Short Films and their Audiences

Short films compared to feature films have a major difference; the obvious being run time. The difference between feature films and short films however are the different audiences and their expectations for the films. The information present in short films if made to educate the audiences such as in "Cherries" which was made to educate the audience about young people's possible reactions to the call to war. 

Feature length films tend to have more mainstream audiences which respond better to mainstream themes. Short films o the other hand, tend to challenge audiences s bit more and audiences expect this as they have different exceptions of short films compared to feature films.The main people who would usually watch the short films are those who are willing to go to festivals such as the Sundance Festival which takes place annually in the United States where short films are usually shown there. Most feature films such as Harry Potter do not do this where after the eighth film comes to the conclusion that everyone is fine after the main antagonist is dead. Therefore, the audience are the most important to consider when creating a short film. A justified conclusion is what most audiences want when watching a feature film so it seems like they have had their moneys worth. 

Short films compared to feature films are not distributed as much or if any to the general public as a feature film this is why the audience is few when compared to feature films. Before the release of The Avengers a large variety of film posters, trailers on TV and on internet sites such as Facebook and YouTube all presented to the general public with the necessary information about the film. For a short film as they are usually a low budget film with a relatively unknown cast they are generally not distributed as widely. Usually companies such as the BBC and the British Council Film if in the UK distribute the films to the public that are interested in it. 

Despite all this, due to the increase in technology over the years there are now a large variety of ways that people are able to access and watch short films. Technological convergence for example has been able to produce smartphones such as the Iphone and android phones where people can easily be able to access and watch short films on there. However, there are three main ways in which new media has expanded the audience for short films. The internet for example, has more than 2 billion people using it with 70% of the users using it daily. This is just one way that the audience are able to know about short films. However, compared to feature films the audiences are few in the cases such as "Get off my land". On the contrary, films such as "Gravity"might be more popular in schools aiming to educate young people or on TV channels such as Channel . Another way technology has helped is through YouTube. Audiences are able to watch short films due to new media. The fact that people can research films in the comfort of their own house without moving or actually going to a festival to watch it, for some is a benefit. This is one of the most major ways that people get to know short films with others being distributed by the BBC as stated before.

Through all of these benefits to the increase in technology over the years there has not been a significant number of changes to the people who can access them. Whilst it is true that the BBC and YouTube have made short films more accessible, due to the limited advertisements of them they are still not being watched that much. Secondly, to be able to find them you would have to have either previous knowledge of them or be able to search for them which people usually do not want to do. Therefore, whilst there might have been a change in the type of audience who can access them it isn't a dramatic change.

Although the British Board of Film Classification sets the guidelines for films, it does not mean that they have to be watched by everyone in that age group. For example, The Avengers though classified as being a 12 does not mean that people who are in their teens will necessarily like the film. The same could be said about the film Diana. It is rated a PG but does not mean that children would want to go and see it. Therefore the BBFC are there to guide but not restrict what age group would see it unless it is above their age to see it in cinema.

In terms of short films one key fact is that due to the major distribution models of short film (i.e. the internet and festivals they will often not have a age certificate because of this. 

Therefore, depending on the film that our group decides to do the age rating has an affect on the audience. If it is rated too low then one potential audience might diminish and the same if it is too high. Overall, the target audience is essential and if not done correctly could lose the audiences that our group would potentially need. Through all this it can be said that our audience could be rated a PG. The age rating has been chosen due to the fact that we might be able to talk about controversial issues whilst still being able appeal to everyone. However, if the audience was for an audience to educate about Gun Crime it the age rating could still be the same, but it would be targeted at people in the teenager years.