Target Audience

    My film definitely appeals to a younger target audience. Being that it's a coming-of-age more than anything, those films are practically made for teens. The point of coming-of-age movies "has always corresponded to its targeted audience: teenagers." For my film to appeal to teens, I honestly think that incorporating a sustainable amount of swear words could help. It sounds stupid but most teens presently say a swear in like every other sentence. Making the characters (specifically Mika) swear like sailors gives them a sense of reliability, appealing to the TA. Additionally, due to the popularity of shows like Stranger Things, stories set in the late 20th century also appeals to teens. It's become an aesthetic, the fashion, Polaroid, the Walkman, it's trendy. I feel very cheesy talking about teens like this when I am one but point still stands. How the characters talk, act, and the 90's setting appeals to the coming-of-age target audience.

    Drama's target audience is people who like personal, grounded stories about the human condition. If done right, my film can achieve that. Relatability also plays a part in dramas, and I think Mika and Aba are relatable in their own ways. Aba has a very relatable experience of being an outcast, being different from the other kids. I think that's something people can see themselves in. Mika is relatable in the way that he has to take care of someone, when he's in no position to do so. He also learns to love and accept others fully, which I think is relatable as well. I think these siblings can be very relatable, I hope so anyway. The film also appeals to drama audiences through its suspense: will Aba destroy the world? Will Mika be able to stop it from happening? Will they find love and acceptance within each other? etc. A big part of appealing to drama audiences is simply telling a good story, which I hope I'm doing.

    Additionally, Aba's struggle with her powers (neurological disorders) appeals to people who have these disorders. The film can offer comfortability to people who have autism, ADHD, etc. It's a universal concept about these disorders, accepting them, and living with them. Not pitying them, not romanticizing them, not ignoring them, but accepting them as a part of life and living. At it's core, I really want this film (that is never being made) to be about learning to love and accept others and yourself. Which I think can really appeal to the neurodivergent community. It would appeal to me anyway.

Iyer, S. (2021, September 20). The evolution of the coming-of-age genre in film. Spartan Shield. Retrieved February 19, 2023, from https://spartanshield.org/29522/arts-entertainment/the-evolution-of-the-coming-of-age-genre-in-film/ 

DeLong, C. (2022, July 27). Why is gen Z so obsessed with Y2K fashion? – early 2000s trends millennials '90s nostalgia. L'Officiel USA. Retrieved February 19, 2023, from https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/gen-z-y2k-millennial-90s-fashion-nostalgia

The target audience for drama films: Who loves drama? AMPLIFY XL. (2022, August 6). Retrieved February 19, 2023, from https://amplifyxl.com/target-audience-for-drama-films/