JH: Audience Research: Results

JH: Audience Research: Results:

• On the first question, we set about identifying the characteristics of the surveys sample, so we can link the target audiences gender to horror film preference.
• The results showed 66% of the sample was male, whereas only 34% were female.

• The next question identified the age of our sample, which the majority (69%) of people were aged between 12 to 18 which includes the age bracket for our target audience.
• This allowed us to see which ideas are popular among the target audience regarding age.

• The third question asked the sample whether or not they enjoy watching horror films or not, the results show that the majority, 44% and 22%; enjoy and sometimes enjoy horror films respectively. 
• This figure shows how what tastes of our target audience appeal to them the most. As well as showing what doesn't appeal to people whom like and dislike horror films which will aid us to target the audience throughout the production of our film.

• After specifying the characteristics and preferences of the target audience, question 4 then asks which location out of a selection would be most effective in a horror film. When put to the target audience the majority agree that an abandoned house would definitely be most effective with 38% of people voting for it.
• This result proves pleasing for us, as our idea is based between two locations a forest and an abandoned house, now that the target audience will clearly find the abandoned house effective, this makes our production a whole lot more appealing to them accordingly.

• Question 5 involves a ranking scale which the sample rate each aspect of a horror film with a number - 1 being most important and 6 being least. The range of aspects included each area of our horror film idea, including use of titles, menacing characters, interesting plot, eerie locations, climaxes and a tense soundtrack.
• Once the sample had chosen their ratings it produces an average rating and depending on which category has the lowest number will show us which area to focus on perfecting during production. 
• The area with the best rating proved to be the tense soundtrack with 2.75, shortly followed by eerie locations at 2.91. We can gather from these figures that during filming and editing we must considerably consider and plan the instruments and timing of the soundtrack before editing. In addition to this our location has already been chosen and from opinion and through the recce, I believe the abandoned house/shack will exceed the target audience expectations.

• To find out whether or not our plot would be appealing to the target audience we devised question six to ask which out of a selection of plots they found most interesting. The plot selection consisted of a chase between a killer and their prey, a ghost story, and our chosen plot - the abduction of a boy by a psychopath.
• The results from this question proved useful as the majority of the sample being 41% opted for our chosen plot idea as the most interesting and effective plot. Which when combined with the previous questions suggests a trend of popularity of our chosen and researched ideas within our target audience.

• For our character ideas we were split between deciding upon either a slasher or a psycho. Because of this, to help influence a character decision; question seven asked which type of character would be most effective in a horror film. The answers given included the two characters mentioned as well as a selection of other characters to broaden our options.
• From the graph it is observable that a serial killer is considered less effective than expected by the target audience scoring only 16% of appeal, whereas a prisoner was surprisingly suggested, however to fit the plot and location combined with the majority vote a psycho is considerably more effective with a 56% appeal to the target audience.

• For mise-en scene in our production, we needed to see which props, locations and colours would be most effective to pay attention to in our production. This question asks that through a series of answers and a rating scale.
• The majority of results believe that knives are most effective in horror films, however due to limited shots in which we can incorporate knives without gore, we will try to incorporate the second most popular areas which was masks and location.
• From this we will try to manipulate our techniques and shots whilst filming in the abandoned house as well as inclusion of a mask to conceal the antagonists identity.

• As found in a previous question, the soundtrack in our production is the most crucial and effective thing to focus on in our production. This question we ask the target audience to specify the most effective horror soundtrack out of a selection of four categories.
• The results show that of these categories tense strings (66%) are the most effective use of soundtrack in a horror film, because of this result we will try to perfect dynamics and selection of string instruments during editing of our film.
• Silence also proved popular with a 20% vote, despite not technically being soundtrack we believe through secondary research that it can create climaxes throughout a horror film, this results shows that the audience agrees with our ideas.
• Question 10, asked about the opinions of our ideas in the view of the target audience. We gathered many positive replies, including one which suggested focusing on building and practicing climaxes to emphasize effect in our film.