1) The document discusses the importance of receiving audience feedback through test screenings and surveys in order to improve films, trailers, and marketing materials to better appeal to target audiences. 2) It provides examples of how films like Paranormal Activity and The Woman in Black utilized test screenings and marketing campaigns incorporating audience feedback to succeed. 3) The author's group conducted surveys and test screenings of their horror film trailer which provided feedback that helped them better meet the interests and needs of their target teenage audience.

1. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT FROM
YOUR AUDIENCE FEEDBACK?
Evaluation question 3

2. ONE: INTRO
- The importance of audience feedback, is very significant to films in this modern era. After seeing effects like Sandra Bullock
floating around in space, it is vital for producers to impress, interest and intrigue viewers, to ensure this, production
companies usually run test screening, this allows them to receive reliable, honest feedback in order to change and improve
their film to attract their target audience; a good example of this technique is the horror hit, Paranormal Activity. The film
was shown first at various film festivals over the course of a year pre it's worldwide realise. During this time, Steven Spielberg
of DreamWorks took a watched the film, after he had finished watching he found bathroom his bathroom locked from the
inside. Due to this happening after watching the horror for a text screening, not only did his feedback help to improve the
film, but it caused a huge buzz around the media, giving the film a lot of attention from it's target audience. This is just one
example of how vital test screenings are to films. Small 'stunts’ like Spielberg’s allow the film to gain attraction for it's test
and final product, along with watching the audiences facial expressions, gestures and most importantly, verbal feedback. Test
audiences are further asked if they would recommend the film to family and friends, the final piece to help the producers
edit the film to the audiences every need.
- The Women in Black did similar things to Paranormal Activity, the producers invested a lot of their time and money into the
large amount, and somewhat, uniqueness of their ad campaigns. Firstly, the film released a teaser campaign which included a
poster and a short clip, this kicked off the buzz in the media for the horror. Famous wizard and lead actor D.aniel Radcliffe
started his own YouTube channel in order to grab the attention of Potter fans, the target audience and the media. The
production company continued with the large ad campaign with other social media sites, the press and on the radio. It ran
two test screenings for the target audience which helped improve the jump scares, suspense and even music.

3. - Even before we started to create our trailer, our group had already set out for audience feedback. Together, we made an
online questionnaire on the website 'Survey Monkey’ which allowed us to decided what sub genre of horror that our
teenaged target audience wanted to see on the market. This further allowed us to understand the psychographics of our
audience, focusing on the audience's opinions and interest of horror films and further allowing us to apply this to the
wanted genre. After making the first draft of our trailer, we carried out another source of audience feedback with a screen
test. During class time, we played through all the groups trailers and gave feedback while being recorded which allowed us
to watch the feedback over and highlight the positives and the negatives.
- By running a test screen in front of our target audiences, it allowed my group to edit the trailer accordingly to fit the target
audiences needs, this can range from the titles to the shots used. Furthermore, the test helped me to understand how critical
audience feedback is when making a film and why production companies are so adamant when making ad campaigns etc.
Along with the audiences verbal feedback, it was helpful to see the reactions of the target audience, if they closed their eyes
or psychical reactions allowed our group to understand what parts of the trailer where jumpy, intense or needed more
editing done to it.
- For independent work on the magazine front cover send film poster, I approached students and peers who fit info the target
audience of our trailer and showed them the two products I had made, asking them to fill out couple of questions related go
positives and areas that needed improving. This allowed me to edit my products accordingly and to my target audience
preferences.

4. THREE: RECEIVED FEEDBACK
- In regards of the poster, the feedback I have received has the running theme of the choice and placements of my fonts. The
improvements of my fonts included being too ‘chunky’, close together or positioned too far over onto the main image.
Another detail that was bought to my attention follows the red colour used in text positioned at the top of the poster being
slightly over powered by the white text. Despite this, my film poster received plenty of positive feedback including the
creepy look I had created by using the image of a skull over the models face, someone else further saying the poster
represented the film well.
- When it came to the magazine, the feedback I received held similarities with the poster. Many people mentioning things on
my font, mostly aiming for the main coverline. I had been advised by my target audience that the main coverline colour
seemed to be slightly too bright to connote a horror film which drew my attention to the colour theme. Again, I received
good positives that noted my masthead could be seen as iconic by using the backwards ‘E’, the ripped cover created depth
and that the cover, overall, suited my target audience.
- Lastly, we ran a screen test for our trailer in order to receive feedback from our target audience. We received improvements
around areas such as our titles not revealing enough about out storyline, the music being slightly jumpy and not flowing as
well as it could with our shots. We also were told to edit the running scene further as it was clear when we had stopped and
started recording. On the other hand, we were complimented on our use of camera and our exploration into different shots
to make the trailer more interesting.

5. FOUR: USE OF FEEDBACK
- When I received these improvements from the audience, I looked to change these things to achieve interest from them. I
edited my poster according to had been suggested. I re-positioned the release date as to not cover the image too much
and further separated the ‘from the producer of’ line to create a less harsh look on the viewers eyes. I further started to
play around with the dark misty overlay as to not cover too much of my main image. I am very happy with my finished
film poster, I believe I took into account what the audience wanted and changed what was necessary to fit and interest
them. I believe I have made clear the genre of the film through the use of editing when creating this product.
- For my magazine cover, I received lots of feedback about the colour use. This made me want to show connection
between the film poster and magazine cover after collecting this information. I then decided to use the same dark shade
of red on both products. I was further told that the coverline of my competition on the cover was hard to read next to the
white background but was unable to change this due to Photoshop difficulties, something I could’ve improved while
crating my products and should’ve taken not of, however I am happy with the outcome of this product and believe I
achieved what my target audience wanted, however, believe I should've spent more time identifying the genre of the
magazine by using darker colours with nice clear text.
- Lastly, our trailer received a lot of positive and negatives comments, allowing us to edit accordingly. Before the test
screening, our group were aware of what we were looking to change in our trailer, however, after hearing our classmates
comments helped us realise we had been too critical on ourselves and showed us that we needed to change smaller
things we originally didn’t see. After the feedback was given, we changed and edited the music to fit every shot and
edited in rises to create pace when it was needed. We further went on to raise the volume of peoples conversations as it
was noted that they were difficult to hear over the music we selected. Overall, the finished product has been made to the
best of our abilities and conveys the horror genre clearly. The rises in the music create a fast pace which further adds
suspense to the trailer. All of our group are happy with outcome and believe it fits out target audience accordingly.