Target Audience Profile

Our film only aims to attract a niche audience, as short films in general don't appeal to the masses and are typically only appreciated by other short filmmakers or appreciators of the arts- hipster type characters.

Primary Target Audience Profile

The primary target audience of our short film are 27 year white English females from a large town that fit into "the mainstream" category in the Young & Rubican psychographics. They follow a daily routine and their life choices are based on "we" and not "me". They are family orientated and strive for security for themselves and their family. They don't get out too much as they're busy being a house wife, so bring entertainment into their lives via films and TV programmes. They enjoy a glass of wine during the evening when they stick on Broadchurch or Sherlock, embracing the enjoyment of guessing who the killer is. They fit into the Puritan lifestyle category, striving to feel as if they have fulfilled their duty in life, hence why they enjoy the sense of completion once a murder has been solved on their favourite TV show. These people are the most likely to relate and connect with the protagonist in the short time frame given.

Secondary Target Audience Profile

Our secondary target audience are a younger generation, around 18, males and females. They'd fit into the social grade E as they're students whose main priority currently is their school work, but in their free time they enjoy watching Netflix. They live in a bustling city/town, and following the Young & Rubican psychographics they'd fall into the category of "the struggler"- people who seek escape from reality.  Moving image is the perfect way to achieve this, especially something shrouded in mystery. They watch crime dramas for the sake of the action, rather than our primary target audience who get the thrill out of solving the mystery. They'd fall into the social value group of self actualisers, enthusiastically exploring change and living this excitement via a character on a TV screen's life.

GENRE CONVENTIONS: Sound + Music

The music in a crime drama is conventionally loud and dramatic, with it's primary purpose being to build suspense. Suspenseful music tends to consist of high-pitched violins, creating a very eerie vibe. Other times a similar effect could be achieved by drums steadily beating louder, although this is more so building up towards an action scene then a dramatic reveal (such as a clue helping the audience and the police officers find out who committed the crime). Sometimes no music is used the most effectively as it creates a sense of realism, essential for anything that's a part of the drama genre, and it maximises how clearly the audience can hear the diegetic sound effects. The diegetic sound effects' volume being maximised adds to the drama and with some being louder than others it will emphasise their importance.
The dialogue is incredibly important to the plot, as it can be used to make the audience feel as if they're a part of the narrative and help them figure out who committed the crime by getting them on the same page as the main character(s). Dialogue is more commonly used to achieve this, rather than a voiceover as the narrative usually follows the protagonist and a sidekick.

GENRE CONVENTIONS: Media Language

Camera Shots

• Tilts- establishes power in one character or show a lack of.
• Close ups- show facial expressions (which helps create an atmosphere and mood) and also close ups of items to draw the audience's attention to it, acting as clues for them (one big factor as to why crime dramas are appealing is so they can try and work out the crime themselves- involvement).
• Point of view shots- to make the audience even more so feel as if they're part of the experience.
• Establishing shots- to set the scene.
• Over the shoulder shots- typically used in interrogation scenes, mixed with the tilts.

Editing

• Long takes- help build suspense and create tension.
• Shot reverse shot- common during an interrogation scene.
• Match on action- crime dramas typically contain action so as to keep the audience interested, and this type of editing makes the scene flow more nicely.

Mise-en-scene

• Police station
• Morgue
• Crime scene (these can vary)
• Urban settings
• Interrogation room
• Murder weapon (typically a gun or a knife)
• Forensic equipment (lab coats, scalpels etc)
• Police uniform
• Police cars
• Tags (to label evidence)
• Low lighting

GENRE CONVENTIONS: Narrative + Representation

Narrative

Plot

Films categorised under the drama genre have several main points that can be recognised in all of them. They are serious representations of real life, and do not entertain the idea of fantasy narratives. They express emotions by dramatizing particular events, and their aims are to keep audiences on the edge of their seats with plot twists and/or complex plots.
Open with a teaser- typically the crime but not necessarily. Centres around a detective attempting to solve a crime- typically a murder. The story tends to follow the detective, who is usually the protagonist, as they interview suspects and use evidence to solve the crime. Lead characters often have a dark past or a history with the victim, motivating them to work hard. TV shows follow a running theme of their lead detective having a major personality defect. Crime dramas often end with the revealing of a killer and, considering crime drama is popular primarily for TV shows, ends with a cliff hanger.

Characters

• Main character- a leading police officer that typically fits Butch’s 1998 theory of males being, ‘Well intentioned but dump and flawed’ as, despite being likebale, they're unable to solve the murder until the end. They tend to represent middle aged males and females in the audience. The hero in Vladimir Propp's character theory.
• Sidekick- another police officer/forensic that will be chosen with the secondary target audience in mind, as by choosing an actor similar to them you will make them feel represented. Known as the helper in Propp's theory.
• Victim- in a TV show you don't tend to get to know them very well, whereas in a film it's more likely. If they get a backstory they tend to be similar to and therefore represent those in the target audience, ensuring the audience will sympathise with them and route for the detective to find their killer.
• Killer- usually a big character in the film so as to make the reveal a surprise. Could be the villain or the false hero in terms of Propp's theory, depending on the desired plot of the film.
• Someone who try to goes against the main detective and claim that they're wrong.
• Suspects.
• Family/friends of the victim.