The document summarizes feedback from a focus group of the target audience (young horror fans aged 15-18) on promotional materials created for a slasher film. The focus group preferred the original film poster over Friday the 13th's due to its clearer antagonist image and brighter colors. They also preferred the original magazine cover design over Fangoria's for having a cleaner focus on the antagonist. Finally, they thought the film trailer was effective at building tension but the ending montage could be faster-paced. The target audience feedback validated that the promotional pieces would attract and intrigue horror fans.

1. Question Three

3.  My target audience is young males and females aged between 15-18. They are a
well-educated individual who is still in school and obsessed with all things horror.
 I sought post production feedback from my target audience by carrying out a
focus group. I felt that this would be much more appropriate and useful as a
questionnaire doesn’t allow me to present my audience with my multi-media
final pieces. A focus group also enables a more in depth response and allowed
me to get a fuller idea of how my audience have responded to my pieces.
 To ensure I used true representatives of my target audience, for this focus group
I used two of the same participants of my first focus group during the research
and planning stage. This is because I knew that they are true Slasher fans and fit
exactly into the profile of my target audience. I felt also that this would enable
me to find out whether I had met their additional expectations and delivered the
products successfully to them.
 During my focus group, I presented the representatives of my target audience
with a slideshow featuring my two ancillary pieces, my film trailer and existing
posters, trailers and front covers promoting a horror film. This allowed the
audience to compare the features of the different pieces, to see the clear
symbiosis achieved and easily identify what they liked and what they thought
should be changed or improved.

4.  I firstly asked the representatives, comparing my film poster with the film poster of Friday
the 13th, which one they preferred and why. Both of them said they preferred my film
poster because the image is much clearer allowing you to get a better view of the
antagonist. They also liked the bright colour scheme as it was different and more eye-
catching. They stated that out of the two film posters, they are more attracted to the one I
created and would choose to see my film instead of Friday the 13th as they’re both scared
of clowns so this guarantees they’ll be scared whilst watching my film but also because
they are intrigued about the antagonist. This gave me confidence in what I had created as
representatives of my target audience are viewing it as more effective than an existing
professional film poster. I asked them if in their honest opinion, did they think my poster
looked like a professional film poster. They both said yes due to the effectiveness of the
fonts used, the institutional information and the high quality image. At the beginning of
this project, I chose the feature a Clown antagonist as it what I felt modern audiences fear
the most and one that has been the least played upon. The responses from my TA to my
film poster reassured me that I made the right choice in terms of playing on the fact that
modern audiences fear clowns. This was because from not only the film poster, but from
all three of the pieces they stated the most effective feature was Jackson himself and that
he was the main reason they wanted to watch the film as they knew they were
guaranteed a scare.
 I effectively broke conventions by using a bright colour scheme. I knew that this would
have been a risky choice as he could have impacted how effectively the poster presented
the Slasher sub-genre, however because of how I wanted Jackson to be presented and the
costume he would be in, it was necessary to use a bright colour scheme. The response
from my TA was positive and they both thought my colour scheme was more effective
than that of a professional film poster which was really reassuring. This informed me that
by introducing something fresh to my audience and something they’re not used to seeing
in the horror sub-genre it enhances their intrigue and the appeal of the film.

5. “Red colour scheme makes it
stand out, [Friday the 13th] is
quite dull in comparison.”
“Better focus on the main
character, it definitely grabs
your attention.”
“He’s scarier than the other
character.”
“[It’s ambiguous] so he
makes you wonder what he’s
going to do next.”
“It looks like a real film
poster, definitely.”
“The institutional
information and the fonts
make it look professional.”

6.  I then asked them about my front cover, comparing it to a Fangoria issue also
promoting Friday the 13th. They stated that they thought the Fangoria one had
too much going on and didn’t look professional even though it is a professional
magazine. They felt the background didn't compliment the image and that my
front cover allows all their focus to be on Jackson, which in turn will generate
their intrigue and curiosity about him as a character.
 They also stated that my front cover had a much better use of colour and they
would definitely buy my magazine based on the front cover rather than the
Fangoria front cover. I asked them what they liked about the two front covers
and they stated that they like how the character is hidden. They felt that both
images were quite ambiguous which makes them intrigued about the character
on the front cover. They would have to go on to buy the magazine to read more
about the antagonist.
 Initially, I was debating whether to do a Fangoria style front cover or an Empire
style one. I informed my target audience of this in an initial focus group. All
representatives stated that it an empire style magazine front cover would be
more effective. It is clear from their responses to my magazine that I made the
right decision, as all representatives preferred my front cover to the Fangoria
one.

7. “I don’t like the
[Fangoria] front cover,
the background is
really bad.”
“It focuses on the
Clown and grabs my
attention.”
“I’d definately buy the
your one, not the
second one.”

8.  After showing them my trailer for the first time, I initiated the delivery of
feedback by asking them what it was they liked about it. Katie stated that her
favourite part was the Non-diegetic sound. She said she liked the heartbeat and
thought it was very effective in building tension. They also both said that after
watching the trailer they want to watch the film. They were drawn in most by
the jump scares, action and tension building non-diegetic Hannah stated that she
thought the Jack in the Box scene was the most effective scene in the trailer as it
created a lot of tension. This was due to the sudden cut of the non-diegetic
sound allowing the audience to identify the change in the trailer. It also helps to
build tension as the audience are made aware that Amy is about to die. I then
asked them what they would change about the trailer. The only comment was
that the final montage could be a bit longer with faster cuts as it would be more
effective. I knew when watching my final trailer that the final montage could be
improved with more shots and much faster cuts.
 I then asked them how my entire promotional package could be improved.
Hannah stated that the lighting on the front cover could be a bit bright to
emphasise Jackson more but make the background a bit darker. I then asked
them which of the three pieces makes them want to watch the film the most.
They both stated that it was the trailer but you can’t really compare it to the
ancillary pieces, and they are just as effective as the trailer. They also went on to
say that they thought out of the two ancillary pieces, the Poster was the most
effective. This was because they thought they film poster was more eye catching
due to the close up image and the bright colour scheme.