Film Research for 20s/ 30s Group

Charlotte Haines Lyon

Aims

• Within the context of cinema going audiences in their 20s and 30s we wanted to find out:– what patterns of film-watching, if any, emerge

within the age group in question during the time-period examined

– what evidence exists in viewers’ own perceptions of films directly influencing or informing daily living

– what evidence exists in viewers’ own perceptions of films shaping or influencing held worldviews.

Methodology

• Visited 5 Ster cinemas (Edinburgh, Leeds, Norwich, Romford, Dublin) and asked people to take part.

• Also recruited participants from Waltham Forest Hockey Club, students from the Film and Theology Course in Nottingham and a central London church.

• In total 125 people agreed to take part.

Participants

4

10

2

95

9

71

Ster Norwich

Ster Romford

Ster Dublin

Ster Edinburgh

Ster Leeds

Waltham Forest HockeyClub

Nottingham University

Wesley’s Chapel

Questionnaires

• Each participant was asked to return: – Questionnaire 1 containing personal and demographic

details along with details of film watching habits.– Between four and eight completed versions of

Questionnaire 2, one was to be completed after each visit to the cinema. This asked why they went to the film, who they went with and questions about their response to the film itself.

– Questionnaire 3 which asked the participant to reflect on the process of engaging with the film research.

• Five pounds sterling was paid for each complete form returned.

Returns

• 47 participants returned forms

• Questionnaire 1 = 46 completed forms

• Questionnaire 2 = 280 completed forms

• Questionnaire 3 = 26 completed forms

Demographics - Age

Age breakdown

36%

28%

30%

4%

2%

18-24

25/29

30-34

35-36

unknown

Gender

The final breakdown for those who responded was 27 (57%) females and 20 (43%) males.

Ethnicity

Ethnicity2%

2%

7%

2%

2%

20%

65%

Black African

Black Caribbean

Chinese

Indian

Mixed White and SEAsian

White (other)

White European

Relationships

Relationship status

17%

13%

33%

37%

Living with Partner

Married

Seeing somebody onregular basis

Single

Employment and Income

Income of Participants

36%

22%

20%

13%

9%

Under £10,999

£11,000 -£17,999

£18,000 - £25,999

£26,000 -£34,999

£35,000 -£45,999

Film Watching Habits

How often participants visit the cinema

24%

7%

43%

26%

Once a week

Twice or more a week

2-3 times a month

6-12 times a year

Film Watching Habits

Activity after meal

65%

15%

3%1%

12%

2%1%1% Home

Meal

Drink

Shopping

Walk

Library

Coffee

Other

Film Watching HabitsWho did the participant see this film with?

8%

1%

3%

19%

23%1%

44%

1%Alone

Child

Family

Friend

Group

Parent

Partner

Sister

Films watched during research

• 52 films were watched by the respondents during the research period. The most popular films were:– Harry Potter 60%– Shrek 2 51%– Day After Tomorrow 49%– Troy 49%– Kill Bill 47%

Examples of types of connection reported with film.

• Literal – My company provided packing cases.• Empathy – I am an outcast in the same way• Educational – I didn’t know that Native Americans

were treated like that.• Inspirational – I want to go to the gym more• “Moral” – it made me revisit my values• Practice – it made me think what would I do if. . .

'Fuller exposition and analysis of the findings of the research on this topic will be published in due course

Interaction versus escapism

• Only 10% of viewings said the film was simply entertainment, escapism or fantasy.

Emotions and feelings

• 221 out of 280 (78%) of viewings elicited some form of emotion of feeling during or immediately after the film.

• Out of these, 15 (5%) were more feelings outside of the film. i.e. boredom, disappointment with the quality of the film or frustration at how bad or long the film was.

• Other emotions reported however including joy and elation and the outcome of a film, as well as sorrow and anger.

Other interactions with film

'On the basis of the actual viewings of films, 96% of responses reported discussing the film and/or the issues it raised immediately after watching.

Working Conclusions

• People may often say in abstract terms that they consider cinema as 'escapism' or 'entertainment‘. However the research suggests this is not borne out by the evidence of actual film-watching: film is not 'pure entertainment' in practice. 

• Film has an important social function in some people’s lives.

• Many people reported changing their habits of film watching, thinking more about the films they watched as a result of the research.