Audience Profiling

Audience Profiling 

Social Profiling

Social profiling is used to discover the types of audiences different films attract. There are six areas to be categorised in and they range from A to E:

A – Higher managerial (judges, surgeons) – well paid professionals

B – Middle management (teachers, lawyers, doctors) – fairly well paid professionals

C1 – Skilled Non-manual; Supervisory “white collar” (junior management, bank clerk and nurses)

C2 – Skilled worker “blue collar” (electricians, plumbers) 

D – Semi and unskilled manual (driver, postman)

E – Lower level (pensioners, unemployed, and students)

Demographic Profiling

To find out what type of audience the film should be aimed at demographic profiling is also used. Research is gathered on many different people through questionnaires and focus groups. This type of profiling is the most accurate because it discovers your likes and dislikes in life and it is in much more detail than any other form of profiling. It can identify what kind of person you are, whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, independent or someone that likes following the crowed, if you like going out or prefer staying in. once all of this information is collected it is sectioned into six groups:

1) Age

2) Gender

3) Race

4) Location

5) Family life cycle

6) Sexuality 

Psychographic Profiling

Questions such as the ones below are part of psychographic profiling and they are used in an attempt to find the right target audiences. They are answered by directors and film producers on behalf of their ideal audience:

• What are their names ages, genders, occupations and family details?

• What are their interests, habits, hobbies and pastimes?

• What influences them? Religion? Politics?

• Do they have strongly held beliefs?

• Where do they go for information?

• Where do they shop, eat and hang out?

• How do they dress?

• What concerns keep them up at night?

• Can they drive? What kind of cars do they drive if so?

• What do they want from you?

BBFC Classification Guidelines

Films classified as U (Universal) means that it is suitable for all ages. However young children below the age of 4 may not understand all of the content. 

PG stands for Parental Guidance. Anyone can still see this film but it makes parents aware that there could be some unsettling scenes. A child over the age of 8 is allowed to see these rated films unaccompanied by an adult. 

A 12 rating means that children under the ages of 12 are not allowed to view the film in a cinema unless they are with a person over the age of 18. Films under this category can contain mature themes, discrimination, soft drugs, infrequent strong language, moderate violence, sex references and nudity. 

12A is only used in cinema screenings and anyone under the age of 12 is not permitted to buy or buy a 12A DVD, Blu-Ray Disc or game.

Only those over 15 is admitted. nobody under the age of 15 can buy or rent a 25 rated DVD, Blu-Ray Disc or game. Films under this category can contain adult themes, hard drugs, frequent strong language, strong violence, strong sex references and nudity without graphic detail. 


Only adults are allowed into the cinema to view it. 18 rated films contain more violence and more gore, the story lines can be disturbing and upsetting. Scenes of strong, real sex is permitted if it is justified by the context.