Uses and GratificationsBlumler & Katz (1974)

What is it?

Blumler and Katz suggested that media is used to satisfy their needs. They identified four needs and thus called the four needs theory. These are them:

Escape and diversion Surveillance and information Personal relationships Personal identity

Using them is going along with the theories that Blumler and Katz came up with and are believed to enable me to attract my primary audience. I have used the four needs theory as a convention to appeal to my ideal audience.

Escape and diversion

In watching my short film it allows people to escape their everyday life by watching someone else's. The problems on screen can divert from the problems that the audience are having in their life especially as my short film has a dramatic storyline.

Surveillance and information

Two perspectives of gathering information from my work occur here. One being finding information about the character and the situation he is in and the other being the information given about reality in the world back in that era but also in the world today.

The review also gives away information to the reader about the film which can make them want to watch it. The poster too gives information about the film on it and has a website in which you can find out about the film.

Personal relationships

The short is a starting point to create personal relationships as it gives people something to talk about and discuss. It means people can interact with one and other to form these relationships. This can also include the review as this can create personal relationships in the same way as it does with the short film as people who read the same magazine could discuss the review of the film.

The poster contains a website in which viewers can go to and talk about the film and have a very focused discussion.

This closely relates to Personal identity too…

Personal identity Personal identity comes from people identifying

them selves in specific groups who watch short films or who read film magazines and reviews which is how it closely relates to personal relationships. Once you start watching short films and make relationships with people who also watch short films rather than blockbusters, they can personally identify as part of a group (if they want) of people who watch short films.

Identity could be formed by not identifying themselves as the character in the film but knowing family members, friends or knowing of someone who is going through the same problem as the character is.