CCR #2

It's time to keep working on my CCR, now the second qestion, which is:

 How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?

In this Blog post, I will put the research I do on the two questions. For the target audience answer, I will be using the research I had done about my target audience. 

How does your product engage with audiences?

The target audience of Nueva Vida are:

• Teenagers & Young adults from ages of 12-25. I chose this audience because many teens and young adults experience major life changes and explore emotional struggles. This range of age connect with coming-of-change stories. 
• Immigrants   are a crucial audience in Nueva Vida. As an immigrant, I know what feels like to feel out of place in a new country and the struggles you go through while adapting to a new environment. Therefore, people that have experienced moving will relate to this film.
• Hispanic audience, the narration is in Spanish, narrating her current experiences. Throughout the film, Paula will speak both Spanish and English, mostly Spanish. Hispanic individuals will relate and mostly if they are immigrants.
• Individuals that enjoy movies of personal growth and resilience. There are a lot of people that enjoy authentic stories with messages of overcoming challenges.

I did some research and found an article of immigrant young individuals that have entered U.S schools in the past years. As immigration is increasing, this number is significant.

According to the Migration Policy Institute posted on October 2023:

"About half of recent immigrant children in 2021 were Latino and, likewise, about half spoke Spanish at home."

These facts of immigrant children arriving to U.S schools in 2021, shows how immigration has been increasing. Which is why I am sure that my opening film will be relatable to my audience. It will give hope for the people that are just going through this journey of moving. I want to show that even though it seems like nothing will get any better, you need to know that it will, if you have a good mindset and are willing to be positive, even if it is difficult. I want the audience feel part of the protagonist's journey. 

The props used like the polaroid pictures of Paula and her family when she was a child, the memories box and the bracelet help develop her character. The audience will relate to this, as the bracelet shows that she remembers and embraces her home country. The memories box represents her life in Colombia and the struggles of moving. The way Paula touches the box shows her mixed feelings and hesitation about her situation. 

The colors I used in the narration were colorful, vibrant, helping in the positive tone of Paula's life. However, the garage scene is where the conflict starts, and the colors are darker, showing the nostalgic and hesitant tone. This will aid my audience to understand the conflict and make them think, what is going to happen next?

how would it be distributed as a real media text?

For this part of the question, I did some research of film festivals that align with my genre and plot of the movie.

Film festivals can be an useful distribution process for independent filmmakers who are just starting out. It gives filmmakers a chance to show their work to industry experts, critics, and audiences alike. Beside recognition, these festivals can help filmmakers make connections and get bigger opportunities for getting their films seen.

Some film festivals that I found interesting and that align with my film are:

national film festival for talented youth is an US festival showcasing films made by Directors aged 24 and under. The festival also supports young filmmakers by offering professional level workshops year-round and hosts NFFTY Creative which connects brands with emerging talent to produce original content.

Latino Media Fest - this annual festival from NALIP brings together Latin filmmakers, industry representatives, executives, and film fans to celebrate Latino content across all media platforms.

Participating in online film festivals or local screenings is a great way to build credibility and connect with an audience. However, I found an article that described how film festivals are not that attended by younger individuals. A survey conducted among youth individuals showed that almost every individual was open to new film experiences, however about 43% of them had never attended a film festival.

Since my audience are young individuals as well, social media such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok are powerful tools for filmmakers to reach teen audience.

I did some research about how in some festivals, in order to get in, the film cannot be posted online. The reason is that they want to host the film's premiere and is not likely a big audience will go if the film is online for free. And there are other festivals that are fine if they are the only film festival in the country or state that is showing the film. I would post my film online after the film festivals.

I would post my film on YouTube and Vimeo. I will talk about the advantages or disadvantages of each and get to a conclusion.

YouTube is the most popular video platform on the internet, with over 14 billion people who visit the platform every month. With so many people visiting the site, if a film is posted here, it has a good chance of being watched. Another thing is that it is easy to use, the only thing needed is a good internet connection and a device. Monetization is another advantage, if the film gets recognized and gets a certain amount of views, an income can be made out of it. However, I know that it would not be that easy. YouTube is a great option, but it also has its disadvantages, like the competition. With so many people posting videos, it is not that easy for people find a film is it is not aligned with their algorithm. 

Vimeo can be the number one option outside of YouTube, It’s a video sharing platform that’s similar to YouTube, and has a lot of positive things in terms of filmmaking. Some of the advantages of using Vimeo over YouTube are that Vimeo has less competition than YouTube, so the film can have a better chance of getting known. Vimeo has higher quality content and you can also make money out of it. It also includes the ability to charge for rentals or purchases. In Vimeo, is not that common to see ads, they can pop up occasionally but it focuses on a more enjoyable experience for viewers. It has less strict guidelines and offers more supports for filmmakers. 

Both are great options, I will post my film in both platforms. If I want my film to thrive in YouTube, I will have to plan an approach to promote Nueva Vida. I need to promote my film on social media, most of my audience is present in these platforms and can reach them in an efficient way. One of the most important ways to market films to younger audiences is to create a strong online presence for the film. Like  having a website, a blog, and as said previously, social media accounts that showcase the film's story, characters, themes, visuals, and behind-the-scenes content.

NOWW it's time to work on my script.

• Dapo. (2024, October 2). Innovative Distribution Models: How To Empower Independent Filmmakers. Indieactivity. https://www.indieactivity.com/innovative-distribution-models-for-independent-filmmakers/
• Sugarman, J. (2023, October 17). Recent Immigrant Children: A Profile of New Arrivals to U.S. Schools. Migrationpolicy.org. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/recent-immigrant-children
• Hesson, T., Cooke, K., & Pell, M. B. (2024, October 5). An American education: Classrooms reshaped by record migrant arrivals. Reuters https://www.reuters.com/investigations/an-american-education-classrooms-reshaped-by-record-migrant-arrivals-2024-10-05/
• ‌Wallace, A. (2020). Recent immigrant children A profile of new arrivals to U.S. schools. Open GLAM. https://doi.org/10.21428/74d826b1.b1ae638e
• Hayes, J. (2023, January 23). Should You Post Your Short Film on YouTube? The Film Fund Blog. https://www.blog.thefilmfund.co/should-you-post-on-youtube/
• Hayes, J. (2022, June 20). Should You Post Your Film Online? It’s Complicated - The Film Fund Blog. The Film Fund Blog. https://www.blog.thefilmfund.co/should-you-post-your-film-online/‌
• Ogabang, T. (2020, September 21). Guide to How to Promote Short Film on YouTube - Promo Panda. Promo Panda. https://promopanda.com/guide-to-how-to-promote-short-film-on-youtube/
• Learn some of the most effective ways to market films to younger audiences, based on current trends and best practices, in this informative and engaging article. (2024, March 14). Linkedin.com. https://www.linkedin.com/advice/3/what-most-effective-ways-market-films-younger-cxxve