Question 3 of A2 Media Evaluation

1. Q3 - What have you learned
from your audience
feedback?
ALEX DRURY

2. Initial Feedback – Pre Production
In the pre production stage of our film, where we
had our finished storyline and script but had yet to
begin filming, we asked six impartial students to
answer eleven questions, after reading a summary of
our film’s story. These questions were set out by us
with the purpose of gaining understanding of how
our storyline was viewed by our audience.

3. Initial Feedback – Pre Production
It was crucial at this stage to take into
account the feedback we received, and
possibly if needed alter the storyline to
suit our intentions. The feedback that we
received was recorded and edited into a
video:
https://youtu.be/Vs_kVG
mH7nk

4. Initial Feedback – Pre Production
Analysis from video questionnaire:
 Generally, the feedback we received overall was positive, with the respondents giving the answers he had
hoped to achieve.
 Genre – all respondents identified our storyline as either a comedy, black comedy or drama. The fact that
some respondents suggested that the storyline was drama showed that we achieved a goal in creating the
plot for a black comedy, as this type of comedy is often derived from stories that would often otherwise be
dramatic
 Age Certificate – 5/6 respondents stated that if this storyline were to be a film then the age certificate
would be a 15, which was the actual age certificate we were planning to give our film
 Music – We asked our respondents to suggest what possible types of music should be included in the film,
with the most common answer being something that would build tension. Listening to this advice, we
implemented several pieces of tension building music within the film that fitted the general tone we were
aiming for

5. Initial Feedback – Pre Production
 (continued)
 Similar Films – One respondent drew parallels to an episode of sitcom ‘The Office’, purely based on the
setting and genre. Other than that, no respondents could name any similar films which highlights the
originality behind our storyline
 Target audience – All respondents identified the ‘young adults’ age range as potential target audience, with
most suggesting males would prefer the film to females. The target audience we aimed for was the 16-25
range
 Would you see the film? – All our respondents said they would be willing to pay money at the cinema to
see our film

6. In filming and editing how did you ensure
meaning would be apparent to the
audience…
The storyline for our film is relatively simple to follow, as we wanted our project to be structured around a basic but simple plot, with the
comedy deriving mainly from dialogue and interactions between characters. However, there are certain instances of the story that could be
possibly be confusing, which he had to carry out carefully in order for them to have the meaning we intended. For example, the contrapuntal
music used in the scene where Ross attempts suicide several times could be misleading, as it (intentionally) does fit with the scene. By
incorporating differing attempts at suicide, concluded by the transition to Ross planning to jump off the roof, it becomes obvious what was
intended. Moreover, to fully ensure the message of our end credits scene was obvious (being that: upon Gareth’s implied sacking, Ross ascends
to the vacant position as office boss) we mirrored a previous scene from the film, where the character of Ross is in the opposite position. For
this, we used the same suit that the character Gareth wore previously, and employ similar shot-reverse-shot editing as Ross approaches the
character of Simon. We feel this scene was executed successfully, and serves as a little twist that simultaneously ties up the film neatly.

7. Rough Cut
This was the almost completed version of our film, and this would be shown to a sample audience who would
give us feedback on it. We believed this to be our finished film, so we not willing to make huge, wholesale
changes, but we would listen to the feedback given and implement any small changes the respondents could
suggest, if any. If not changes were suggested, we planned to simply reframe certain shots whilst shortening
some scenes slightly to bring the total run time down.
Our rough cut of The Fall and Rise of a
White Collar Worker -
https://youtu.be/_UZbpes-lVA

8. Feedback from rough cut
Does this film appeal to you?
Yes No
We asked 20 impartial respondents to sit through
the rough cut and answer whether or not it
appealed to them. These respondents were all
members of our target audience of 16-25. 75% of
the respondents said that the film appealed to
them.
Of the 20, 2 respondents suggested changes. One
of these was to implement a sound effect as Ross
looks at the message on his phone, and the other
was to re-edit the the ‘fight’ scene so it looked
more believable.

9. Implementing changes
After looking at the feedback received on the rough cut, we
decided to listen to the advice of the respondents, and
implement the two changes that were suggested. In hindsight,
we realised a sound effect was needed when Ross looks at his
phone, and we added one that we took from
www.freesound.org. Then, we decided the polish up the ‘fight’
between Ross and Gareth, making it appear far more natural
and believable to the audience. On to of that, we reframed
certain shots to get rid of excess space and concluded that this
would be the final cut of our film.
After making these changes, we asked the same 20 respondents
to view the film again and asked if ’Did the film appeal to you
before?’ and ‘Does it appeal to you now?’
Appeal of film
Yes and Yes Yes and No
No and Yes No and No

10. Final Cut - Possible Interpretations
The Final Cut of The Fall and Rise of a White Collar Worker - https://youtu.be/Vchc7m7qLA8
One aim regarding the direction of our film was to effectively satirise the office environment of a
‘white collar worker’, much like was done in the film Office Space, which was the principal inspiration
for our storyline. Despite not having long time to do so, we feel we effectively convey the mundanity
that exists in these environments through the depressed outlook of protagonist Ross. This satire
would be particularly recognisable to someone who has worked in an office similar to that, and has
felt like the character of Ross and/or has had a boss like the character Gareth.
The film also touches on themes that could relevant to a viewer, such as: depression, suicide, hatred of
job, revenge. Someone viewing the film who has experience of said themes may view the film
differently to those who hasn’t, and could possibly understand the film better.