The document provides guidance for conducting a successful focus group to gather feedback on a film's opening sequence. It outlines questions to ask the focus group about their expectations for genre conventions, visual and audio elements, and story elements. It recommends telling the focus group about the film beforehand and providing stimuli if the group has trouble generating ideas. Notes from a sample focus group are provided, indicating a preference for suspense, introducing the protagonist quickly, and typography that stands out through boldness and contrast.

1. >>>> FOCUS GROUP and TARGET AUDIENCE
To create a successful focus group
follow the following format...
Firstly, what are you trying to determine? Write this below:
What the audience expect from my genre’s opening sequence. I want to know what they would expect to be in a
stereotypical sci-fi/horror opening sequence. I want to know what they want to see as well as what they would expect; do
they want to see a typical opening sequence or something abnormal? How would they expect the typography to be and so
on?
Ok, now you need an introduction task that is FUN and PUNCHY. This must
QUICKLY get you some IMPORTANT information and keep the audience
awake! (e.g. What do you need to determine? Is there a quick way to go
through the first three points?) Write your idea’s below.
I need to know what they expect. I am also interested in what they want to see. What do they
want the first shot to be: a close up, extreme close up? What style of writing/typography should
the writing be in: spooky or bold and clear? What kind of music/soundtrack should be playing:
creepy or just diegetic sounds e.g. church bells?
Remember one member of your team must make notes, use the back of this
handout to help. After you have gained the basic information now comes the
tough part - what sort of story would most appeal to them on Radio? What
types of story are there? Would they like a cliffhanger? Where would the titles
best be? Where would it be set? What props will you have? What do the
audience EXPECT from your drama? What else do you need to know? Write
idea’s of HOW you will gain this information from an audience that may be
difficult to control or please! Think about what your teachers might do!
We will tell the focus group before we record what our film is about. We will then record and ask them what they would
expect from the opening sequence. They may feel a cliff-hanger is needed to entice the audience but this could be too
much like a trailer. We will ask them all the questions listed above. However if our focus group is hard to please and
aren’t giving us any ideas or bouncing ideas off of one another we will ask the rest of the questions and then try again
with a different group but this time give hand outs with images on that might stimulate ideas for them.

2. >>>> FOCUS GROUP and TARGET AUDIENCE
THE FOCUS GROUP - NOTES
Every member of your team will need this information for their scrapbook.
Using seven participants; three males, four females. Three of the participants like the horror genre. Want to see
spaceships, and futuristic worlds with Aliens and Spaceships. Want the opening to be suspenseful as they like to be
on the edge of their seat. Want to be introduced to protagonist to get a sense for the film.
Quick pace to start the film on a high and be interesting, carrying on this pace until opening sequence finishes. To get
the ‘Clockwork’ side across watch ‘Back to the Future’ and look at that opening sequence could look good for ours.
Want to see lots of clocks on walls.
Typography needs to be bulky and bold so it stands out and is clear. Contrasting with the background. Use a digital
clock font for title and put a clock inside the ‘O’ in ‘Clockwork’.