Target Audience Update

After asking 26 differently ranged people in different audience types (gender, age, profession, etc), I narrowed my target audience down specifically demographically and psychographically. I have decided to present my findings from my questionnaire as a pie chart as I think it is the easiest visual way in which to see which target audience my film is aimed at.

I decided that when asking for an audience to complete my survey that I would ask an evenly split gender audience due to this being the fairest way in which to learn about an audience that is not specifically targeted at one sex. The reason for this is because I do not want my film to specifically target one gender audience as this will restrict the viewers of my film as opposed to targeting a large range.

I asked an audience from a range of ages, because I wanted to find information from a range of audience’s, different genders and different ages. I could not evenly split the four age ranges into 26 and therefore, I asked 14 16-21 and 12 22-26+. I asked more of a younger audience (even if only by two more people) because I felt that information from a younger mainstream film audience would benefit my target audience research further.

With regards to cinema and DVD spending, the older audience spent more money on going to cinema and buying DVD’s due to having a lot more disposable income to spend on luxuries. However, the reason I found this was apparent is because the older audience seem to go to cinema on full prices and more expensive nights (Friday and Saturday prime time nights) less often than a younger audience went to cinema more often on cheaper student nights (Orange Wednesdays and Student Film Fridays) as well as buying DVDs at full price when they first come out as opposed to a younger audience waiting until they have dropped in price, or download them cheaper off the internet, or download them for free illegally.

From this question, I can say that a younger audience is more likely to watch films through internet streaming and downloading as opposed to an older audience. However, this does not mean that an older audience does not download and/or watch films through internet streaming as a number of people from an ‘older audience’ I asked this questionnaire to answered this. I find this due to digitalisation and an older audience being under pressure (it could be said) to be able to use modern technology like the internet, iPhones, downloading, etc.

The gender difference can be seen distinctively on this question, as well as the age difference. When focusing on gender, there seems to be a distinctive difference between females liking horror films including vampires and males liking horror films including zombies. The reason I think this is, is because of the recent ‘craze’ of vampires being seen in the media (the Twilight film series, True Blood TV series, etc) as well as the recent ‘craze’ of zombies being seen in the media (Nazi Zombies video game). With regards to age, a younger audience seem to enjoy films including the above characters; however an older audience seem to enjoy a more conventional style of horror film including a mad man or a ghost film – this could possibly be because of an older audience enjoy a more traditional ‘old fashioned’

Film Voice Over Update

I read the speech out loud to see how long the speech would last - 35.27 seconds. I wanted the speech to be spoken throughout the full of my trailer however, the time scale of the speech is to short. Therefore, I have decided that the voice over will not be a continuous voice over, it will be broken down into sections which will be added over specific parts of the film trailer where they will be best fitted. Some shots, I plan on including match on action, on some shots I plan on showing a visual image that relates to the theme of the voice over (e.g the scientific theme) however, not a direct match on action shot.

Production Company animated Logo

A production company logo is a very important feature included in a film trailer as it is very likely the first and only image and audience will get of the production company. For this reason, it is important that a strong image representation is portrayed to an audience. Below are two examples of well known film company logos which are featured at the beginning of every film made by their production company, one is text based and the other text and image based. Both represent a different visual image - the UK Film Council logo represents a serious film company due to the bold lettering and use of the world 'council' being associated with politics and the government and the Walt Disney logo represents children's films and innocence due to the use of a fantasy castle and swirly fun writing.

Some film production company’s logos are specifically designed to connote a specific genre of film which they specialise in. An example of this is the film production company Twisted Pictures which produced the Saw films series as seen below. This is an animated logo played at the beginning of Twisted Pictures films. This production company specifies in creating films in the horror genre and therefore, their logo portrays this to an audience immediately with the use of barbed wire which goes around the letters of the logo as well as the name of the production company itself.

For my own film, I am choosing to create an animated logo as I feel that it would be the most conventional to be included in a film as well as it standing out to an audience when played as opposed to a still image logo. However, I will design a logo which can be drawn as a still image logo to be included on a DVD case, poster, etc but that can also be animated into a moving logo to be included in the opening sequence of the film trailer. Below is a very rough first draft of what I plan my still logo and animated logo to look like. The image is what I plan the logo to look like as a still image. When it is animated and played at the begining of the film trailer, I plan on making it so that it is animated to show the knife stabbing into the letters and blood then slowly pouring out and spilling onto the below letters.

Film Trailer Voice over

I have decided that the main sound included in my film trailer will be a non diegetic voice over which will be added over the film trailer when it is finished so that the speech fits in with certain sequences of the film trailer (match on action) and the timings of the film trailer as a whole. However, I will still included diegetic sound from certain seqeunces of the film which are included in the film trailer such as dialouge and non diegetic music as a sound track. I have written a mock up of the voice over speech I plan to use however, it is a rough draft and therefore, will be edited and altered as my film trailer progresses. Additionally, I will be writing up the speech for the character to read as an English Language transcript for the reason that this will include when the character is to pause, say specific words with emphatic stress, etc. I feel that this will make it easier for the character to read as well as making it easier for them to read the script in a way that they can act with their voice.

[Voice-over film trailer]

Female Scientist: I got my first bunch of subjects today, 5 girls and 5 boys ranging in age from 12-16…they always said the children of this generation would lead to great success, I hope more than ever this is true. Being part of the Green Cross Co-operation has succeeded to bring so many medical break throughs, even if the experimentation has seemed…inhumane. If the public ever knew what we were doing they would, they would run riot! I wonder sometimes if they would be able to look past the negative exterior of the experimentation and see the effect they have had on the greater good. But what they don’t know can’t hurt them.

I got the idea for this voice over speech specifically from the film 'V for Vendetta', directed by James McTeigue and released in 2005, from the scene where the scientest Delia Surridge is having her diary read by a police officer and she is voicing over the text written in the diary over the visual film image.

Insperation for Film Trailer

 Resident Evil, directed by Paul W.S Anderson, released 2002

The Resident Evil film trailers feature the scientifical theme as well as the government conspiracy which are included in the film. The trailers both include careful editing including technical editing software to give the trailers then professional scientifical theme to them. After watching both of these trailers, the themes and issues portrayed in the trailer is something I want to also include in my film trailer as I think they are very important aspects/themes of the film and should be included in the trailer so that the audience are aware of this.

Dead Island, Game

The emotional reaction of an audience is what drew me to inspire part of my film trailer on this trailer, even though it is for a video game. The game trailer is based on the horror zombie genre, however goes in depth with use of sound and editing to target the audience's emotions and tells a story. I would like to include this emotional aspect in my film trailer as I think it would make the film stand out contrasting with other zombie horror film trailers which usually focusing on the action/thriller aspect of the film (gun fights, zombie fights, etc).

Fonts for Title

Parent Consent Form and Release Form

One section of my film trailer will include children zombies between the age of 12 and 16. I have decided, because of the age of these characters, to write a parent consent form for the children's parents to sign to give permission for their child to be; involved in my project, for their photos to be put onto my blog (as well as the final video and the videos showing the development), for makeup to be put onto their child as well as letting the parent know how much commitment the project will take from their child.

Dear Parent/Guardian

As part of my Media Studies coursework, I am making a film trailer which I could like your son/daughter to be involved in. This would include your son/daughter:

·         Being recorded by camera and having their photograph taken and the videos/photos being put onto the internet, as well as being sent off to an exam board

·         Being involved in having make-up/face paint put onto them

·         Giving up some of their own personal time

This will be done over a period of 5 months and therefore, your son/daughter may be needed for a number of days one after another or needed for a variety of short periods of times over these 5 months. Being involved in this project needs commitment and therefore, your son/daughter must be willing to put in the time and dedication to this project.

I hope that you will be accepting in giving your son/daughter permission to be involved in this project as it will be a lot of fun for your child as well as educating if your child wants to learn about Media/Film Studies. Please tear off the bottom permission slip and hand back to me as soon as possible.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, respectfully yours,

Hannah Baxter, Wyke 6^th Form College Student

&

I wish to give consent for my son/daughter to be involved in Hannah’s A2 Media Coursework horror film trailer.                                                                                                                                                                                       I am aware of the commitment my child will need to put into this.

BLOCK CAPITALS PLEASE

Childs Name: __________________________________________

ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian’s Signature: __________________________________________________________

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

Emergency contact name:  __________________________________

Emergency contact telephone:  ______________________________________




Additonally, I have decided to create a release form to be signed by students from my college taking part. This will act like a contract which means that when a student decides to be involved, they will not be able to back out or decide they do not want to take part in the project as this is a problem I have faced in previous coursework breifs.

Dear Student,

You have been asked personally to be included in my Media A2 Coursework project, a film trailer. If you decide to accept being included in this project, you will be expected to put in the dedication as if it was your own work. This includes; learning your character’s scripted lines and turning up to all scheduled recording sessions. Failure to do so will result in your tutor teacher being informed and disciplinary actions being taken.

It must also be understood by the participants involved that all photos, recordings etc. will be put on the internet as well as being shown to various students, teachers and the exam board. Therefore, signing this permission slip means you are agreeing to having your photos taken and being recording as well as these pieces of evidence being put onto the internet.

Please do take time and read this carefully before agreeing to be involved in this project, I hope that you will agree as you will be a great addition to my cast/crew.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, respectfully yours,

Hannah Baxter, Wyke 6^th Form College Student

&

BLOCK CAPITALS PLEASE

I _______________________________ wish to be included in Hannah Baxter’s Media A2 Coursework project. By signing this permission slip, I am aware of the dedication included and accept full responsibility for discipline I may receive in result of failing to meet the project requirements

I wish to also give my consent to having my photos taken, being recorded and these pieces of work also being put onto the internet.

Signed: ___________________________________________      Date: _________________________

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Mobile Phone: _____________________________________________________________________

House Phone: ______________________________________________________________________

Email:    ___________________________________________________________________________