Research: Industry

This is my research into industry for component 1.

About my opening ₊˚⊹ ᰔ

I’ve decided with my group that we would be creating a thriller movie opening. We plan to target it at a relatively niche audience. We finalized our ideas on the narrative where our opening would follow a teenage girl getting ready for a party which shes attending against her mother’s wishes. She then gets drugged and kidnapped, and who knows what happens next.

Since my project is within the thriller genre and is intended for a niche audience, the company most likely to produce my media text in the real world would be A24. A24 is known for its unique and artistic style in films within the thriller-horror genre, with a focus on character complexity and originality. These films are mostly targeted at a niche and specific audience, rather than a mainstream one as A24 prioritizes creative freedom to differentiate it from conventional films. Since I am making a movie opening, it will be difficult to add psychological depth and moral ambiguity to my characters in the first two minutes. However, with further research, I’m sure I could incorporate some elements that carry connotations that can my character’s seem more interesting instead of cookie-cutter characters.  

Blumhouse would be a suitable company too, however, they focus more on horror movies while my opening is a thriller. Blumhouse implement include social issues and commentary which I also aim to achieve, which would fit well with my opening. However Blumhouse’s extreme focus on horror films overshadows this factor, making it my secondary choice for a distribution company. Even though A24 also has a slight focus on horror films, they usually have psychological aspects to them which could classify them under thriller. Additionally, A24 also includes bits and pieces of social issues into their thriller film’s to add layers of psychological depth, which is why I selected it as the company to produce my media text.

Below is some research I conducted about these two companies and media industries. I choose these two companies as they both have success in the thriller-horror genres and are independent companies targeting niche audiences. This research will be helpful for my CCR2 as I’ll learn about what demographics to target, how to target them, and learn from these companies’ marketing strategies to describe how our movie would reach our audiences. 

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A24

A24 is an independent American film and television company that has become a popular production and distribution company for movies under the horror and thriller genre, particularly for its unique approach to storytelling. A24 was founded in New York City in 2012 by Daniel Katz, David Fenkel, and John Hodges and has since built a reputation for producing and distributing quality films. Their thought-provoking and complex characters and narratives made them stand out from other film companies in the market, and they still carry their unique style today.

-What other content do they produce? ⋆˙⟡

A24’s work includes a mix of psychological horror, thriller, dark comedy, and drama films. One of A24’s early successes was Spring Breakers (2012), a film that started A24’s focus on arthouse films. Since then, the company has released multiple amazing films learning more onto the thriller and horror genre, many of which have achieved commercial success even with it’s indie nature.

In the thriller and horror-thriller genres, A24 has produced Hereditary, The Witch, Midsommar, Uncut Gems, and Good Time. These films are praised for their unconventional storytelling, psychological depth and tension. A24’s focus these factors aligns closely with what I aim to achieve in my film opening, such as focusing on a character’s vulnerability and complexity. 

-Who is their typical audience? ⋆˚࿔

A24 targets a niche yet highly engaged audience, typically within the 18-35 age range a.k.a. Gen Z and millennials. This demographic is drawn to independent films and is particularly interested in artistically ambitious films. Unlike most film studios that aim to appeal to the widest possible audience, A24 focuses on a specific group of viewers who appreciate these types of indie films. The company has created a loyal fan base among movie enjoyers and cinephiles who value new perspectives and quality films, who in turn will most likely to support their new releases.

To connect with its audience, A24 uses an unconventional marketing technique. The company relies on social media, viral marketing, and direct fan engagement to build anticipation and community around its films. This marketing technique has contributed to A24’s reputation as a brand that understands its audience on a more personal level, which could attract more fans. Personally, I’ve heard of A24’s films mostly through social media and recommendations from people I know online and offline, which has influenced me to watch some of their films such as Midsommar.

The company typically distributes its films through limited releases to gain traction and intrigue before expanding to wider audiences. A24 would release films at major film festivals, where they could determine their audience’s responses to the film and build anticipation for it. This also help them reach their target demographic and psychographic more effectively. The company also expanded its distribution methods into the streaming market. A24 has established partnerships with platforms like Amazon Prime and Apple TV. These collaborations allow A24 to reach a wider audience without sacrificing its independent and niche brand identity.

-How big is the company? How long has it existed? ⋆°｡❀

A24 remains smaller in size compared to traditional Hollywood studios like Warner Bros. or Paramount. As an independent company, A24 operates flexibly that supports innovative and artistic projects, which has become A24’s signature “style”. This independence allows the company to take creative risks which is their “unique selling point” that makes them different from other companies which attracts more viewers. 

Since A24 was founded in 2012, it has been operating for almost 13 years now. They started getting more known in 2016 with the release of Moonlight where A24 took home an award for “Best Picture”. Since then, they’ve only gotten more and more popular. In 2022, A24 released Everything Everywhere All at Once which won 10 oscars! So, is A24 considered “indie” anymore? While their status as an “indie” movie producer is questioned, A24 still created a niche for itself with their character-driven stories.

-What is their successful product? ༉‧₊˚.

Popular A24 films in the horror-thriller genre include Hereditary (2018) and Midsommar (2019). Hereditary became one of A24’s most profitable films, grossing over $80 million worldwide on a small budget of $10 million. Known for its disturbing and psychological themes, Hereditary’s success allowed A24 to expand into different genres beyond their original focus on indie and arthouse films. Similarly, Midsommar hooked audiences with its unique take on horror. Both films have developed fanbases and are frequently discussed in horror and thriller circles, further boosting A24’s image as a company who can create lasting cultural impact.

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Blumhouse Productions

Blumhouse Productions is an American film and television production company known for its focus on the horror genre, often with an emphasis on psychological horror. Blumhouse was founded in 2000 by Jason Blum and the company is considered niche in the film industry by producing high-quality horror films on modest budgets. Blumhouse's unique model has allowed it to become a leader in the genre, consistently creating profitable films that resonate with audiences worldwide.

-What other content do they produce? ₊˚⊹ ᰔ

Blumhouse Productions is best known for its focus on horror. Horror movies often do not require expensive sets, CGI, or major stars to be effective, which aligns well with Blumhouse’s niche approach as they have modest budgets. The company has produced a range of horror subgenres, including supernatural horror (Insidious), found footage (Paranormal Activity), psychological horror (Get Out), and slasher (Halloween reboot series). Blumhouse also occasionally explores other genres that have horror-like elements, such as science fiction (Upgrade) and dark thrillers (The Gift).

Additionally, Blumhouse has successfully developed several franchises. For example, The Purge series (which began in 2013) mixes thriller elements with horror and social commentary, resonating with audiences. Similarly, Insidious and Sinister have become highly successful horror franchises, each with multiple installments that continue to attract audiences.

-Who is their typical audience? ⋆˙⟡

Blumhouse’s target audience primarily consists of horror enthusiasts, typically between the ages of 16 and 35. This audience is interested in the company’s mix of high quality horror with relatable characters and themes. This allows audiences to resonate with the movies and characters as many Blumhouse films dive into social issues, making their narratives relevant and impactful for younger audiences. For example, Get Out (2017) addresses racial tension through a horror perspective, while The Purge (2013) explores societal breakdowns and violence. This approach has allowed Blumhouse to reach a wider audience and attract viewers interested in horror with commentary. This is an approach I’d like to incorporate in my opening too as i’d like to address how real certain situations and issues are such as kidnappings in teen parties.

One of Blumhouse’s key strategies is its approach to marketing, which often leverages digital platforms, viral campaigns, and trailers designed to build suspense and curiosity— similarly to A24. Blumhouse trailers frequently capitalize on the film’s concept and intensity, creating strong anticipation among audiences before the movie’s release. The company also capitalizes on word-of-mouth marketing, which is particularly effective for horror, as audience reactions to intense scenes or shocking plot twists often stimulate discussions that generate interest in the films.

-How big is the company? How long has it existed? ⋆˚࿔

Blumhouse Productions was founded in 2000 and was relatively small in size, however over the years its grown bigger and more profitable. Yet, it’s still an independent film company. Its major success came with Paranormal Activity in 2007. This film was produced on an extremely modest budget of around $15,000, went on to earn almost $200 million worldwide. This showed that Blumhouse’s model of producing low-budget horror films had potential to be profitable. Following this success, Blumhouse used the same formula to other projects, creating a production model that minimizes financial risk, meaning they were also able to experiment more with future projects. However, would this model get boring overtime?

Blumhouse operates on a relatively small scale in comparison to major Hollywood studios, yet it has major influence over the horror genre. Since the company produces films at a low budget (often under $10 million per film), this allows Blumhouse to produce multiple projects at the same time with more experimental nature to keep audiences engaged. This flexibility has allowed Blumhouse to support new directors in horror while exploring innovative narratives.

Since Blumhouse was founded in 2000, it’s been operating for about 25 years. They started from struggling to earn profit to becoming a very profitable and successful company in the horror genre. Are Blumhouse still considered “indie”? Overall, Blumhouse are considered bigger than A24, and may now be considered as a major studio. Are they still “niche”?

-What is their successful product? ༉‧₊˚.

Blumhouse Productions has achieved success with a range of popular horror films, solidifying its place in the genre. The company’s major success came with Paranormal Activity (2007) that grossed nearly $200 million and inspired a profitable franchise. The Purge (2013) series explores a world where crime is legal for one night, and Insidious, a supernatural horror, both expanded Blumhouse’s appeal with suspenseful storytelling and the potential to start franchises. Get Out (2017) won an Academy Award and generated big box office returns. Blumhouse’s ability to create successful films with modest budgets allowed them to reach many achievements and a big profit margin.

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Personal Reflection:

Reflecting on my research into companies like Blumhouse Productions and A24, I learned a lot about how different production companies approach filmmaking. Both Blumhouse and A24 are known for unique, impactful movies, but they each have their own style and way of reaching audiences. Both Blumhouse and A24 helped me think about how to market and create my own thriller opening. Blumhouse’s low-budget but effective approach gave me ideas on how to use my resources wisely, while A24’s style inspired me to focus on building a mood and crafting a story that resonates. Researching these companies showed me that understanding different approaches to filmmaking can help create my project’s identity and make it more engaging for my target audience. Once again, this will be useful for my CCR2 as we talk about industry and how I would market my film, and what companies would actually produce and distribute it as a real media text. Overall, this was very insightful and I had fun researching this topic.