Filmmaking / Directing : How important target-audience are while developing your film? by Nitin Shashindran

ITS CRUCIAL to target audience unless the reason you making film is a personal passion project. (In which case It might not be a universal theme with characters who are interesting to the masses). I studied under many film directors, only some who made it Hollywood but all sung from the same Hymn sheet. Universal theme. Strong characters that we care enough about to want to know more.

" I always think of the audience... but the audience is me" - Tarantino.

But it is one of those, were you will get people telling you very different things... and that's normal since that it depends on many, many factors and reasons.

What the hell you makin' if you don't know who you're makin' it for?

Nitin, You absolutely HAVE TO KNOW your audience to make a film. You have to have a plan where you're going to go with it ... what form of distribution will be available to you or as a possibility. Regardless if you are making a hugely commercial film for the masses, a horror film that will appeal to that crowd, a Faith-based film specifically for that audience or even a personal film that will be a small audience, in which case you STILL know the potential audience. This way you have a Plan of Attack. Vasco, I believe you are taking the Quentin Tarantino quote out of context. I believe he is saying he makes films that he would like to see, HOWEVER, he is STILL a part of an audience. He is a part of an audience that would enjoy an Elmore Leonard adaptation, so he knows WHAT to do and how to make it. Remember, Quentin is not only a 2-time Oscar-Winning Writer-Filmmaker, but a Film Buff, who knows his stuff and can go toe-to-toe with any other Film Buff, so it makes sense that he is the audience. HOWEVER, sadly, I know some filmmakers and actors, who don't seem to even watch movies, and I personally, don't know how you can get into this business being like that. Much like Quentin Tarantino, I enjoy Elmore Leonard adaptations, so if I am, say, doing an adaptation featuring his characters, I absolutely KNOW that audience. I'm also a huge fan of the Universal Monsters, so when I wrote and produced a feature documentary on the Creature From the Black Lagoon, I knew that audience, as I was a member. I knew people such as Oscar-Winner Benicio del Toro and my good buddies, actors Daniel Roebuck and Keith David were all fans of this material, so I got them involved. I knew it, because I was a member of that audience. If you think rom-coms are formulaic and stupid and you don't enjoy them, I wouldn't suggest trying to make one. Play to your strengths and KNOW your audience!

Thank you, everyone. It's been great learning since I've joined this platform.