Audience Research for

Notting Hill and The Holiday

Melike Temizturk

Primary audience for Notting Hill

Notting Hills primary audience would be predominantly comprised of women between the ages 2545. This is because women between these ages begin planning to settle down in long term
relationships. Will (Hugh Grant) is sensitive, emotional and eager to start a long term relationship
with Anna (Julia Roberts) though she remains sceptical about the durability of their relationship
because of their differences. This would appeal to a female audience as they would imagine
themselves as Anna; who is pursued by the devoted and loyal Will, but has the power to dismiss
him. This in itself is a form of gratification for the audience (Escapism) because of Annas celebrity
status and the implausibility of a love story like Notting Hill occurring in real life.
Hugh Grant has starred in iconic and successful British romantic comedies like; Love Actually and
Bridget Jones Diary so starring in Notting Hill would attract his fans to watch the film. The female
audience would sympathise with Wills character as he is continuously mistreated by Anna because
women are stereotypically viewed as being more sensitive and sympathetic . This is because the
audience would compare their own experiences with heartbreak to Wills, which is another
gratification called personal relationships.
The humour in the movie is also quite dry, sarcastic and witty in a way that an older audience could
better understand. The slow burn process of Will and Annas romance would also appeal to a more
mature female audience as they would want a more meaningful and emotional bond between the
two characters because that is what they would desire in their lives as I mentioned in the first
paragraph. Teenagers and adult men would prefer the possibility of a casual and humorous romance
that quickly led to a sexual relationship rather than an intimate one.

Primary audience for The Holiday

The Holidays primary audience would be mostly women between the ages 21-45. This is because the two
female protagonists and their plotlines would attract different age groups; for example the younger female
audience between the ages 21-30 would aspire to be more like Amanda (Cameron Diaz) as she is young,
attractive, wealthy and ambitious. This is a form of escapism, which is a gratification for the audience as
they would aspire to be like Amanda as realistically they probably do not share the same lifestyles or
qualities. Amandas spontaneous and casual fling with Graham, (Jude Law) would enable the younger
audience to relate better with her character. This is because they would also partake in casual relationships
due to the freedom of their youth and a fear of commitment that Amanda also expresses in the film. This
is a gratification for the audience in the form of personal identity and relationships as they observe
similarities in actions and ideologies between themselves and the characters.
Iris (Kate Winslet) would appeal to an older female audience between ages 30-45 as women between
these ages begin planning for long-term, serious relationships that are meaningful which is the opposite of
Amandas holiday fling with Graham. The slow burn relationship that Iris has with Miles (Jack Black)
that is rooted in friendship would appeal to an older audience as it indicates a deeper, more intimate and
emotional bond between the two characters. This is escapism for the audience as they would want a
meaningful and intimate relationship like Iris and Miles. However, Iris character development would
also inspire female empowerment within an older audience to embrace themselves and boost their self
esteem. This is another gratification called self worth which is how the audience views themselves in
comparison to others in media.
Both women would appeal to an audience that have experienced heartbreak as they would relate to the
protagonists through personal relationships and identity; observing the relationships between characters
and identifying similarities between their experience and your own.

Conventions of a romantic comedy that would

appeal to a female audience
Women have higher standards and expectations of potential love interests and partners than men
do, which is why they have to be marketed to individually. A generic convention like the meet
cute in which the two love interests meet in rom-coms would appeal to a female audience. This is
because the interaction between the two characters is basically love at first sight (when Miles and
Iris meet) and because women want to connect with potential partners on a deeper level, they
would wish for a scenario like that to occur in their own lives (escapism).
The dramatic break up between the love interests would appeal to a female audience as they would
compare their own experiences with breakups to the characters and the audience would relate to
the character on a personal and emotional level (personal relationships). They would sympathise
with the characters as women are stereotypically viewed as being sensitive and emotional.

Conventions of a romantic comedy that would

appeal to a male audience
Men stereotypically dont value romance and relationships as much as women which is why the
comedy portion of a rom-com is usually aimed at a male audience. A generic convention of a romcom like the joker character would appeal to men. Spike (Rhys Ifans) from Notting Hill for
example is vulgar and sexually driven resulting in comedy, especially when he juxtaposes Will so
much. Spikes personality is what is viewed as stereotypically male behaviour which is why it
would appeal to a male audience as they could probably relate with at least some of his character.
This is a gratification called personal relationships.
The attractive female lead in rom-coms would especially appeal to men as they are typically more
visually than emotionally driven. The male gaze present in both films (when Anna changes
clothes and Iris gets ready for Arthurs awards ceremony) would be for the benefit of a male
audience to appreciate the attractive women.

The Holiday: Film Poster Analysis

Attractive characters which
is a generic convention of
romantic comedies.
Young cast of characters to
appeal to a younger
audience.
Smiling characters suggests
happy ending and romance.
Kate Winslet and Jude Law
are well known British actors
and actresses who will bring in
fans.

Soft and warm lighting to

convey that the film is a
romantic comedy.
Kate Winslet has starred in
romantic movies like Titanic
and Eternal Sunshine of the
Spotless Mind.

Characters being in opposite

positions to one another in both
photos suggests contrasting lives
and personalities. Reveals some
of the plot to audience.
Cameron Diaz has starred in
romantic comedies like Theres
Something Bout Mary and What
Happens in Vegas.

Nancy Myers has directed other

romantic comedies like What a
Girl Wants and Somethings Gotta
Give.
Holiday is a predominantly British
term versus the American
vacation which conveys the
British influences behind the film.

Jack Black brings the comedy to

the film as he is known for his
roles in comedies like School of
Rock and Shallow Hal.

Notting Hill: Film poster analysis

Julia Roberts has also starred in
many iconic romantic comedies
like Pretty Woman and
Runaway Bride.

Julia Roberts character on

billboard represents how big
she is as a celebrity and how
Hugh Grants character is just
average and normal.

Contrast in characters links in

with the tagline Can the
most famous film star in the
world fall for the man on the
street?

Reveals plot to the audience;

can two people who lead such
different lives ever have a
happy relationship?

Well known British actor who

has starred in iconic romantic
comedies like Bridget Jones
Diary and Love Actually.

Young cast of characters to

appeal to a younger
audience.

Casually dressed character contrasts with

the movie star on the billboard who has
diamonds around her neck.

Literal man on the street

Notting Hill is a district in
London, conveys the British
influences behind the film.

Four Weddings and a Funeral is

a British romantic comedy which
also starred Hugh Grant