2. Short Film Survey
This survey is the part of my A2 Media Studies Coursework primary research.
The main purpose of this research was create a potential target audience profile
so that I could purposely create film that is appalling to them in regards to
concept and artistic interpretation. With the insight into desired target audience
wants and needs I would be in a position to design distribution and advertising
strategy that would be directed at and accessible to them.
In order to carry out in-depth market research so that I could make more
informed decisions, I have decided to use simple and sophisticated web-
based survey provider called SurveyMonkey. This site is widely used by many
companies and has millions of people ready to take the survey.
In addition to make this target audience assessment successful, I have posted
my survey link on equally widely used social networks such as Facebook and
Twitter.
3. Q1:What is your age?
This question allowed
me to establish age
group that is likely to
identify with the lead
character and watch
the short film that I am
aiming to create.
Having in mind this
age group my final
product must be
appalling to them and
the promotional
campaign equally
needs to be purposely
designed for them.
4. Q2:Do you enjoy watching
short films?
Within this survey I was
very pleased to see that
overwhelmingly people
from my desired target
group enjoy watching short
films. This information will
make promotional strategy
much easier because I
would be able to reach
audience that is already
familiar and follow short
film production.
5. Q3: What is the ideal
length for the short film?
In this question it is evident that over
half of participants prefer to watch
short films that are up to 20 minutes
long. As I have to follow strict
coursework guidance I am not in
position to implement findings from this
question. If I am to produce this short
film in existing film industry I would
most definitely make this short film
slightly longer because I believe that
this particular story has a potential to
be extended and developed into a
longer version.
6. Q4:What makes a short film effective? Is there
any topic that would create a good short film?
As most short films are low
budget therefor directors
focus on developing a
inspirational story which is
most appealing to audience
that is watching them as
well. ‘Lonely Dinner’ is
mainly based on a unique
story line, definitely
unpredictable end and with
a lot of depth. Setting of the
short film is very simple, so I
have made slight
adjustment to my script and
eventual location.
7. Q5:What is the main
purpose of the short film?
Within this particular survey, up
to 50% of surveyed people were
interested to watch firstly films
that carry important social or
cultural massage and secondly
to imaginatively tell the story. My
own short film has a deep and a
very powerful social message
and a story is very universal and
timeless.
8. Q6: What is your favorite
short film genre?
This particular question is crucial in
identifying the specific film genre
my potential target audience
prefers to watch. Most participants
are largely inclined to watch drama
films followed by comedies. I am
more than pleased with the
outcomes because my own film
belongs into a drama sub-genre
and genre hybrid, called
monodrama with the elements of
dark comedy.
9. Q7: Where do you hear
about new films?
In order to compose successful
promotional campaign which would
attract potential audience
information from this question was
extremely beneficial. As the target
audience is educated it is obvious
that they use and are active on
different forms of social media.
Advertising campaign will use
mostly web forms of
communication as free and largely
used source of information and
exchange.
10. 8: Have you been to any short
film festival? If yes, which one?
The middle age intellectual target
group on regular bases visit art
related events in order to watch
creations that are less showed on
mainstream forms of entertainment
such as Television. To make this
film accessible to them I will
definitely need to apply to short film
festivals in order to attract audience
and to make this film easily
assessable to them.
11. 9:How do you like to watch
short films
Due to a limited financial abilities, the
only two options that are available to
most short film creators is to distribute
film through Social Medias and Online
Video Websites. As the desired target
audience is active on social media the
placement of my short film via same will
increase watching potential. In addition
due to duration this film could be
screened in cinema before feature film.
Initially I intend to negotiate with
Belgrade cinemas and if this shows
fruitful my intentions are to approach
other cinema complexes abroad.
12. In short film monodrama, what do
you find most appealing?
With the results of this question I am very
satisfied because it is clear that potential
audience is familiar with the monodrama
film genre and that storyline is the essence
of such films. The ‘Lonely Dinner’ is a
short film monodrama, with an
extraordinary inner motivation, good
storyline and a great narrative. This answer
helped me realised that I should further
improve and develop my storyline and
make even more complex and intriguing.
13. Short Film Survey Summary
Once I have completed and analyzed survey findings I
was able to establish potential target audience that would
be attracted to watch my short film and what type of
promotional strategies to use in order to make such a
product accessible and eventually a success.
Using this valuable information I will create a detailed
audience profile taking into consideration their wants and
needs.
These findings I will implement first into a film pitch and
later during post production in designing and making of
promotional materials.
