Five types of audience experiences

Abstract

Chapter 7 identifies five distinct types of film audience experiences in which people engage with, and participate in, film audiences. These comprise: individualised, group, venue-specific, global, and digital audiences. It notes that each type of film audience and the experience it offers revolves around a particular set of relationships and interactions around film watching. Also, it explains that participation in each type of audience may relate to particular life stages, to the ways in which individuals develop a relationship with film and how film viewing is embedded into their personal, social and cultural lives. Another feature of film audience experiences is that individuals may – and do – engage in all five audience types and experiences, and in more than one type at once. They choose what type of audience and audience experience they want to participate in at any given time and place that will meet a desired set of film choices, social and cultural criteria. These are embedded in patterns of relationships people have with film and in how they creatively craft their personal journeys with film within wider film provision. As a result of this, individuals move between audience types and experience a range of film audiences.