Question 5: How did you attract/address your audience?

We made specific decisions such as on the mis-en-scene and narrative of The Life of Guy to appeal to specific audiences however our continuity editing and style appeals to the general audience.

Blumler and Katz’s uses and gratification theory suggests that media users play an active role in choosing and using the media to best fulfill his/her needs.

Personal Identity

Finding reinforcement for personal values

The opening actually portrays Guy as someone people do not want to be like. However the voice-over provides a role model for guys who have either ever been socially awkward or just had no luck in their relationships as it’s the voice of a changed Guy who now has a social life and better judgement.

Relationships

Using the media to identify with others and gain a sense of belonging

Many audiences can relate to Guy’s actions and voice-over such as his bad outfit and cold shower and the fact that he now knows he used to act and look like such a muppet. As well as finding him funny, the audience can empathise with his embarrassing actions, perhaps having done or experienced similar things in the past and find him like-able.

Diversion

The need to escape from everyday life and relax.

Escapism is offered when through Guy’s actions such as brushing his beard and running weirdly. These events entertain the audience and the use of camerawork such as pans and using the camera as a mirror for Guy and style of editing make the opening very realistic as if the audience were watching a tv episode on someone else’s life . This distracts them from their own.

Surveillance

Using the media to find out information (such as about how current school life is like)

In our opening people we get to find out how Guy, a socially awkward person is like. We see his home life and learn about his hobbies, tendencies and his blind date routine which shows us more of his personality.

I gathered some audience feedback to see what my real life target audiences would actually think of the film opening and whether they would watch it if it was a film.

I asked 9 acquaintances the following question and the all replied with a yes.

I asked 3 people on Facebook to tell me in detail what they thought of The Life of Guy.