Audience feedback throughout planning.

Emma Collins COWA

Audience response- Summary

Before I started my planning I needed to gather a rough idea about who my target audience was, and how will I appeal to them.On my blog I have a section dedicated to audience research, I have used survey monkey, Padlet and focus group Q&A’s to gather audience response on existing products and general audience response to gather information on peoples expectations towards the horror genre. After gathering this information I went onto my planning to begin to plan out my products, I then again used audience response to ensure I was planning products which would appeal to my target audience. After gathering an audience

response I would summarise the responses and then use them to help me create/ adjust my two ancillary products and trailer. All of my audience research is valued throughout my planning and production. I have even included it in my Evaluation.

How audience response helped me in planning:

At first I wanted to gather a clear idea on who my audience were and what they wanted. After deciding my target demographic was aimed at male and females between the ages of 15-25 I wanted to know what they liked and disliked about horror and what they expected to see. I created a focus group and asked people to watch an existing trailer, and then to comment with their responses towards it. I found that people enjoyed something that puts you on edge, and uses dark low key lighting to create tension etc. I used these responses and both features are evident in my trailer. I then filmed two people (male and female) who fit within my demographic and asked them questions about what they enjoyed about horror films and what they want to see in a horror trailer. The main response was something that creates suspense and that isn’t a ‘recycled’ story.

How audience response helped me in planning:On my planning section I have gathered multiple responses a couple of times throughout planning.

Once I had thought of a production idea and trailer plan I wanted to gather audience response on my progress so far. I created a survey monkey and used this to ask people within my target demographic what they thought I could improve on, what they liked and what they disliked. I mainly have positive feedback about my ideas, the main point of improvement was to make my trailer plan more spontaneous and different. I took this response and changed my plan making the trailer less predictable, and adding more jump scares into the plan.

I then continued with my planning for my trailer creating a script and shot list and an improved production idea. I then created an Animatic which is a mock up of a trailer, using my storyboard and the music I had gathered. I needed audience response to ensure that my trailer will appeal to my target audience. The response was constructive and positive. The only thing I needed to change when creating my trailer would be the sound and to include faster paced cuts.

How audience response helped me in planning:

When planning my ancillary products, like my trailer planning I wanted to ensure I was following conventions and following audience expectations.

I used a padlet to gather audience response on the plans, and mock up of my ancillary products. The audience response came back again positive, my target demographic said they enjoyed the use of colours and fonts and the fact they were eye catching. I also got some points of improvement to change some fonts on the magazine to make it look more professional. I ensure I used these improvements when in production.