Tuesday 24 November 2020

Black Panther: how does a mainstream film target audiences?

What is the difference between a major and an indie film production? 

Major

  • An emphasis on computer generated special effects
  • Well known and recognisable actors
  • Fast paced and action filled narratives
  • A wider range of settings and locations, often exotic
  • Certain genres are favoured, eg fantasy, superhero, sci-fi, action
  • Exciting, yet relatable situations 
  • More dramatic, kinetic cinematography
  • An emphasis on simple narratives (Classical Hollywood narrative)
  • Target a mass, mainstream audience
  • Emphasis on extravagant costume and set design
  • Name of production company used a selling point
  • An emphasis on famous, well known actors
  • An emphasis on well known and clearly defined genre conventions: action, sci-fi, adventure, superhero
  • Heavy use of CGI
  • Straightforward and easy to decode narratives
  • Often a part of a franchise - allows the producer to target a pre-sold audience

Indie


  • Typically a niche or specific target audience
  • Less of a focus on making money
  • Smaller budget - less advertising, recognisable actors etc
  • Smaller, less known companies
  • Lack a clear genre
  • Complicated and less obvious narratives
  • Generally a self-contained non-franchised narrative
  • Slower paced narrative
  • Everyday, relatable settings
  • Genre is often less apparent
  • Hard-hitting, relatable issues
  • Static cinematography
  • An emphasis on complex narratives
  • Focus on a niche audience

In what ways does the Black Panther trailer minimise risk and maximise profit for Walt Disney?

  • Clearly identifiable genre, evident from the iconography of the superhero costumes
  • Superhero films are a safe bet: not a risky investment
  • Diverse cast allows the film to be differentiated from other superhero films
  • Clearly identifiable brands, allowing the audience to identify with the film
  • Exotic settings, including Korea and Africa
  • Fast paced, action filled trailer provides instant gratification
  • Bass heavy, hip hop soundtrack allows the film to target a pre-sold audience of rap and hip hop fans
  • Martin Freeman - The Hobbit, appealing to white middle aged audiences
  • Young target audience with expendable income
  • Use of extremely famous and well known actors
  • Use of highly evocative mise-en-scene provides an escapist fantasy for the audience
  • Exotic locations including the fantasy city of Wakanda, London, Seoul... 
  • Highly hybridised use of genre: superhero, action, fantasy, sci-fi
  • Extensive and elaborate CGI creates a whole different 
  • powerful soundtrack, combining electronic, hip-hop and rock
  • universally understandable themes of power
  • Pre-sold audience of Marvel fans and actions
  • Michael B Jordan: Creed, Fantastic 4
  • Samples an american revolutionary poet
  • predominantly black cast: themes of empowerment, potentially empowering a new, black target audience
  • Huge and heavy emphasis on CGI: grenade skydiving: film looks extremely expensive: high production values
  • Soundtrack produced by famous musicians eg The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar
  • Big, bassy hip-hop soundtrack, with elements of rock, Jazz and electronic

How does the trailer to Shaft target working class inner city black US audiences?

  • Accents and slang
  • Black, working class inner city character 
  • Themes of racisms and racial discrimination 
  • Downtown, rundown, grimy settings 
  • Black main character
    Majority black cast
  • Hard boiled 
  • Allows audiences to relate to themes and the setting