2012 Post 9a: Research into your target audience

Demographic of short films

Definition:The characteristics of human populations and population segments, especially when used to identify consumer markets
http://www.answers.com/topic/demography

These are the professionals that are employed by companies, usually viewing the films and looking for future directors and producers and thinking about investing in films. These type of people will be placed in-between the demographic social groups.

The other demographics are students, this group of people will be looking at the film on the internet looking for inspiration as they will be more than likely study in this area. As they are already looking at the internet  for the short films they will be using the media putting the group in a circle of media.

Psychographics of short films

There are 3 types of Psychographics

Succeeder's:  These are powerful ambitious people who will already be within the industry due to this they are a target audience as they will be looking to invest in more films causing them to watch short films. 

Aspirer's: These types of people could be people leaving uni or college, they will be interested in film making and will be researching to make sure what is the best way to get into the industry and what kinds of films are popular, causing them to to be another target audience.

Industrialist's:  These people are opposite to the mainstream who enjoy big named Hollywood films. These people will have their own ideas and opinions an will choose to show these through short films their interest are lone ones once again causing them to be a target audience.

Distribution methods for short films


It is harder to distribute short films you cannot use the same methods as mainstream films use, for instance short films will not get enough coverage in mainstream cinemas so they are better to have their film shown in an Indie cinema on a short film night. The internet is extremely important to short films, seeing as the majority of short film audience is students the internet is there most important distribution method. Students will be using the internet to research and resource films so they will be looking for short films. Students are also in touch with new media technologies, they would be using social networking sites where they could share and talk about the film so this would help with distributing the film.


In the article below Jon Korn is talking about how the distribute short films, he is the programmer and the Sundance film festival. He quotes “I think that the only way for festivals to stay both relevant and necessary in an online world is to completely embrace the internet as both a source of material and a platform for exhibition,”
The way foward is the internet, if film fesitvals have to turn to the internet to ensure they containt their distruibution methods then I think this is a good idea, it will allow students who cannot afford film festivals or who live to far to be aviable to watch and experience the films.
http://www.sundance.org/festival/article/the_digital_distribution_of_short_films_an_art_in_itself/

Here is a step to step guide on how to distrubute you film created by:
How to Distribute a Short Film | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2077624_distribute-short-film.html#ixzz1uNlreSES

1 -Send a DVD to film festivals. Check out lists from your local film school, your favorite film journal or directory, or browse the Internet. Most film festivals are receptive to short films and even offer separate awards for best short film. Many major distributors attend film festivals, so this is a good way to get your film seen by movers and shakers without knocking on office doors.

2 Contact film distributors directly. Small, independent distributors are more receptive to short films and may suggest options for releasing it on DVD or in theaters in conjunction with other films or as part of a collection. Always call larger distributors as well, unless they explicitly state that they don't look at short films.

3 - Hire a translator (or get a friend to help you) and write foreign language markets. Many countries are eager to distribute American films, even short films, on their shores. Sometimes the film may need to be dubbed or fit with sub-titles, but because so many foreign viewers are familiar with English, this won't always be necessary. 

4 -Approach film reviewers. Even if your film has been shown just a few times in public, journalists, podcasters and bloggers will be happy to write about it or interview you. The more people who know about you and your film, the more likely a distributor will be to carry it.

5-Go back to school. The college circuit works well if you have age-appropriate subject matter in your film. What's popular on one campus eventually takes hold on another, so don't discount this option.

6-Post snippets of your short film on MySpace, YouTube or your own blog to help distribute it. You will gain fans and maybe even attract the interest of a distributor or major movie company