Research and Planning - Survey Monkey Questionnaire Results

Below are my survey monkey questionnaire results:

Research and Planning - Survey Monkey Questionnaire

Using Survey Monkey, I created a simple but effective questionnaire about my thriller genre to a general audience online. By doing this I will send the link of this survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/26T8ZGZ) to a number of people and collect their results. This will lead to my gaining a wider understanding of my genre and the stereotypical things that my audience would expect to say (and I will therefore include).

Here are screen shots of my questionnaire online:

Research and Planning - Audience Interviews

Here is a short video I made including two recorded audience interviews of my questionnaire. The answers they used will help me in my understanding and therefore process of making my thriller trailer!

When I asked these two target audience members my interview questions, I had to take into account both their gender and age (17 and 18) as the differences may influence some of the answers due to this. 

Moreover, when I asked them what there favourite film genre was, both there answers were different (science fiction/thriller and comedy/action) which could further influence there answers as Elise obviously watches more thriller films than Alex. However, because most thrillers have a hybrid genre of action, it means both my interviewees like some form of action within a film.

Throughout the rest of the questions I asked both participants they answered fairly similarly. From the setting of a thriller, associated colours and aspects of a trailer they answered the same (as well as what as a film student I would also answer)! Therefore, when planning my thriller trailer I will take acknowledge and most likely include these aspects, as they a commonly seen in thrillers in the audiences perspective. 

Research and Planning - Podcast

Here is a short podcast of my up to date progress:

Research and Planning - Trailer Analysis 2

The Woman In Black (2012) trailer: 

Research and Planning - Trailer Analysis 1

House at the End of the Street (2012) trailer:

Research and Planning - Questionnaire Results

I asked a total of ten people my questionnaire, receiving a variety of responses which will all influemce me and Elise when creating our own trailer. These consist in areas such as setting, costume, the certificate and the music we will create.

Here are two of the responses:

Both the age of these participants and their favourite film genre are different, however, they both answer fairly similar when I ask about the genre of thriller. This therefore must be a common representation of thriller (such as the costumes/colour/music/certificate rating) that I will try to include in my own trailer. Despite this, on some of the questions (such as location) they answer differently, meaning I will have to research that aspect of a thriller genre slightly more to gain a better understanding, as there is no clear answer.

Research and Planning - Genre Questionnaire

Here are the questions I asked my target audience:

1) What is your gender?

Male/female

2) What is your age?

15-18 / 19-21 / 22-25 / above

3) What is your favourite genre?

4) What colours do you associate with a thriller?

5) Where would you expect a thriller to be set?

6) What clothing do you expect the main character to wear?

7) What sort of music do you associate with a thriller?

8) What certificate would you expect a thriller to have?

Research and Planning - Garageband Challenge

For this track we were given an hour to create a piece of music in garageband, related to our genre choice (for example mine was the genre of thriller). Here I created a piece of music that would tell a scene from a thriller film, using garage band techniques such as layering and loops. Below is the end result:

Research and Planning - Top 20 Thriller films

Here are the top 20 thriller films taken from IMDB's 'most popular by genre - thriller feature films'. One of the most common aspects that these films have in common is that none of these films are just plain thriller. The collaboration of genres make it a hybrid genre, resulting in films also being science fiction, adventure, comedy and horror (these are the most common sub-genres in this top 20 list.) 

Furthermore, another common aspect these films share is the target audience. As well as older adults, the majority of these films are aimed towards adolescent groups. One of the main helping factors they use to achieve this would be the well known actors and actresses they hire. For example, 'Horns' (number 6/20) stars Harry Potter phenomenon star Daniel Radcliffe. This straight away will lure a teenage/young adult fan base to watch this film because of the actor. This star attraction occurs in the majority of these films. 

Despite this, I will not be using this particular technique to attract an audience when it comes to my own trailer. The low budget we have to make our trailer will not consist of hiring well known stars. However, we could insert a hybrid genre into our trailer to attract a wider target audience, as it a possible and common thing to include! 

Research and Planning - Update

After a discussion with friends both in and outside of class, my group consists of me and Elise Ogden (a2mediaeliseogden.blogspot.co.uk). After talking about trailer Ideas we have both decided to go down the lines of a thriller genre, with an aspect of crime included.

Here are a few recent (2014) thrillers that are currently out in cinemas:

Research and Planning - Regulation and Censorship

The bbfc (which stands for The British Board of Film Classification) regulates and classifies our films since 1912 when it was first set up. These regulations are put together and enforced at the cinema and when selling dvd/video's to protect certain content from younger ages.

U: Stands for Universal, meaning it should be suitable for 4 years and over.

PG: Stands for Parental Guidance, meaning it is suitable for general viewing however parents should consider whether this film is unsuitable for young children (under the age of 8).

12/12A: "Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12" meaning no one younger than the age of 12 may go to see this film at the cinema unless accompanied by an adult.

15: No one under 15 can go see this film at the cinema (as well as buy it at a dvd store).

18: No one under 18 can go see this film at the cinema (as well as buy it at a dvd store).

My trailer will most likely be classified as a 15 simply because of the genre. Horrors tend to have unfriendly content that might upset younger viewers, therefore by putting this regulation in place hopefully audience members 15 and over will be old enough to decide whether this film is suitable for them or not.

Research and Planning - Trailer Pitch

Below is my trailer pitch which shows genre research, plot Ideas, Soundtrack Ideas, location, typical direction, link to ancillary tasks and whats is needed to achieve to produce this:

Research and Planning - Photoshop Challenge

In our first lesson back we did the photoshop challenge, a task to test (as well as practice) how well we remembered our photoshop skills after our summer break. I created a horror/thriller film poster (the genre of trailer I intend to make later in the year) using simple photographs from google. Then, on photoshop, I refreshed my memory by using simple tools such as text, brightness and contrast, drop shadow and colour change.   

Research and Planning - Genre Research Romance

Romance:

Conventions of a Romance film:

1. High key lightening for happy and lively environment 
2. Score made specifically for this film. However existing artists' music can be featured to make a soundtrack. Audiences can therefore relate to this music.
3. The majority of the shots will be eye level shots so the couple seem more romanced. (However if conflict of some sort occurs other shots are introduced) 
4. Straight cuts are used to create a realistic effect so the story is more realistic and relatable.
5. Both costumes and locations/settings are bright colourful to reflect the happy genre of romance.

Here is an example of a Romance trailer:

Research and Planning - Genre Research Horror

Horror:

Conventions of a Horror film:

1. Low key lighting is used to help create a tense atmosphere that horrors tend to have.
2. Music for horror films are usually a score, especially made for the film.
3. Both Diagetic and Non-diagetic sounds are used to help create fear.
4. Both high and low angles to empower characters as well as make them feel venerable
5. Editing are straight cuts for a more realistic effect so it's easier for the audience to relate.

Here is an example of a Horror trailer:

Research and Planning - Genre Research Comedy

Comedy:

Conventions of a Comedy film:

1. High key lighting is used to create a happy and lively environment.
2. The music running throughout comedies usually consist of songs by artists, allowing the audience to relate to the film and sing along (helping the atmosphere of the comedy) The song can also be specifically chosen for a certain scene, so the lyrics reflect what is going on.
3. Editing varies in comedies, as they can vary from straight cuts to swipes (ext.).
4. Eye level shots are used so the audience can relate with the characters on screen. They sometimes also use high and low level angle shots when the main character comes in to some sort of conflict with another.
5. Costumes are usually bright and colourful, heightening the atmosphere. This is the same for setting also. 

Here is an example of a Comedy trailer:

Research and Planning - Genre Research Action

Action:

Conventions of a Action film:

1. Both low key and high key lighting are used to create certain atmospheres. As an action can be a variety, the lighting changes. (E.g. a fight scene could have low key lighting where as a family conversation could be high key lighting.)
2. Music for action films tend to be a score specifically composed for the film.
3. Straight cuts and jump cuts (ext.) are used to create a quick paced an realistic scene.
4. High and low angle shots are used to portray the characters as being a certain way or in a certain position (e.g. empowered and vulnerable).
5. The costumes and settings for action films are usually extravagant due to it being a high concept film.

Here is an example of an Action trailer:

Research and Planning - What is a Trailer?

What is a trailer?