Recently we met with our Media teacher to get some feedback on our Blog. We videoed the whole event, finding out both what positive things he had to say about our work, and discovering some key areas where we could improve our blog. We hope to take on board all of the advice we have been given, and hopefully continue to improve our work!
Research into potential target audience
Our choice
We have chosen to produce an opening sequence within the genre of horror. The reasons for our choice come from the research that we have carried out over the few last weeks. We have also selected a target audience of teens. We felt that horror was better for us to choose than thriller because:
- Having looked at existing opening sequences, many thriller sequences take place outside with establishing shots from high up using a crane to show location. We do not have this equipment available to us so we feel we wouldn’t be able to produce an opening which consists of the common features of the thriller genre
- Also, having looked at past student work, filming outside seems to be of a lower quality than inside filming and since many thriller title sequences are outside this could prove to be a problem which makes us believe that we could produce a horror sequence to a higher standard than a thriller sequence
- Our survey results show that horror is the most popular genre with our target audience
- The survey also helped us to decide our target audience; looking at the results we could see mainly teenagers answered the survey so they will be the target audience and we will consider this when we create our product.
As a sub genre we have chosen to create the title sequence to a psychological horror as we have had some ideas about storylines that fit into this sub genre.
Deciding the Genre of our Film?
Following on from the research that we have completed in to film openings, and the production of mood boards for each of the most common genres within film, we have began to consider what genre we wish our film opening to belong to. To help us to make this choice, I have analysed the results of the questionnaire that was posted previously, regarding film genre. This is a questionnaire that myself and Esther asked several members of our families and friends to fill out, in order to find out what type of films people like. Equally the creation of this, was aimed to help us discover if there was a correlation between certain age groups or genders and film genre, and furthermore to begin to identify our own target audience. The questions included in our survey can be seen in the image below…
Survey Findings-
Target Audience:
The first thing that this questionnaire revealed to us was that the majority of the people we knew, who had taken our survey were between the ages of 11 and 20, making them primarily of the adolescent age bracket. Given this, we have decided that it would perhaps be a good idea to make our film suitable for people who are of this age. This survey has allowed us to recognise the likes and the dislikes of this age group and we will be able to, if need be, access people of this age once more quite easily to complete further research in to our target audience (as collectively, we know more people between the ages of 11 and 20 than of any other age). Although, we will do some further research in to target audience, at present this survey indicates that people aged between 11-20 would be the best age group for us to direct our coursework toward.
Genre:
Following on from this, the results of our survey have revealed to us that the favourite and most commonly watched genre of film for people within our target group is horror. This has suggested to myself and Esther, that if we are to make our film for this particular collection of people that the genre of film we should opt to make should be horror, as it would be the genre they were most interested in. Such an idea was further emphasised by the responses collected from people, when we asked them what their favourite film was. The responses to this question included many horror films such as, ‘Carrie’, ‘The Shining’ and ‘Jennifer’s body’, which further indicated that we should opt to make a film belonging to this genre.
Popular title sequences
I found a list online of popular title sequences and I have looked at three of these to get an idea of what appeals to an audience and what makes a title sequence popular and memorable.
This sequence from Lord of War is almost like a short film in itself, following the production and life of a bullet which fits in with the storyline about an arms dealer. The sequence if predominantly in a point of view shot from the view of the bullet which is unusual and disorientating to the viewer, particularly when the bullet is packaged and the screen goes dark, only to open up in a completely new location. There is little editing at the sequence is essentially one long shot which when used alongside the point of view shot helps the viewer to feel as though they are going on a complete and continuous journey with the bullet.
This sequence has a few different locations the weapons factory to a war zone. Ironically, the brightest and most colourful location is also one of the most dangerous, the war zone and the safer location, the factory, is darker and the colours and much less vibrant. This fits in with the contrapuntal relaxing and calm music that plays throughout the sequence, lulling the viewer into a false sense of security.
Right at the end of the sequence the bullet flies into the head of a young boy. This shock tactic ensures the attention of the viewer as the film begins. This shocking event also marks the end of the title sequence and the beginning of the film and actual storyline.
The titles in this sequence blend into the different locations such as the font of the film title, ‘Lord of War’ which is in the same gold metallic of the bullet. The titles are put up in the moment with the least actions e.g. the darkness when the box is closed which ensures that they aren’t ignored. They are written in block capitals, in the centre of the screen with the most important information in a larger size than the rest of the writing.
This is a dark opening sequence and such is the tone of this film. It introduces some of the key elements of the film such as technology which is represented through the recurring use of wires, violence which is shown through the gag, the punch and the grabbing hands and passion which is shown through the kiss. The black oil which seems to cover everything in the clip could show the deceit, lies and covering up which are common themes throughout the film.
This sequence is fast paced and includes a great number of short shots which work alongside the dark colours and the seeming never region with no specific or identifiable location to make the viewer feel uneasy. The music is fast and intense with the singer sounder passionate and dramatic which represents the protagonist of the story. So many of the themes and elements of the story and presented in this clip that it almost seems to be a map of the protagonists mind.
The titles in this clip are very simplistic in a subtle font, white and rather small but their contrast with the black background and general dark colouring allows them to stand out without taking away from the power and intense imagery.
Although this title sequence doesn’t conform to the usual rules and restrictions of title sequences as the actors are introduced by their characters names and not their own, it was still one of the favourite title sequences on the poll. It’s popularity is most probably due to the clever editing that is used within this clip. Graphic matches and other editing techniques are used to link together a number of different clips and make the transitions smooth which gives the whole sequence a smoother finish.
The music in the clip is fast paced which matches the quick and smooth transitions between the scenes. The music is quite repetitive and consistent and plays throughout the sequence so it’s abrupt ending marks the end of the title sequence and the beginning of the film and story line.
The bold and large titles font seems to reflect the nature of the characters that they introduce. The names of the characters are used instead of the actors to give the audience a head start as the film as a complex story line which could be difficult to follow. The names come up when the character is on screen and a close up of the characters face is shown so that the audience can associate the name with their face.
Questionnaire on Genre
A Questionnaire based on the theme of Genre
Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world’s leading questionnaire tool.
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