Horror Target Audience Profile

AGE
15 - 25
GENDER
Mostly Male
FILM INTERESTS

'Jumpy' Moments

Supernatural characters

Death

Enigmas

Horror Genre Conventions

Pearl Harbour - Opening 2 Minutes Analysis

At first, the opening scene to Pearl Harbour conforms to the standard genre conventions of a romance film by including a slow moving orchestral non-diegetic soundtrack, a slow pace of editing, and includes a sunset in the background of the shot.

These standard conventions are quickly subverted to however. For example - a shot showing two children in a plane pretending they are flying at, and shouting commands at each other, would be something you might expect from an action film.

The soundtrack then begins to turn into a more epic sounding sound, and the viewer is shown the children entering the plane, this would suggest to the viewer that they were about to undertake some kind of mission - something which would not be expected from a romance film.

One reason for the opening two minutes subverting some of the conventions could be because the film may have multiple genres, and that romance may not be the most prominent genre.

Titanic - Opening Scene Analysis

The opening scene of Titanic has a very slow pace of editing. Also, the cross fade transition between each shot is very long, this helps to set the pace and mood of the film, and indicates that the film is not going to contain a huge amount of action. The slow pace of editing is a connotation of romance films.

Also, playing in the background, is a slow, classical non-diegetic soundtrack. This also contributes to the genre indicator of a romance film.

Shown in the opening scene is shots of people standing on a dock waving off their family and friends on the boat, next shown, is shots of the boat's passengers waving goodbye to the people on land. This shot then cross fades to one of the ocean, maybe symbolising what will later happen to the ship.

The slow pace of the opening scene is very effective at setting the scene for the romance genre, and is used in the majority of films in the romance genre.

The mise en scene which is used in the opening scene instantly sets the scene about where and what period of time the event was set in. The addition of sepia during the editing phase also really helps to identify the time period in which the film is set to the viewer.

The Notebook - Opening 2 Minutes Analysis

The opening two minutes of The Notebook are very calm, this tells the viewer that this is not going t be an action movie. The non-diegetic soundtrack also matches the pace of editing, which strengthens the continuity of the scene. Al of the shots in the opening two minutes are set against a sunset, this is a cliché and stereotype of romance films, and tells the viewer that they are probably about to watch a romance film.

There is a rower in one of the shots who is slowly rowing across the lake, this again matches the pace of editing, and the non-diegetic sound track - increasing the continuity, and telling the viewer that they are going to watch a calm film which is free of action.

Next, shown flying through the air, are a group of doves - a common symbol for love. This is a strong genre indicator indicating that the film is going to include romance, this helps to draw the viewer into the film if these are the kind of films that they like.

Romance Target Audience Profile

AGE
Young Teens to Young Adults
GENDER
Mostly Female
FILM INTERESTS
Simple stories with minimal amount of characters

Films involving character competition

Glamorous female characters
Glamorous male charcaters
May have an interest in these films so they can experience life from somebody else's point of view

Romance Genre Conventions