Topic 10 — Audiences

Whether it be physically, psychologically, cognitively or emotionally, every single person enjoys films in their own way therefore there are many different ideas and theories on how diverse types of audiences engage with film texts. As an aspiring film maker, naturally I enjoy watching films. My absolute favourite place to watch films is in a cinema as I feel it is the best place to have to total experience. Watching a good film in a comfy seat in front of a massive screen, with cinema snacks, loud surround sound and being able to hear the rest of the crowd react is quite possibly one of my favourite hobbies. The most common technique in film that engages me effectively is when a film maker challenges the way I think about something, when I feel that I have to think about or analyze something outside of my comfort zone.

I am especially intrigued when there is a character that is quite interesting and unique, I love being able to see the way they think inside out, for example ‘The Joker’ from the Batman series. The Joker is both completely stable and well composed but also completely insane at the same time. The Joker and characters like him are so intriguing to watch, if supported by a great storyline, these characters can become mesmerizing. There are many ways to and approaches to how audiences are set up to relate to films.

The video above gives an in depth explanation of how audiences have changed the film industry over time.