2. Audience response- Summary
Before I started my planning I needed to gather a
rough idea about who my target audience was,
and how will I appeal to them.
On my blog I have a section dedicated to
audience research, I have used survey monkey,
Padlet and focus group Q&A’s to gather
audience response on existing products and
general audience response to gather information
on peoples expectations towards the horror
genre.
After gathering this information I went onto my
planning to begin to plan out my products, I then
again used audience response to ensure I was
planning products which would appeal to my
target audience.
After gathering an audience response I
would summarise the responses and
then use them to help me create/
adjust my two ancillary products and
trailer. All of my audience research is
valued throughout my planning and
production. I have even included it in
my Evaluation.
3. How audience response helped me in planning:
At first I wanted to gather a clear idea on who my audience were and what they wanted. After deciding my
target demographic was aimed at male and females between the ages of 15-25 I wanted to know what they
liked and disliked about horror and what they expected to see. I created a focus group and asked people to
watch an existing trailer, and then to comment with their responses towards it. I found that people enjoyed
somethingthat puts you on edge, and uses dark low key lighting
to create tension etc. I used these responses and
both features are evident in my trailer. I then filmed
two people (male and female) who fit within my
demographic and asked them questions about what
they enjoyed about horror films and what they want to
see in a horror trailer. The main response was
something that creates suspense and that isn’t a
‘recycled’ story.
4. How audience response helped me in planning:
On my planning section I have gathered multiple
responses a couple of times throughout planning.
Once I had thought of a production idea and trailer
plan I wanted to gather audience response on my
progress so far. I created a survey monkey and
used this to ask people within my target
demographic what they thought I could improve
on, what they liked and what they disliked. I mainly
have positive feedback about my ideas, the main
point of improvement was to make my trailer plan
more spontaneous and different. I took this
response and changed my plan making the trailer
less predictable, and adding more jump scares into
the plan.
I then continued with my planning for my trailer
creating a script and shot list and an improved
production idea. I then created an Animatic which
is a mock up of a trailer, using my storyboard and
the music I had gathered. I needed audience
response to ensure that my trailer will appeal to my
target audience. The response was constructive
and positive. The only thing I needed to change
when creating my trailer would be the sound and
to include faster paced cuts.
5. How audience response helped me in planning:
When planning my ancillary products, like my
trailer planning I wanted to ensure I was
following conventions and following audience
expectations.
I used a padlet to gather audience response
on the plans, and mock up of my ancillary
products. The audience response came back
again positive, my target demographic said
they enjoyed the use of colours and fonts
and the fact they were eye catching. I also
got some points of improvement to change
some fonts on the magazine to make it look
more professional. I ensure I used these
improvements when in production.
