Newspaper Simulation

 I created a double page spread, sports article and helped to create a front cover with a team as we created a newspaper simulation from the angle of the Daily Mail.

 

 

AUDIENCE RESEARCH: AUDIENCE PROFILES

I created a few audience profiles based on my questionnaire results and the target demographic given, when producing a film magazine I thought it would be important to incorporate different genres of film that the target demographic would enjoy and why they would read a film magazine as well as an overall profile of someone included in the age bracket.

AUDIENCE RESEARCH: QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS

I conducted a questionnaire directed at males and females age 16-25, who considered themselves to be media literate. I thought this would be useful to get an idea of what they would enjoy most, how they consume film, their favourite films and actors or directors they like or look up to. The results were very helpful in order to gage ideas of what to include in my magazine to appeal to an audience as explained below: 

Film Genres: The genre of film varied quite vastly between each participant although the highest scoring were romance, horror and coming of age. Overall I feel I can incorporate most genres within the magazine and it will still attract the target audience.

Most recently watched films: The last film the participants watched also varied largely between genres.  Although quite a few films last watched have been released quite recently, such as Bullet Train, Jurassic World Dominion and Magic Mike’s last dance, meaning that the target audience may be more interested in more current films. They may also be limited by the access they have to streaming services, with The Fall being two participants last watched film, which has recently been added to Netflix.

Favourite Actors: In terms of actors there was quite a wide age range but many of the actors such as Austin Butler, Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal have risen to fame in recent months and have grown a large fan base. I think it would be useful with a media literate audience to include someone who is somewhat of a rising star and is popular on social media that the target demographic will appreciate. When asked about favourite actresses it was apparent that participants liked women in strong lead roles. There was also a lot of younger actresses such as Zendaya and Florence Pugh that the target audience may look up to which I think would be useful to include within my magazine. 

Favourite Directors: Not a lot of the target demographic had a favourite director but the ones who did overall seemed to like female directors, which I think could be useful if creating a story on a director or a behind the scenes article.

Favourite films: The favourite film question received a wide range of different films, from all different times and genres. Evidently I feel if creating a film to feature on the cover I can go in any direction and the age demographic would still enjoy it. However, I am feeling more drawn towards the coming of age genre if I choose to take an upcoming film angle, as the demographic of 16-25 year olds are experiencing or have recently experienced ‘coming of age’ so would find it relatable.

Why they like that film: On reasons why they like their favourite film, participants had a focus on the cast and actors in the films, which is a good indicator on direction for my magazine. There is also a focus on the music within the movies which might also be a good direction to go in when creating the website, eg. links to playlists etc.

The topic of award shows and if they discuss films with friends: It is apparent that film is still a popular topic of conversation with this demographic and is part of our culture. People are still immersed in the grandeur of award shows and evidently, people continue to talk about the movies they love with others who share the same ideologies. It is clear that I can incorporate topics such as award shows into my magazine, as well as conversation articles on upcoming or pre-existing films.

How the target demographic watch films: This gave me ideas for potential links and/or adverts to use within my website, as it appears most of the demographic stream films through Netflix significantly above anything else, meaning that by seeing an ad etc. it will draw them in and make them want to engage further.

What would the target demographic rather read: I felt that this was a big indicator on what my magazine front covers/main stories should focus on. It is clear that celebrity culture is a huge part of this demographics lives and they want to know more about the actors they love. As well as this, a behind the scenes is a further way to connect with actors and directors whilst also gaining insider knowledge on the creation of the film, something I believe will make the media literate audience feel special and engaged with. 

How the target audience find out about films: There was a wide range of ways that audiences found out about new films but the majority stated that it was through social media or word of mouth. I think this could be useful in terms of my website, by focusing on linking to a social media account or creating something that can gain popularity and be talked about amongst friends such as creating a trend etc.

The rating of ‘mean girls’: Nearly all of the target demographic had watched this film. It is a comedy/ chick flick which seems to have mostly positive reviews although there are a few on the lower ratings.

The rating of ‘Back to the Future’: With Back to the Future being an older film it had a range of mixed reviews although almost everyone has seen it, indicating that with a media’s literate audience I am able to make intertextual references to older film and the majority will be able to understand them.

The rating of ‘The Conjuring’: The conjuring hadn’t be seen by quite a few participants but those who heads watched it rated it very highly. I think that horror films are becoming increasingly popular amongst young people as they are thrilling and fun to watch with friends.

The rating of ‘Iron Man’: Iron man being an action/ superhero film got mostly positive reviews with excellent being the highest scoring category, indicating that this demographic enjoys movies like this.

PLANNING: KEY CODES AND CONVENTIONS- WHAT WILL I ADOPT/SUBVERT

 

 STATEMENT OF INTENT:

PLANNING: MY PITCH

 

INDUSTRIAL CONTEXT: A TIMELINE/HISTORY OF FILM MAGAZINES

 TRADE MAGAZINES:

KINE WEEKLY 1989: Began as Optical Magic Lanter and Photographic Enlarger but rebranded to Kine Weekly in 1907. Lasted until 1971. Owned by Odhams Press a British publishing company. Contained trade news, advertisements, reviews, exhibition advice, and reports of regional and national meetings of trade organisations. It was increasingly popular due to its display of  box office data.

TODAY’S CINEMA/DAILY CINEMA 1957: This was the American owned magazine that started out as Daily Cinema in 1957. The content was similar to Kine Weekly because it was also designed mainly target those who worked in the film industry - either in production or those working on releasing the film ion theatres (exhibition). This continued until 1975 when it was rebranded to Todays Cinema.

SCREEN INTERNATIONAL 1975: Started from the rebranded Today's Cinema, which had bought and absorbed Kine Weekly. It became a weekly Business to business brand reporting on industry specifically for the UK film industry but sometimes developments globally. Currently owned by EMAP and now has a website: screendaily.com. This remains the UK's main industry paper with its rivals being the US based Variety and Hollywood Reporter.

               

FAN MAGAZINES: 

MOTION PICTURE STORY MAGAZINE 1913: This was a very early fan magazine that aimed at the silent movie going audience. It ran from 1913-14. Rather than providing news and reviews, this told the stories of the current films - letting fans to hear the plot without physically seeing the films. In the late teens the magazines moved to focus not on the films but the actors and stars themselves.

PICTUREGOER 1913: With emphasis on the stars rather than the films, Picturegoer was aimed at a female audience. It started as a serious record of films on in the UK but focused more on the glitz and glamour through the 40s and 50s. TV increasingly became the main source of entertainment for women from the 50s onward as they stayed at home and eventually Picturegoer merged with a pop music magazine called Disc Date. It ran until 1960.

EMPIRE 1989: Today the focus is partly on the stars but also about appreciation of film - the outcome is the more male targeted magazines such as Empire, which began as a review magazine but eventually drew on ideas from gaming magazines with editor Colin Kennedy, becoming, for the majority, more male orientated. Empire currently has an audience of 194,000.

HIGH BROW MAGAZINES:

MONTHLY FILM BULLETIN 1934: This ran from 1934 to April 1991. It began as a  listing magazine for what was on in the UK cinemas and to inform cinema managers of what was coming up, but changed its angle to a more critical view in the 1950s with editor David Robertson. This developed throughout the '70s taking on auteur theories and looking into the Marxist film ideologies, giving the magazine an art-house audience and analytical tone. MB merged with Sight and Sound in 1991.

SIGHT AND SOUND 1934: Sight and Sound is published by the BFI which is a charity whose purpose is to promote the art of film in the UK. It has a continuous profound and serious tone compared to fan magazines, but more critical than the trade papers. It is a highbrow opinionated magazine that toes the line between consumer magazine and educational diary.

LITTLE WHITE LIES 2001: The first issue of LWL was created as the final degree project of co-founder Danny Miller in 2001. The first issue was released in February 2005 and distributed only in UK Borders stores. Now the circulation is 16,000 and is part of the Church of London portfolio. It takes the same 'film as art’ angle as Sight & Sound but is far more design led and focusing on independent cinema, with personally designed front covers instead of conventional photography. 

      

NICHE MAGAZINES:

FANGORIA 1978: Fangoria is a US magazine that was first published in 1978 to focus on Sci-fi films, but became specifically horror concentrated after the success of the film Dawn of the Dead. It has since widened its media content to include radio, film production and film festivals. It focuses on the culture surrounding the genre rather than just the films themselves.

SFX 1995: SFX began in 1995 and specialises in sci-fi and cult entertainment within both film and television. While still niche it has the potential to go beyond a specific genre and provides for the target audience that are passionate about fiction, alternative films, games, literature and comics. The official website explains that the SF stands for Sci-fi. It is designed for a hardcore, loyal audience but is accessible for the wider, mainstream audience in certain ways.