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Who is our audience?

A lot of people have asked me (and no doubt will continue to ask me as we shop the AHHS feature) who the audience is for my movie?

I’d say it’s any moviegoer who likes romantic comedies. I’d add to that a special interest by the urban audience and, of course, the African-American and Asian-American demographic. I also think mainstream audiences will be interested in the film as well as anyone with a love for hip-hop culture no matter what race or gender they may be.

I mention all this because someone recently sent me a link to a video about Black women who date outside their race (see below). And I saw where ESSENCE magazine polled their readership and 81% of Black women are okay with interracial dating. Wow! That figure surprises even me. Times ‘r a changing and I reckon that’s a good thing.

I think these women will come out and support AKIRA. Many of them are the same as Tyler Perry’s audience. Basically I want anyone searching for a good story to come check us out and be moved. Movie marketing is a mysterious craft but I think folks of all walks of life are ready for a new view on race. Witness the success of “Grey’s Anatomy”, Crash and Barack Obama! I hope a new day is dawning on America and we can be a part of it.

True, change is due and I welcome it with open arms. Perhaps black women will watch this movie and find some inspiration to look outside of the box. It’s time to break the black/white binary and venture into something new and unexpected. Love bridges all races, cultures, backgrounds, lifestyles, etc. together; every group shares this. Maybe with time, we’ll dismantle those social constructs that limit us.

But back to Black women! haha. I had to reread the statistic you posted, and it seems (to play Devil’s Advocate) somewhat inflated. Do we know how many women sent in responses, etc? Can we say Essence readers are representative of all Black women in the US?
But I digress.

Black men in this country have the advantage of a)their gender and b)the idealized and sensationalized image they hold in the eyes of non-Blacks, namely women. In effect, it’s much easier for them to be involved in interracial relationships (in my humble opinion). Whereas, unfortunately, black women are relegated to this position of lower status as a double minority in race and gender. With the high number of Black men who date outside of their race, Black women have become the largest group of single women in the country. There are several social factors such as racist misconceptions of Black women, internalized racism (the rampant colorism that affects the Black community), and White supremacy (the idea that light-skin, straight hair, etc is the ideal), to name a few.
So I’m not surprised that Black women are suddenly open to the prospect of a non-Black man. And not solely by the lack of potential, but by the need to re-define what it means to be a Black woman in America in 2008. Now I’m rambling haha.

chi 01.11.08 / 2pm

joed 01.11.08 / 7pm

Chi,

I’m surprised (and encouraged) simply because as a guy in his thirties who spent half his life in Detroit (where races rarely mix) and the other half in LA (where people are a lot more liberal) I never expected to see 81% approval. I grew up around women who flat out said they weren’t attracted to men of other races (especially white – sometimes a Latino would get some love).

While I certainly don’t claim to speak for ALL brothas, but I think most would find 81% high. Around 60% would have been my guess. Maybe it’s my own inherit prejudice I don’t know… I’m only human. I think without the data behind the ESSENCE poll (how many women polled, their socio-econmic status, etc.) it’s hard to draw too many conclusions.

Be interesting to see what others think.

Who is our audience?

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