How has Avatar been produced to appeal to a UK audience?

Avatar was produced for a mass global audience. It was designed for international appeal spanning many audience demographics.


In terms of how it was produced for a UK audience, this can been seen through:


1. The technology used and the enormity of the budget. Newly developed 3D technology and CGI features have a massive appeal to its primary target audience of 18-25 year old males, who consider themselves to be 'tech-savvy'.


The budget needed to produce Avatar and the technology needed to film it, for example new Fusion cameras was massive. The money and funding was available to James Cameron as Avatar was owned by Hollywood giant 20th Century Fox. This powerful ownership deal was essentail in the production of Avatar.
2. Filming for Avatar was a completely new process, using Fusion 3D cameras and other new equipment. This meant that conventional sets were not used. This unusual way of filming created interest amongst British people, as well as other global audiences.


3. James Cameron waited until 2005 to begin production of Avatar, to ensure he had the right budget and technology. The realistic visuals in a film attracted children and adults alike adn these were not possible without the major budget which allowed the development of new cameras adn equipment.


4. Cast and crew. Director James Cameron is famous for his blockbuster classics such as Terminator 2, Titanic and Aliens. However, actors were chosen for being new to blockbuster movies for the main parts and known actors kept for secondary roles.


5. The film featured issues relating to many audiences. It is a film that can be classed in many genres, such as sci-fi, action and romance. This ensured a wide range of audience groups: children, young adults, older adults, both male and female. These themes can relate to anyone, so a British audience feel connected to the action even though it is an American film.


How successful are action-adventure films in the UK? Do UK audiences like this?

Epic Hollywood action/adventure movies are popular with the UK audience, especially the young, male audiences who go to the cinema for a thrilling moment of escapism. When looking at all-time Top 10 box office intakes for Europe, six out of the ten can be classed as ‘action-adventure’ films: Avatar, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Pirates of the Caribbean. From these statistics we can see that action films are the most popular genre for UK and European audiences.

6. There were multiple production companies involved in making Avatar: Light Storm Entertainment, Dune Entertainment, Ingenious Film Partners - known studios.


Light Storm Entertainment is linked to 20^th Century Fox, a world-wide known distribution company. This meant that the film Avatar came from a respected and reliable company, reassuring the UK audience that the film would be worth seeing. The fact that the film is owned by such a large company also allowed it to have an immense budget, so that the technology needed could be developed, and certain Hollywood actors signed.


7. The film's soundtrack, while mostly orchestral, included tracks by famous British singer Leona Lewis; 'I see you'. The video, feauturing clips from the film, was released several weeks before the film, intended to spark interest and promote the movie.