Target Audience Research

Here are my results from a questionnaire that I handed out about peoples preferences within horror films. I handed it to 20 people, ranging in different ages from 12-50 years old. After collecting back the questionnaires, I gathered my information and produced pie charts to show my results. Below I have shown a few questions and their results.These results show that the majority of people who watch horror films are aged between 19 and 25. And not many people aged 40 and above watched horror films.

This question shows that the majority of people who I asked preferred to watch a horror film with their friends. This helped us decide on our plot and what to include to attract the sort of people that would watch it.

These results show that most people look for horror films that give them an adrenaline rush. This also helped towards thinking of ideas of what to include in our film to ensure that our targeted audience are watching something they enjoy.

This question proved that people are more likely to share, recommend horror films they have seen. Also exchange them with one another. This is good, free publicity for film companies and and easy way for their film to get noticed and to get selling!

This question shows that watching films monthly and weekly are very popular and is most likely to be what our audeince would do. This links in with cinema deals, such as paying monthly for an unlimited cinema card to visit whenever you want. Also, orange wednesdays 2 for 1 deal is very popular within our specific teen age range. As its cheaper and more suited and appealing for them.

Questionnaire Feedback

David, aged 20

1. What Genre of film would you say this film is and how can you tell this?
I would say its a horror film just from the general spooky storyline and efects used throughout the film, such as the scary music and setting.

2. What was your favourite aspects from the sequence and why?
I particularly liked the 2 scenes that are filmed as if you are looking through a video camera - I thought this worked extrememly well and added a spooky/eerie effect as I couldnt tell who was behind the camera filming.

3. What areas do you feel could be improved and how/why?
I think it was all very good. The only thing I would say is that you could have added in more quick shots at the end where all the bad things start happening to her, there was only her being dragged along on the carpet and her drowning in the bath. I think a few more would have increased the 'horror' effect and definitely make me feel more suspensed and on edge.

4. Do you feel the storyline was easy to understand, if yes or no explain why?
Yes i thought it was made very clear with the good acting skills, and the dialogue made it clear to me that he was a ghost and was her friend etc.

5. Do you feel the name of the film related well to the story?
Very well, 'The Unseen' links well with what happens in the story as we can't see the ghost - he is unseen!

6. Did you think that the editing and credits were done well and flowed well? Explain why/why not.
The editing skills were really good. I liked the slow motion parts, this was a nice effect and the added in sound effects such as the loud bangs towards the end - they were a great aspect of the sequence. Yes the credits also worked well.

7. Do you have any other comments/feedback?
I thought it was great, the editing skills and the general storyline all worked really well.

Qustionnaire Feedback

Faye, aged 23

1. What Genre of film would you say this film is and how can you tell this?
Its a horror film and I could tell this by the music and setting.

2. What was your favourite aspects from the sequence and why?
My favourite part was the bit where you filmed the scene through the window which looked really effective, making the scene look mysterious.

3. What areas do you feel could be improved and how/why?
The part where she was reading the notice board in the graveyard wasn't clear to me, and it was hard to understand its relevance to the rest of the film.

4. Do you feel the storyline was easy to understand, if yes or no explain why?
Yes it was easy to understand because you made it clear what the story was about with showing the grave and reading his name aloud, and talking about him to the mother.

5. Do you feel the name of the film related well to the story?
Yes definitely, it fitted in well.

6. Did you think that the editing and credits were done well and flowed well? Explain why/why not.
The editing was good and made me jump at points, especially towards the end I liked the quick jump cuts and loud bang noises that were edited in. The credits where good and straight to the point.

7. Do you have any other comments/feedback?
I particularly liked the scene when the chair was swinging on its own, it was very tense and full of suspense. Overall, a very good film opening well done!

Questionnaire feedback

Hannah, aged 16

1. What Genre of film would you say this film is and how can you tell this?
Either horror or thriller, because its got you in suspense right from the start as you can't tell whos she talking too.

2. What was your favourite aspects from the sequence and why?
I like the setting and how it's remote. The graveyard also looked rather eerie and creepy.

3. What areas do you feel could be improved and how/why?
The voice overs and dialogue could have been improved as they didnt quite look right or fit in with the film sequence.

4. Do you feel the storyline was easy to understand, if yes or no explain why?
Yes I got the jist of the story straight away, and i think that comes down to the production.

5. Do you feel the name of the film related well to the story?
Yes i think it suited really well.

6. Did you think that the editing and credits were done well and flowed well? Explain why/why not.
I think the editing was good and the credits flowed well and were positioned well in the shot (i.e not blocking an actress in the frame).

7. Do you have any other comments/feedback?
Very well done.

Questionnaire

To get some feedback from our film I decided to create a questionnaire that I would give to a few people, and ask them to watch the final film sequence then answer the questions as honestly as they could. This was so we could see what other people thought about it, and recieve any feedback on what we could improve if we was to do something similar to this project in the future. The questions i asked were:

1. What Genre of film would you say this film is and how can you tell this?
2. What was your favourite aspects from the sequence and why?
3. What areas do you feel could be improved and how/why?
4. Do you feel the storyline was easy to understand, if yes or no explain why?
5. Do you feel the name of the film related well to the story?
6. Did you think that the editing and credits were done well and flowed well? Explain why/why not
7. Do you have any other comments/feedback?

Horror Film Survey

We decided to create a set of questions that we would ask a range of different aged people in our school. The survey would help us establish the sort of codes and conventions that interest our audience, and give us a better understanding of what people enjoy. The questions we asked them were:

1. Do you like Horror films?
2. If you do, why? If you dont, why?
3. What aspects do you look for in horror films?
4. If you were to watch a horror film, who would you watch it with?
5. What is your favourite horror film that you have watched?

These are the research/results we collected:

Meghan, aged 16
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_kAjr2_GFA&context=C3e14c51ADOEgsToPDskJwfzX5j8UhB9XDRKFizrgm

Ellie, aged 16
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvrY-h1XY4&feature=related

Kara, aged 17
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOM5cCLSxQc&feature=related

Callum and Hannah, aged 16
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwV7criCyt0&feature=related

Hannah, aged 16
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_IFUTlzo0c&feature=related

Luke, Michael and Kieran, aged 18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_XXFXXvVZY&feature=related

School Librarian, unknown age
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrzIbjuPpK4&feature=related

Mia, aged 16
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_p66yWECMA&feature=related

Character Profile

For part of my horror film survey, i have created a character profile for one of the audience memebers in which i feel our film will be aimed at. Here is a small section of information about one of the people i have chose to take a picture of and analyse.

Gwen is 18 years old and is currently studying at Knights Templar 6th form. Gwen's main interest are fashion, going out with friends and her puppy. I took the picture against a plain white wall to really show of what she is wearing and so people dont get distracted by other background happenings. The white colour could represent her freedom and open minded personality, and how shes not too fussy. Which could link to films and suggest she's not fussy on what type of film she watches.

She is dressed in a bright red/orange, vibrant coloured dress which could represent her fun, out-going sort of personality. What she is wearing implies that she may be about to go out to a party or even at a party. Also, the alcoholic drink that she holds could also imply she's the party type and likes to have a good time! This could suggest that she likes to spend time with her friends, which could tell us that she'd be more inclined to watch horror films with her friends over family members or others.

Gwen has told me that she enjoys watching mostly all types of horror films and doesnt have a particular favourite. She watches horror films atleast twice a month, usually with her friends. Gwen doesnt have a job, but recieves £10 a week as pocket money from her mum and dad. She said she would pay up to a maximum of £10 to see the new latest horror film at the cinema, and she would pay a maximum of £15 to buy it on dvd. She sees films advertised mainly on TV and quotes "The trailer usually makes me want to see the film. If the movie isn't portrayed well in the trailer I wouldn't go and see it". If we were going to publish our film, our trailer would have to engage the audience so that they would then be willing to go and see the film or buy the DVD.