The document analyzes existing movie posters for action thriller films and identifies common design elements such as dark color palettes, prominent placement of lead actors' names, and depictions of action scenes. It also discusses which aspects of poster design, like using superimposed images and silhouettes, will be incorporated into the researcher's own poster. Audience research is presented which provides insights into the preferences and expectations of action thriller fans.

1. Research
Joe Hildreth

2. Existing Product
Star actor’s name written
across the top, similar silver
font to the title.
Dark clothing – matches the color
scheme of the rest of the poster
(blue and black)
Red under the title matching the
fire at the side – catches the eye
of the audience
Dark weather to match
the theme of the movie
– Pathetic Falacy.
Urban setting – modern

3. Existing Product
Keanu Reeves’ name across
the top. Very recognizable
name in modern day TV.
Written in black to contrast
the white background the
character is painted onto.
Keanu Reeves painted
onto the white
background, as if he’s
coming out of a painting.
Black and blue lettering to
match the color scheme of the
main poster.
Keanu is wearing a dark
costume. Similar to the effects
around him.

4. Existing Product
”Schwarzenegger”
written in bold red
text – allows for it to
catch the eye much
easier. Hugely
recognizable name.
Set out on a black
background –
blends the
character into the
poster.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
the “Terminator” is
super imposed giving
him a sense of power.
Already a character
famous for being
powerful.
Trademark leather
jacket, shades,
motorbike and lever
action shotgun.
Reference to the
famous chase scene
which has been
referred to in many
TV shows such as
family guy.
Names of actors across
the bottom. Not as
visible as Arnold’s.

5. Existing Product
Fire – only color – stands
out a lot, emphasis on the
title “Ashes”.
Lack of color - more
emphasis on the
“Ashes” part of the
title, light grey hue
of ash.
Dark costumes - jackets and
shirts – common trend in
action thriller movie posters.
The dark clothes contrast the
light grey.
Facial expressions varied.
Sinister smile as a gun is
pointed – other faces dead
serious.
Actors names across the
top of the poster above
the title, similar to other
movie posters.

6. Research Analysis
• What common features do the researched
products have?
• What aspects of the research will you include
within your own production work?

7. COMMON FEATURES
• Common features in Action Thrillers are the dark costumes/clothing the
actors wear. The dark clothes often contrast the background of the poster.
• The main star’s name is almost always written in bold print at the top of
the poster.
• The color palette isn’t very varied in action thriller movie posters. Lack of
color emphasizes the horror aspect of thriller.
• Action thrillers all use action to create suspense. This is done by using
continuous motion.
• Action thrillers use psychological elements.

8. Aspects of research I’ll use
• I’ll use effects on the movie poster using a superimposed picture of the
main character and a silhouette of a specter behind him.
• I’ll likely add in cast names across the front of the poster.
• I’ll use the aspect of action Thrillers that involves continuous action. Even
if it’s just a trailer, I’ll need to pace the piece quickly.
• I’ll add aspects of tension throughout the trailer such as music and
paranormal scenes such as disappearing and unnatural strength. Such
feats will include cleaver camera work and good coordination.
• Violence is often a key aspect of the action thriller genre. This is
something I’ll keenly include in my piece.

9. Audience Research

10. Primary Audience research
• Observation:
• Action Thrillers are often violent.
• What this says about my audience:
• Says that my audience find entertainment from high tension and likely
watch action thrillers for the purpose of feeling ill-at-ease because of it.
• How will your product appeal to this
audience:
• My product will involve a lot of violence and combat scenes as well as
paranormal scenes which is likely to match a lot of the expectations of
fans of the genre. A lot of these scenes involve real life fighting styles such
as karate which a lot of the action thriller audience are likely to enjoy.

11. Primary Audience research
• Observation:
• Action Thrillers are often set in a modern urban setting.
• What this says about my audience:
• Audience is likely not into medieval or historical genres, perhaps also
adults in 20s to 30s, maybe even fans of rock music as this setting matches
up to rock/pop music videos.
• How will your product appeal to this
audience:
• My product is set in a village just in the suburbs of a city. Slightly different
to usual Action Thriller which would hopefully refresh a little.

12. Primary Audience research
• Observation:
• Action Thrillers are often able to relate to a broad age range with violence
and storylines based on modern issues such as what you’d see in the
news.
• What this says about my audience:
• The audience is likely to be in the mid-teens to mature adult range.
• How will your product appeal to this
audience:
• This product will appeal to the audience because it focuses around a
teenage martial artist deal with numerous psychological issues such as
handling paranormal power and being hunted down but also the feeling of
being overwhelmed by such a situation. Relatable to teenagers going
through pressure.

13. Primary Audience research
• Observation:
• A lot of Action Thriller movies stereotypically focus on male
protagonists/antagonists.
• What this says about my audience:
• A lot of the audience is likely to be male and if relationship is at all
involved, female audience are likely enticed to watch.
• How will your product appeal to this
audience:
• My product will be psychologically based around teenage stress mixed
with friendships and conflict which will appeal to anyone who is young
whether they’re male or female. Especially if they’re into combat based
productions.

14. Audience research
• “What’s your favourite aspect of action
thriller movies?”
• - First answer I got was from someone who
watches them regularly and told me that they
love the thrill of the action. They enjoyed the
Avengers a lot which they referred to as one
of their favourite action movies and like how
the action scenes tie up a thrilling climax.

15. • Second answer I got referred more to the
characters and how they’re written. But
similarly to the first answer they also enjoy
the thrill of the action. This is something I’m
going to keep in mind when making my movie
trailer. Especially how the characters are
written. For a trailer, giving the character
personality and cause is important.

16. Audience research
“What do you expect to see from an Action
Thriller trailer?”
Aside from the blunt answer “action”, one
answer stood out from the others as one that
made me think about how to set up the trailer. It
was mentioned that a certain unique selling
point for them is a difference in a product that
sets them apart from another. Otherwise they’re
just likely to get bored.

17. Audience research
“What’s one thing you don’t like about some
movies in the Action Thriller genre?”
Three of the people I asked answered similarly
in the sense that they sometimes feel there’s no
empathy for the main character because they’re
often seasoned fighters, veterans or
overpowered being that know what they’re
doing such as in Terminator, Avengers and
Extraction.

18. Primary Audience research
• Observation:
• What this says about my audience:
• How will your product appeal to this audience:

19. Subject Research

20. Subject Research

21. Subject Research

22. Practical Research

23. Practical Research

24. Practical Research

25. Practical Research

26. Practical Research

27. Bibliography

28. Bibliography
1. Your, Name. (2018) Target Audience Research Survey (conducted on
DATE)
2. Interviewees, Name. (2018) Target Audience Interviews (conducted on
DATE)