Lucy-Anne Richardson

Evaluation Questionnaire

This questionnaire is designed to assess the products created for “The Swarm” film including

the trailer, poster and magazine front cover. The answers the participants give will go

towards audience feedback.

1. Give three strengths and three weaknesses of “The Swarm” film poster.

Participant 1

Strengths -

The red eyes on the poster stand out when you first look at it. It shows straight away

what type of film it will be such as scary/horror. It also links in with the red on the

ring which could tell the audience that the ring is an important part of the film.

I like how the model is staring straight into the camera or audience. This makes you

feel uncomfortable and again shows the genre as a happy film would probably have

someone laughing or hugging etc.

The logos at the bottom of the page look professional. Especially as you have used

your own logo. This perhaps could be advertising as well.

Weaknesses -

The words underneath the title are slightly hard to read. If the poster was on the

side of a moving bus for example, there may not be enough time to read it. Maybe it

could have been put in a different colour such as red.

It is quite simple, there could have been something scarier shown such as something

in the background.

Although the black and white has been used because of the horror genre, it seems

too plain as the background is also black and white.

Participant 2

Strengths -

The black and white background is effective as it looks like smoke.

The red eyes really stand out. You also know that something is going to happen to

the girl shown because of this.

‘June 25’ is really easy to read which is good as everyone will know when it is being

released.

Weaknesses -

The title seems plain, maybe a black colour could have been used with an edge

rather than white as white does not seem scary or horror related.

Lucy-Anne Richardson

Can only read the names at the bottom when you look closely

Logos need to be bigger.

Participant 3

Strengths -

The title looks smudged which is quite effective (like smoke for example).

Her eyes are quite scary and look as if she is looking at you (audience).

The “based on a true story” makes it scary as you want to know what actually

happened, so you would want to go and see it.

Weaknesses –

Black and white is too dull; however with colour it might make it look less scary.

Cannot read the writing underneath the film title.

The model could have been doing something rather than standing straight on.

Participant 4

Strengths –

The background is cloudy, makes it look like something is there but you don’t know

what.

The lines going down her face look really effective.

‘June 25’ is easy to read.

Weaknesses –

Writing at the bottom is difficult to read.

Logos aren’t big enough to see.

The title should have been bigger in size.

2. Would you read the magazine? (Answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ with optional

explanation)

Participant 1 – Yes

Participant 2 – Yes (The price is reasonable for a film magazine)

Participant 3 – No (It does not show any other images other than the one film)

Participant 4 - Yes

Lucy-Anne Richardson

3. How did you feel when you were watching the trailer? Would you go and

pay to see it in the cinema?

Participant 1 – The music was quite creepy, especially when there was a loud knock at the

door. Yes I would go and see it in the cinema as I like scary films like this, without the blood

and gore.

Participant 2 – I think I understand the storyline because of the newspaper clipping shown.

From this I would go and see it at the cinema.

Participant 3 – The beginning of the trailer (the happy sections) seemed to go on for too

long, I wanted the scary bits to come in quicker and faster. I would question whether I

wanted to pay for it.

Participant 4 – I loved the candles in the trailer; the location such as the fireplace was quite

effective as it looked old and scary.

4. Put an ‘X’ against the effect you liked most within the trailer (if unsure,

‘X’ the ‘Unsure category’.

- The flashing images (such as the newspaper article) X X

- The cross dissolve (going towards the stairs) X

- The knock at the front door

- The text such as “Based on true events” X

- The scream at the end

5. How well does the trailer, poster and magazine cover link together?

Participant 1 – They all go well together because of the colours used (black background etc.)

Participant 2 – Yes because the same girl is shown in each one.

Participant 3 – Yes however, the colours in the magazine don’t all match the poster (the

yellow seems too bright).

Participant 4 – They all link somehow which I think is a good idea as you automatically know

what the film is when you see one of them. However, a different image of the girl could

have been used in the magazine, maybe of the actress herself rather than the character.

Thank you for completing this questionnaire.