting with
drugs. Again, coinciding with not only my film but the reasons I have aimed my
opening sequence as this age range. The footage within my opening sequences
corresponds with the above representatives as firstly my opening sequence
contains characters of the same age as my desired target audience (18 and
above), therefore there is a relationship between the audience and viewer, this
also leads the viewer to assume that either the characters have left or are still in
full time education, or have an apprenticeship. Again, there is a further
connection and an added sense of realism (the foundations of what dramas are
based on, being realistic) due to the age of the characters matching the age of
the target audience. Furthermore, the profile of my target audience beginning to
experiment with the use of drugs also matches with the physiography created
(18 year olds being able to purchase, legally, alcohol and cigarettes, also
experimenting with illegal substances due to the freedom that comes with being
an adult) as within my opening sequence there is a constant focus and link back
to the use of drugs and drug culture in general. By having this section of the
psychographic present within my opening sequence there is again, an increased
connection between the viewers and the characters/ footage. Finally, within my
opening sequence there is a clear focus on the friendship and bond between all
three protagonists, within he profiles Ive created for my target audience there is
a focus on how my preferred target audience are that of people who are
socialising with a large group of people (as said previously due to friendships
formed in education for example). By having this element (large friendship
groups) clearly presented within my opening sequence it results in the audience
being able to relate back to the footage, and also makes the footage more
believable/ realistic in the terms of how my opening sequence reflects society
and specifically this age group which my opening sequence is both aimed for and
based around

Due to both the content and dialogue used within my opening sequence the age
rating I will be aiming for is 18 and above. In order to coincide with the rules laid
out by the BBFC on what determines age classification of films, the only rating
my opening sequence is relevant/ suited for is 18. The subject of drugs alone and
the frequent showing of drugs and to an extent violence which could be imitated
by younger viewers automatically puts my opening sequence into the 18 and
above category. The constant showing of the use of drugs is not suited to be
viewed by younger audiences and furthermore, throughout my opening
sequence there will be a constant presence of the use of mild language which
isnt justifiable by the context it is put into, neither is the constant use of mild
Luke Newcombe

language for comedic affect. Due to this my opening sequence, will be aimed
towards/ given an 18 rating. Although my opening sequence doesnt include
scenes of nudity for example or excessive gore, due to the other factors (a
positive viewpoint to the use of drugs alongside the constant demonstration of
how to consume drugs and the continuous use of mild language) my opening
sequence will still only pass at an 18 rating and shouldnt be viewed by
audiences below the ages of 18 because of the type of content included and the
overall slightly positive tone towards the use of drugs.

In order to make my opening sequence appealing to my target audience I will be

directing a large focus to having a fast paced, dramatic structure to my opening
sequence in order to both engage and intrigue my audience into my opening
sequence. From research carried out and also from common stereotypes, male
audiences enjoy fast paced action much more than a female audience and by
including fast paced, action packed scenes within my opening sequence it will
match the criteria that my target audience will be looking for. Furthermore,
within my opening sequence there are numerous different jump cuts, these jump
cuts however will be easy for the audience to follow due to the structure they
have been placed in. In doing this there is an almost enticing atmosphere/ mood
created that draws the audience into my footage and makes them want to know/
watch more. By creating these cliff-hangers and also by including stereotypical
elements which draw males audiences, especially my own target audience, into
my opening sequence it will therefore mean my sequence will appeal to my
target audience. To add to that, the topic of drugs itself could automatically
entice my target audience due to the topic being both relevant and interesting to
them as my opening sequence is a reflection of the society they are currently
experiencing. In doing this not only are my own target audience appeased to my
opening sequence but also various other audiences will also be attracted to my
opening sequence because of the various different perspectives on life
presented. Collectively, the contribution of fast paced action, cliff-hangers that
entice the viewer and also the topic itself of drugs within my opening sequence
will draw audiences in resulting in my opening sequence appealing to audiences.

Part 2.2: Questionnaire Analysis

The following questions I created were based around different elements and
aspects that are often shown within, or are relevant to drama films and also all
film genres in general. These questions were created in order for me to gain an
insight of the opinions of the audience and what aspects within drama films the
audience want to see. By tailoring these questions in order for the answers to

be relevant to my own opening sequence, for example questions such as what

age do you prefer the main character to be?, I can use the answers received in
order to adapt my footage in order to fulfil what my target audience want to see
and what my target audience expect to see within an opening sequence for a
drama film. To add to that, although I will be using the answers received in order
to adapt my opening sequence, I will also be challenging certain elements of the
answer and going against what the audience expect to see. This will be done in
Luke Newcombe

order to create the best possible opening sequence that uses both the
audiences visions and my own vision of what a drama film opening sequence
should contain.

The first question within my

questionnaire was that of asking
peoples genders. From the
results, it is clear to see that a
vast majority of my response were
from males with a percentage of
77.8%, to the 22.2% of females
that responded. Due to the data
shown here I can conclude that the
vast majority of my response will
be from a male perspective. By
having a predominantly large male
viewpoint within the answers to
my other questions it fulfils my
own goal of having an opening
sequence which is aimed towards
male viewers. Furthermore, by
having answers from a mostly
male angle I can develop my
opening sequence in order to
coincide with their own needs/
expectations as I want to create an
opening sequence which will
appeal to a male audience as this
gender is my preferred target
audience.
From the following stats presented
from my next question it is clear to
see that a large majority of people
who completed my questionnaire
were aged between 10-17, making
up 83.3% of the total percentage
of people who answered my
questionnaire. However, unlike my
first question the stats presented
here fail to coincide with my
overall vision of creating an
opening sequence that appeals to
the age range 18 and above, with
this age range only making up
5.6% of the total percentage.
Despite the outcome here
indicating that the majority of the
Luke Newcombe

population that completed this

survey were under my target
audience range, I will still continue
to promote my opening sequence
at the age range 18 and above
regardless of having a large
proportion of answers based
around people who are below the
ages of 18. The main reason for
this is due to the content within
my opening sequence not suitable
to ages below 18, as the content
matches the BBFCs criteria of an
18-rated film. Although my survey
wasnt completed by my chosen
target audience, the feedback
used will still be able to be
reflected within my opening
sequence as despite the age range
difference, my questions are
relevant to all and are not solely
directed towards a specific age
range. Due to this the answers
received from the questionnaire
can still be applied to my opening
sequence.
The third question within my
questionnaire was based around
the average amount of time
people spend on watching films.
From the data collected it is clear
to see that on average people
spend roughly about 1-5 hours a
week watching films, as this
answer made up 72.2% of the
overall percentage.

From the results here it is clear to

see that the large majority of
people who participated in my
survey do engage with films, with
only 11.1% choosing the I dont
watch films answer. Due to this it
is evident to see that the people
who participated in my survey
have knowledge about films and
therefore the results will be
Luke Newcombe

relevant in further questions,

whereas having people participate
in my survey who dont watch
films will mean the results given to
not represent a true film
audiences opinion. The
information here cannot be
directly linked back and reflected
within my opening sequence,
despite this although, it does give
me an insight into how frequently
people watch films and from the
results, its clear to see that a
large proportion of the people who
answered my survey do watch
films and due to this the answers
received will be based around
opinions of people that like to
engage with films and therefore
most of the answers received will
be a true representation of
peoples opinions on films, and not
based on opinions from people
who dont watch films. It does
have to be noted that the joint
second highest percentage within
the pie chart is 11.1 of people who
watch films for 6-10 hours a week
and also people who answered
they dont watch films. Even
though a large percentage
answered they dont watch films,
in perceptive this figure is
relatively small in comparison to
the number of people who do
watch films and because of this
the majority of my answers reflect
the representation of people who
actively watch and engage with
films.
Luke Newcombe

The fourth question within my

questionnaire was what is the
preferred genre of film. From the
chart 44.4% of people said
comedy and only a small
proportion, 5.6% of people chose
my genre of drama. Again, the
data produced here doesnt fully
support my own development of
my opening sequence and
furthermore, goes against my
chosen demographic of young
adults aged 18 and above.
However, from past questions the
large majority of people who
answered my survey ranged
between the ages 10-17 and
therefore the large majority of
answers will be based around this
audiences age range and not that
of young adults (ages 18 and
above) that I will be targeting my
opening sequence at. Although the
responses here dont concur with
my own vision or support my
overall target audience for my
opening sequence it should be
noted that due to the results given
I may possibly include other
elements from different genres of
films within my footage. For
example, I go against traditional
codes and conventions of a drama
film within my opening sequence
by including upbeat, happy music
in order to create adrenaline and a
sense of panic. This type of music
usually being connected with
comedy films instead of dramas.
The vast majority of question
asked are centred around drama
films directly and therefore the
results given can be related to and
actively put into/ reflected in my
opening sequence, regardless of
the number of people who
answered my survey not being in
Luke Newcombe

favour of the drama genre within

films.
The fifth question asked in my
survey was that of which is the
preferred sub- genre within drama
films. From the results, it is clear
to see that the highest percentage
of answers ,38.9% were in favour
of comedy dramas. The main
reason for this could be due to the
age range of the majority of the
people who completed my
questionnaire being younger than
my own target audience, also,
from previous results the preferred
genre was also comedy. Even
though this outcome doesnt
support my own view and the view
that Im trying to create within my
opening sequence, as it is a cross
between a crime and documentary
drama, there will be elements of
my opening sequence that will
contain comedic affect and
therefore appease the majority of
the people who answered my
questionnaire. This is evident
through examples such as the
narrative that will be used.
However, it can be seen that the
second highest percentage of
people who completed my
questionnaire chose crime drama
as there preferred sub-genre.
Although this isnt the highest
percentage, with an average of
27.8%, it is still relatively high in
comparison to the other options
and answers. Therefore, I can still
conclude that even though the
largest majority of people would
choose a comedic drama over a
crime drama, there is still a high
enough percentage that would
select to choose a crime drama,
fitting with my vision of the type of
sub- genre I want my opening
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sequence to have. To add to that,

the joint third most voted sub-
genre was that of a docudrama.
Again, this supports the type of
sub- genre I want my opening
sequence to have as it is a cross
between both a documentary into
peoples lives, as well as having
illegal elements included within it.
This question is based around the
preferred gender of the main
protagonists within my opening
sequence. From the results, it is
clear to see that the highest
proportion of people are not
concerned with the gender of the
protagonists as both the male and
female options came in joint
second place, both having 22.2%
to the 55.6% of the not concerned
section. From this it is evident to
me that audiences are not
concerned with what gender the
protagonist are and therefore I will
be continuing with my idea to
have three, male protagonists.
Despite my opening sequence
being directed towards male
audiences both males and females
have expressed that they are not
concerned with what gender the
main characters are and overall
the audience will still be able to
relate back to the characters in
some way, despite the gender of
the characters. This result is idea
towards my own vision as I
personally selected three males
based on stereotypes surrounding
what gender uses drugs. But from
the results it is clear to see despite
these stereotypes that are in
circulation, neither males or
females are overly concerned with
the gender of the protagonists. It
should be mentioned, although,
that a vast majority of my answers
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came from the male gender,

despites this however, I will still be
going forward with my original
plan to have three male main
characters due to the outcome
within this question.
The following question was based
on the age range most people
prefer the main character to be.
This result matches directly to my
own aim of having young adults as
the main characters within
dramas. 61.1% of people voted in
favour of young adults being the
go to age of the main character
and from this result within my own
opening sequence I will choose to
stick with my initial decision of
having protagonists of this age.
The reason for this could be
largely due to how dramas are
mostly hard hitting realities of life,
something that audiences may not
believe suitable for teenagers or
as easily relatable if the characters
were adults. Due to my target
audience being of the same age
range as the preferred main
characters I believe that this will
add an increasing bigger element
of how the audience can relate
back and sympathise with the
characters and because of this
reason I will stick with my original
idea of having young adults as the
lead protagonists within my
opening sequence.
The results from the following
question were based upon
peoples favourite aspect within
drama films. The results here are
conclusive as 11.1% of people
voted in favour of the storyline as
being the most important element
within drama films. This is
expected as drama films are
produced in order to be realistic
Luke Newcombe

and relatable and the storyline

plays a large role in that. The
outcome here will be reflected
within my own opening sequence
as all three protagonists will be
going through the same physically
journey of struggling with a drug
addiction. Throughout my opening
sequence I will be showing footage
which slowly reveals a back story
to the characters. This element
will be playing a large role in
keeping audiences hooked as I will
be trying to produce an outcome
which entices audiences into
wanting to view more and by
having a storyline which can be
related back to by the viewer this
will be achieved. To add to that,
other results, such as special
effects gaining 5.6% of the total
vote, will be excluded from my
opening sequence. This is largely
due to my trying got keep as
realistic as possible storyline,
something that could be lost if
special effects were included for
example. Both the research and
my own idea support that the
storyline plays a predominant role
within any drama film and within
my opening sequence I will be
including different features, such
as revealing the characters
background to attract audiences
and therefore create a believable,
realistic storyline that can be
related to.
Luke Newcombe

The results here are pretty

conclusive and match my own
vision and the overall aim of dram
films in general. 72.2% of people
voted in favour of having
characters which are relatable, a
key aspect in making drama films
both believable and realistic for
the audience. Due to these all
three protagonists within my
opening sequence will be
characters which are easy to
relate to and also realistic, in
terms of dialogue and dress sense,
in order to fit in with present day
society and be easily relatable for
the viewer. Therefore, supporting
the demands of the audience. To
add to that, as the characters
featuring within my opening
sequence ae based on over-
exaggerated stereotypes. It makes
my opening sequence even ore
relatable for the audience as these
characters are based on pre- made
ideas, such as dress sense and
dialogue, by the audience and
further reinforces the sense of
realism and the relatability of the
characters to the audience.
The only opened ended question
within my questionnaire was that
of what makes characters
relatable in a dram film? Due to
this being an opened ended
question there were mixed
responses, however, there are
answers which do apply and can
be fitting to my own opening
sequence. For example, answers
such as Britishness and clothing
are both relatable to my own
opening sequence as my opening
sequence is based around current
British society, and clothing links
into this due to the different styles
of clothes worn by the character
Luke Newcombe

mirroring the different subcultures

and styles currently within Britain.
In my opening sequence the styles
worn play a key role in identifying/
revealing more about each
individual character, such as Brad
Smith shown to be wearing Dr
Martens indicating a powerful look
which can be directly linked to the
skinhead subculture of previous
years within Britain. In doing this it
portrays to the audience how brad
is trying to revive a culture from
the past and further gives away
more detail in what type of music
and what kind of overall character
he is. By having elements of
Britishness and choosing styles
which can be directly linked to
different aspects such as youth
culture, my opening sequence will
have an increasing in realism and
also an increase in how audiences
can relate back to my opening
sequence. Fulfilling the overall aim
of drama films being relatable.
The following question was based
around the importance of
costumes within my drama films.
55.6% of people voted in favour of
costumes playing a major role
within dramas. This attitude will be
reflected within my opening
sequence due to the varies styles
each individual character will be
shown to be wearing. By having
styles which are easily
distinguishable and relatable in
terms of subcultures, such as Wajj
shown wearing a black cap, with
joggers in order to create a street
look stereotypically linked with
crime, there is an increased sense
of realism to m open sequence.
Also, by having characters which
are wearing items of clothing
which can be linked to the current
Luke Newcombe

society and styles worn within

society and culture in Britain
current, it creates a connection
between the audience and
characters as not only does it
make the characters more
believable, but again more
relatable as this is the current
style is adopted by some of the
people within my main target
audience.
The final question in my
questionnaire was based on the
importance of the location. The
locations I will be using during
filming will be council estates,
automatically leading the
audience to assume that crime
may play a part due to stereotypes
surrounding people who live on
council estates. Furthermore,
council estates are notorious for
being run down and suburban.
Again, this fulfils stereotypes
based around council estates and
also presents a dark atmosphere
towards the drama as dramas
portray hard hitting, sombre
attitudes to way of lives. With a
total vote of 66.7% voting in
favour of having the location of
high importance this will be
reflected in my opening sequence
for the above reason of helping
fulfil common stereotypes which
will then lead the audience to
assume the overall tone and
atmosphere of my opening
sequence to be negative.
Furthermore, the location used for
filming being the working class
Northern town of Halifax further
reinforces the sense of bleak and
dull lifestyle which could possibly
surround the town itself. Due to a
large proportion of people saying
that the location plays an
Luke Newcombe

important role in reflecting the

overall mood, atmosphere an in
general type of drama that will be
presented I will be using locations
that fit in with stereotypes and
common misconceptions in order
to match with the overall attitude
surrounding the choices of
location.

Part 3: Conclusion

The genre that my opening sequence will be categorised into is that of a drama.
This is evident through the overall presentation of my opening sequence which
will show clearly the adverse side effects to the use of drugs, alongside following
three main protagonists as they try to overcome their drug addiction. Throughout
my opening sequence there will be easily identifiable aspects which can relate
my opening sequence back to the genre of a drama, for example there
protagonists who are trying to overcome a drug addiction, a run-down suburban
location in order to present both a dark and grim tone to my opening sequence
and finally the use of dull lighting to further enhance this sombre atmosphere Im
trying to create in order to represent both the effects of drugs on the characters
and the harsh realities of life the characters are facing due to drug abuse. During
my opening sequence the codes and conventions, such as dark lighting, easily
relatable characters and a suburban/ run down location, will be ever present in
order to easily identify the type of hard hitting, truthful drama I am trying to
create centred around the use of controlled substances. However, despite these
typical codes and conventions being forever present during my opening
sequence I will be challenging one of typical codes and conventions not normally
seen/ heard within drama films. That code and convention is one of upbeat
music. Despite the use of this type of music within my opening sequence its
affect isnt comical, but instead to present an upbeat, energetic tone which will
enhance the visuals on screen and further add to the sense of panic and
adrenaline which I want to be reflected during the first few minutes of my
opening sequence.

There will be numerous representations that will be included within my opening

sequence such as that of the modern-day street look for Wajj, which includes
items such as man bags and baseball caps. A style commonly associated with
crime and fitting to his character being a drug dealer. By having a style which is
stereotypically associated with 21st century drug dealers it not only easily
identifies Wajj to be an antagonist but also helps the audience relate back to Wajj
due to items of clothing he wears, clothing which can be seen throughout British
society currently. Also, stereotypical images such as the type of clothing worn by
all three protagonists, for example items of clothing such as a parka and Adidas
trainers along with bucket hats, present a 90s-subculture theme that helps the
Luke Newcombe

audience to identify/ assume that all three lead characters may be associated
with drugs in some way or another due to the background surrounding the choice
of clothing and the background/ the heavy involvement of drugs seen with this
choice of clothing in the 90, such as locations like Manchester. To add to that,
when added to the choice of location, a working-class town and the use of
council estates for filming, again further assumptions such as depravation and
poverty with regards to the people that live in these locations, all lead to the
viewer to assume how the opening sequence I will be creating is based around
the hard, harsh hitting realities of life faced by people, in this case drug addicts
in particular create a sympathetic but at the same time dark atmosphere
towards the characters and the opening sequence as a whole.

The presentation of my titles during my opening sequence will be in a basic,

bold, block capital writing format in a considerably small, but not unnoticeable
size. The reasoning for this is because bold letters alone already have
connotations of strength and seriousness, reflecting the overall tone of my
opening sequence as it is a hard-hitting drama documenting the harsh lives for
drug addicts. Furthermore, this basic format also present further ideas to the
audience that could possibly reflect the lives of the characters themselves, an
element which could be lost depending on how the titles were presented, for
example italics would result in the serious element being lost. Also, with the all
the titles appearing in the same format as each other there is also an increase in
the overall professional look of my opening sequence, the placing of my titles on
screen will be around the edges and never directly central on the screen. This is
because audiences take less notice to the titles and pay more attention towards
the actual footage and by placing writing in a central position of the point of
focus it could divert the audiences attention away from the content. To add to
that, to reflect the lack of importance to the majority of the titles they will appear
on screen for only a matter of seconds (possibly 2) and will transaction through a
fade. Again, this keeps a very basic, sensible and serious tone towards my
opening sequence. However, there will be titles that are exempt from the
following rules, those titles being the production company, which will appear in a
central position on screen before the footage is shown, and finally the film title
itself, which will appear again in a directly central position and in a different
format to the previous titles. This is due to both the production company and film
Luke Newcombe

titles being of more importance to the viewer as the audience pays closer
attention to these titles in comparison to the other titles.