research

1. Research
Harry Morton

2. Existing Product
Friday the 13th is a famous horror movie franchise. I am going to look at Friday the
13th part 2 because its similar to the product I want to make. Friday the 13th part 2
was made in 1981. Friday the 13th part 2 follows a story about Jason who wants to
revenge his mothers death by killing some campers. The film uses long shots and
close up to show the killer and his kills. The camera shots are simple but work. The
film specials effects really good for the time it was made. The lighting is also very
simple and the film doesn’t use it to its advantage. The props and location are
designed very well and create a scary atmosphere for the film. The costumes are
good as well and Jason looks creepy and is designed well. The font used for the title
card is designed well and fits with the film. The audience appeal for this movie is
that its good special effects and gruesome kills, which every horror fan likes.

3. Existing Product
Halloween is another horror movie franchise about the fictional kill Michael Myers.
Halloween was made in 1978. I am researching this film because it uses the camera
effectively to scare the audience and has some really good angles and camera shot
which makes the audience feel like there are getting stalked by the killer. The movie
uses POV shots and wide angle shots to achieve this effected. The location of the film
is a suburban area which makes the audience feel unsafe as well because audience
probably lives in similar area which show this could happen to them. The film
costume and props are low quality because the film only had a budget of $325,000
which isn’t a lot for a Hollywood movie but still work well, like the Michael Myers
costume is simple but still creepy and scary. The special effects are also cheap
because of the budget but also because it was made in 1978, this is why a lot of
characters had a off screen deaths because the special effect weren’t good enough.
The film use lighting really well, a specially in one scene where the killer is hiding in
the shadows and see gradually enter the scene which is terrify. When the film can
out in 1978 it was an instant classic and gain multiple sequels and reboots. The film
appeals a young adult audience that like horror films because all the main character
a young adults so it is more relatable to them. It is also very good horror film so it is a
must watch for any horror fan.

5. Existing Product
Nightmare on elm street was made in 1984 which follows the story of a young girl
who has to stay awake to avoid getting killed by Freddy Krueger, a demon which kills
people in their dreams. The movie is filmed in suburban area like Halloween which
creates the same effects that your not safe anywhere from this killer. The film also
has so interesting sets like a boiler room maze which some of the character get lost
in and is used multiple time through out the film. The film also uses good practical
effects like in one scene where Freddy drops down from the ceiling which was done
by cutting a hole through the ceiling and replacing it with latex. Another practical
effect they used was that they wanted someone to be thrown around a room so they
made a rotating room and nailed all the cameras and furniture in place and let the
actor roll around. The lighting is also used really well to thrown mask the killer at his
first appearance in the film so that its more creepy for the audience. Freddy costume
and prop weapon is well design and make him look terrify and also make him pop
culture icon because he is been parody so any times. the audience appeal for this
film is that all the main characters are teenagers which means the film is relatable to
teenagers because the main characters are the same age as the audience.

7. Existing Product
Scream was made in 1996 and follows the story of a young girl who is trying to figure
out who murder her mother and her friends. The film opening scene is one of the
best in horror film history because it tricks the audience making then think that
Drew Barrymore character is the main character but she gets instantly killed off
which surprise the audience because Drew Barrymore was in all the advertising for
the movie and she gets killed at the start. The location is also filmed a suburban area
and school area which relatable to its audience which teenager which would living in
similar areas. The film is horror comedy which poke fun at other horror movies and
there is even a bit in the film where a character is watching Halloween and he
shouting at the tv telling the person to turn around meanwhile the character in
scream has the killer coming up behind him. The films costumes are a bit silly but its
chosen that way to make the killer look stupid because a horror/comedy. The film
appeal to the audience because the film is set in the real world so all the character
know about all the famous horror movies and try to survive with that knowledge
and is relatable to audience because the characters are just normal people who like
horror films like the audience.

9. Research Analysis
• What common features do the researched
products have?
All the films I research were slashers and were filmed in suburban
areas and all the main characters were teenagers and also the last
living character is always a girl.
• What aspects of the research will you include
within your on work?
I would like to include some of the camera angles the film used
like close ups. Will also film my short film in suburban area like
these films because it works well as a setting.

10. Questionnaire Analysis

11. Audience research
• Observation: my observation is that the people who filled out
my survey were male
• What this says about my audience: This says that my audience
is mostly male
• How will your product appeal to this audience: my make my
character male so that is relatable to my audience

12. Audience research
• Observation: my observation is that the people who filled out
my survey were between the age of 16 to 20
• What this says about my audience: This says that my audience
is mostly likely is between the age of 16 to 20
• How will your product appeal to this audience: make the main
character the same age as the audience and also make the
short film suitable for that audience

13. Audience research
• Observation: my observation is that 70% people who did the
survey like horror films and 30% do not like horror films
• What this says about my audience: This means that my
audience has to like horror if they want to watch my short film
• How will your product appeal to this audience: makes sure to
make a horror film and try to find way to appeal to the people
who don’t like horror

14. Audience research
• Observation: my observation is that the people who did this
survey like supernatural elements to their horror films
because of the films they picked
• What this says about my audience: this means that most of
my audience like a supernatural element in their horror films
• How will your product appeal to this audience: try and put in
a supernatural element to appeal to the audience

15. Audience research
• Observation: my observation is that the people who don’t like
horror don’t like it because its scary
• What this says about my audience: this means that people
who are scared of horror movies will not watch my short film
• How will your product appeal to this audience: if I add a
comedy element to it, it might make less scary so that this
audience can watch it

16. Audience research
• Observation: my observation is that the people who did
the survey like a good narrative and special effects in
their horror movies
• What this says about my audience: this means that my
audience likes a good narrative and special effects in
their horror movies
• How will your product appeal to this audience: I will try
and use special effects and try and write a good narrative
so that the audience can get involved.

17. Audience profile
My target audience is age 16-20
males who like horror films.

18. Interviews

19. Interview 1
My first interview is with Adam Pearse for my FMP
Q1: If you were going to make a horror film, what would be the
most important element and why?
A: The building up of tension and jump scares because makes
the film scary and is apart of the experience.
Q2: what is your least favourite part of a horror film?
A: characters making stupid decision

20. Interview 1
• Observation:
my observation is that the audience want like the building up of
tension and don’t like stupid character decision
• What this says about my audience:
This says that my audience wants a building up off tension in my short
film and don’t want the characters making stupid decisions
How will your product appeal to this audience:
Make sure the product has the building up of tension and that the
characters in the film don’t make bad decisions so that the audience
can relate to the characters in the short film

21. Interview 2
My second interview is with Brad Hayward for my FMP
Q1: If you were going to make a horror film, what would be the most
important element and why?
A: The wide variety of camera shots and good villain because the
camera shots make it visual appealing and a good villain make the
story a lot more interesting.
Q2: what is your least favourite part of a horror film?
A: my least favourite part is jump scares because they are annoying

22. Interview 2
• Observation:
My observation is that my audience like a wide variety of camera shots
and a interesting murder in a horror film
• What this says about my audience:
This means that my audience wants a wide variety of camera shots
and a interesting bad guy to make the film more appealing
• How will your product appeal to this audience:
I will have a wide range of camera shots to make it appeal to my
audience and make the film more visual appealing and try make a
good villain so that the audience has to someone to hate throughout
the short film

23. Bibliography

24. Bibliography
Harry Morton (2020) Target Audience Research Survey (conducted on the 23th
of march)
Brad Hayward and Adam Pearse (2020) Target Audience Interviews
(conducted on the 25th of march)
Friday the 13th part 2 (1981) Steve Miner
Halloween (1978) John Carpenter
Nightmare on elm street (1984) Wes Craven
Scream (1996) Wes Craven