Audience Questionnaire

In our questionnaire we are going to include questions that ask for the general public opinion about different styles of Horror films. We are hoping that once we have collected the finished questionnaires and analysed the data we will be able to use this evidence to discover what the audience would prefer to see within a Horror film. This information should then help us as a group to create a successful opening to a Horror film.


We used Microsoft Word to create out questionnaire as this enabled us to create a simple questionnaire which is all that we needed for the time being. Once the questionnaire was completed we printed out 20 copies of it and handed them out to people within our media class.


Here is a sample of our questionnaire:


1. What gender are you?
Male        Female


2. What age range do you fall into?
Under 12    12-14   15-18   19-25   26-50   51+


3. Would you watch a Horror film?
Yes         No


4. The majority of 'Horror' films you watch are rated what age?
12    15    18    R+


5. How often do you watch 'Horror' films each month?
5 or under   6-10   11-15   16-20   21-25   25+


6. Favourite elements of a Horror film?
Suspense    Blood/Gore    Psychological    Death    Supernatural


7. Which age group do you think Horror films are aimed at?
Under 12   12-14   15-18   19-25   26-50   51+


8. What is your favourite Horror film?
________________________________________


9. What do you expect from a Horror film?
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________


10. What emotion do you expect from a Horror film?
Fear    Sadness    Anger    Happiness    Lust    Shock


Analysis


I produced all the following graphs by putting the results onto Microsoft excel, and then selecting the results question by question and using the graph tool to create a variety of different styles of graphs in order to present our results.


Question 1.

According to previous research based on this genre it has been discovered that the majority of people who watch horror films are in fact male. These recordings have, over time, come to be seen as the stereotypical view of horror films, therefore indicating that males enjoy horror films more than females do.

Due to the fact that the majority of people we asked to complete our questionnaire worked within our media group, our results were really inevitable because there are more females in our class than males, although this could also prove that more females are watching horror films nowadays because the females within our class agreed to take part in the questionnaire and they would not have been able to do so if they did not watch any films within this genre.

This links in with the 'Cultivation Theory' which states that the more you watch something, in this case 'Horror' films, the less sensitive you are towards them. Therefore this could prove that as 'Horror' films become increasingly popular, women are watching more of them, therefore becoming less sensitive towards the gore and violence included in the films, causing them to watch even more of them.

After analysing question number one it is clear that not only should we create an opening sequence that targets men, but we should aim to attract women as well, as they are becoming an increasingly significant consumer of the 'Horror' film industry.

Question 2.

From the data I have collected you can clearly see that the majority of people who completed our questionnaire belonged within the 15-18 years margin.

Unfortunately our questionnaire wasn't distributed evenly, and therefore the likelihood of this occurring was high, although as our target audience would probably be people around this age, there are some benefits of this, as we now will know what this age group thinks would make a successful horror film, and can now tailor to their wants/needs.

Question 3.

          

We can use the data from this question to see if people within this age group would in fact watch a horror film if we were to produce it, if not there would be no point in continuing to create this because we would have no demographics and therefore it would be a waste of time and money that could be spent creating something else that would be worth while.

Question 4.

We used this question to receive data that would inform us as to how graphic our film could be, as the older the age rating is, the more graphic and scary the film actually is.

Our results show that everyone we asked watches either 15 or 18 rated films, the majority being 18. This shows us that we need to make films that are suited for people around this age, which is around our target age group anyway, which makes it far easier to do.

Question 5.

This question links with question 3 in the idea that they would both produce data to do with if people would watch the film we create or not. From these results we are able to see how popular horror films are and how often our target audience watches them. A large majority of people said that they watched horror films 5 times or less each month, with the next highest result being between 6 and 10 times. This shows that although people don't watch many horror films each month, they still watch a couple when they can, therefore it is likely that people will watch the film that we will create so there is need for it on the market.

Question 6.

This question was asked in order for us to discover what our target audience actually thought made a successful horror film. By doing so we would then be able to incorporate these elements into our final product and hopefully create a successful piece.

The results show that the most popular element of horror films is blood/gore, closely followed by psychological elements. This indicates that we should definitely attempt to include these elements within our product in order to create a successfully scary horror film.

Question 7.

This question was another one linked with knowing the right target audience for our product. Our initial thought was that our target audience was between 15 and 18 years old, and this was proved by this question as the results show that most people we asked to complete our questionnaire think that horror films are aimed at between 15 and 18 year olds.

Question 8.

This question was an open-ended question that we asked so that we could take into account the films that some people within our target audience enjoy, as if people enjoy them then they must be successful horror films, therefore we can compare our ideas to the ideas within these films, so that we can ensure that our product is also successful.

The results of this question were:

Dorian Gray - 1

Saw - 10

Wrong Turn - 3

Paranormal Activity - 3

Sweeney Todd - 1

The Crazies - 1

Amityville Horror - 1

These results show that there is a clear favourite within our target audience, Saw. Therefore this indicates that our target audience prefers films like this, films that include a lot of gore and creepy/disgusting situations, suspense and shock, so we should include elements of these within our product.

Question 9.

This question was also open-ended, and was asked so that we would gain more of an insight into what our target audience expects from a horror film. This would therefore make it easier to create a plot for our project that would in fact be enjoyable for our audience to watch, which would make it successful.

The results of this question were:

Sickened - 1

Unexpected - 2

Tension - 1

Blood/Guts - 5

Supernatural - 2

Scary - 3

Jumpy - 1

Suspense - 2

Death - 2

Realistic - 1

These results indicate that people see 'blood/guts and scary' as important factors of a horror film, and therefore we should incorporate those into our product. Also these results show that people aren't really interested in the film being realistic, as long as it isn't really obvious that it is fake, and it is believable enough to scare them.

Question 10.

This question was added in order for the group to gain an understanding of what emotion the characters within our project, so that we can create the atmosphere that goes with this emotion and therefore hopefully cause the audience to feel this too.

The result of this question was that half of the people we asked felt that the most expected emotion from a horror film is fear, and the second most popular was shock, so this means we should incorporate those emotions into our film.

Deconstruction of Superbad

We decided to de-construct the opening scene of 'Superbad' because it is within the 'Comedy' genre, so it is the opposite to the 'Horror' genre. Therefore we need to make sure that if we use slight humour within our main task that we don't accidentally create a 'Comedy'.

The opening scene of 'Superbad' is similar to the other openings we have deconstructed because it shows the names of producers and cast etc, but instead of showing these names over the film they include silhouettes of the characters dancing in a variety of colours, on a colourful background.

All of the stills within this opening scene are pretty similar in that they all include the silhouettes and during this opening the song 'The Bar-Kays - Too Hot To Stop' is being played. This is an upbeat tempo, creating a happy and relaxed atmosphere, preparing people for a good, funny film.

The bright colours of each still also indicate that this is going to be a light hearted film that will make you laugh. These are all indications that this film is going to be a successful 'Comedy'.


The still that introduces the name of the film 'Superbad' is on a bright yellow background, and the writing is in a dark green font so it stands out from the yellow but continues to fit in with the colourful scheme. There is also a silhouette of one of the characters in purple dancing around on the screen which livens up the whole shot.


The fact that all the characters are dancing indicates that they are all happy people, because if someone is upset or scared they tend to avoid things like dancing and smiling, therefore meaning that they must be cheerful, which is generally what people expect from characters in a comedy.

Deconstruction of Secret Window

We decided to de-construct the beginning of 'Secret Window' because it is within the genre 'Thriller', and these films are often very similar to 'Horror' so we need to be able to distinguish the differences between them.


The opening scene is similar to 'The Grudge' in that something happens before any names of the cast or producers are shown, but different because what happens isn't quite as drastic.


First Still
The first still is of the main character, it is a close up of his face, therefore allowing the audience to see his expression and react to his feelings. It is quite a dark shot, which adds to the intensity of the still, making us focus on his facial expression. During this shot we can hear the sound of the rain hitting the car, and the windscreen wipers, then the non-diegetic sound of the character's thoughts and the car as he drives away. The background noise you hear is quiet compared to the character's thoughts, this also adds intensity to the shot, and makes sure that we are all focused on the character and not the sound of the car or the rain. This adds tension as well because everything else is so quiet, therefore unnerving the audience.


Second Still
This still is the main part of the opening scene, it shows us the main character breaking into a motel room to find a man and woman in bed together. At the sight of the main character, the people in bed are startled and jump up, this is followed by what looks like arguing, then the main character turns away, obviously upset, and puts his hand on his head to conceal his face. This is a strong scene, because it includes a lot of emotions, and but barely any sound. In fact the only sounds we do hear in this shot are muffled. We hear loud wind, and then a muffled but still quite loud shout..and then deep music kicks in. This adds confusion to the list of feelings that the audience would be experiencing, as they are uncertain of what has just happened, and uncertainty often leads to nervousness and tension.


Third Still
In this still we are shown a distant view of the setting. This shot is much brighter than the previous ones. We also see Johnny Depp's name in the centre at the bottom of the screen, this is written in white, which adds to the brightness because white is a vibrant shade. As we see this we hear the same deep music playing throughout. This shot reassures the audience that nothing is going to happen for the time being, and that it is safe for them to become relaxed and comfortable, even though the deep music is quite unnerving.


Fourth Still
This shows a closer shot of the setting. It is still quite a bright shot, but compared to the previous one it is slightly duller. It also includes writing in the centre at the bottom of the screen, but it is the name of the film, 'Secret Window' and was written in white but then changed to red, which could indicate that something good turns bad, as white is seen as a good, pure colour whereas red is usually associated with danger and violence. This shot also has the deep music being played throughout it.


Fifth Still
This is a shot of an open cabin window. This is quite a dark shot and includes writing in the centre at the bottom of the screen, 'Production Designer Howard Cummings' written in white. As we see this we hear the same music playing through it, except it is not becoming quieter, preparing the audience for something to happen.

Sixth Still
In this shot we see the main character wearing a jumper that has a large hole in the shoulder, and with messy hair. Also there is writing in the centre at the bottom of the screen reading 'six months later'. This indicates that within those last six months the main character has let him self go, and doesn't pay much attention to life anymore, this is a very negative start to the film. It is also a dark shot, which could show that he is very upset or depressed and therefore doesn't want to be in a room full of light. During this shot we hear someone knocking at the door, and then the door unlocking. We can also hear birds chirping and a sigh from the main character. This creates questions such as 'who is at the door?'.

Deconstruction of Saw VI

We decided to de-construct the beginning of 'Saw VI' because it is another well known 'Horror', so it includes all the necessary features that make a successful film within this genre.

This film is different to 'The Grudge' in that this horror includes more blood and gore, whereas 'The Grudge' is more of a psychological horror.

First Still
The first still shows one of the companies that was involved in the production of this film. The word 'Lionsgate' is surrounded by what looks like red clouds, and the rest of the screen is black. These colours on their own indicate dark images and blood/danger. As you watch this shot progress, you hear gears grinding and the gate opening. These are sounds that aren't very pleasing to the ear, they are quite creepy sounds that can send shivers up your spine.

Second Still
This still shows another company that was involved in the production of this film 'Twisted Pictures'. This time the background is completely black, and the name of the company is white, and has barbed wire twisted around it. During this still, you hear nail grinding, scratching sounds, that tend to give people shivers.

Third Still
In this shot you see a cockroach crawling up a girls hand. This is a very dark shot, making it difficult to clearly see objects within the scene. At this moment in the film all you can hear is the sound of high pitched machinery at work. This isn't a pleasant sound, which causes tension.

Fourth Still
This still shows more names of people who were involved in the production, with a dark background, and what appears to be the silhouette of clouds in amongst the darkness. As this is shown, we hear high pitched creek and what could be a door opening. This are creepy sounds, and are unpleasant to hear, therefore putting people on edge and creating a tense atmosphere.


Fifth Still
In this shot we see a large set of scales, on one end is a section of fat that a man has just cut off of his body, on the other is a woman's arm. These are horrid images that cause people to feel quite sick, also it is a gory scene and therefore will make some people feel the need to look away. This doesn't really frighten people, it just makes them feel disgusted and sickened, which is the main idea in this style of horror. Whilst we watch this horrific scene we hear panting and groaning, whining as the scales tip, the timer clicking as their time is up, and then a drilling sound and lots of screaming as the man dies painfully. These are all unpleasant sounds, which added with the horrific images creates a very disturbing, yet successful scene.


Sixth Still
This is the title shot, it introduces the film 'Saw VI' in white writing, up against a black background, similar to the other shots that include writing. As we see this we hear fast paced music, drumming, and the sound of machinery. The fast pace of this music creates excitement and tension, causing people to feel nervous about what is to come.

Deconstruction of The Grudge

We decided to de-construct the beginning of 'The Grudge' because it is a well known 'Horror' film, and therefore includes all the features of a typical film from this genre.

The opening scene really sets the scene, and prepares people for the rest of the film, so it needs to include things that will frighten the audience, otherwise it will become an unsuccessful film.

First Still
The first still gives an overview of what is going on, so that people can understand the film fully, making it possible for them to access the full potential of the horror this film can provide. The background colour is black, which is the darkest shade achievable, which links to the whole idea of a dark story, and dark stories are generally more frightening than others. The writing in white stands out against the black, indicating to people that it is necessary for them to read it if they are to understand the plot to the full extent.
There is also an intense background sound of someone breathing deeply, this is played through the first couple of clips, the effect of this is that they create tension.

Second Still
This still sets the scene, it shows the city and all the people in it, we can hear the sounds of the traffic and builders working. This creates a sense of reality and makes the film easier to relate to, which again makes it more frightening because it leads people to believe that this could happen to them personally. It creates conflicting emotions for the audience as they are still tense from the previous scene, but reassured by this familiar setting.

Third Still
This still shows the first dramatic scene of this film. It shows the first character that we come across throwing himself off of a high balcony. We can still hear the sounds of distant traffic, but then it moves onto a woman talking to the man who is about to kill himself in a very casual tone. She asks him 'Are you okay?' and says 'You're up early today' trying to create a conversation. We also hear his name, we causes us to become more familiar with him, making it possible to make a bond with the character, but before we can fully understand him, he commits suicide. We hear the sounds of air rushing past him and then the sound of him hitting the ground, and what could be bones cracking and blood splattering. It is a disturbing idea, and completely eradicates any feelings of reassurance we got from the previous still.

Fourth Still
The fourth still shows the man who killed himself lying on the ground in the middle of the street, and then other civilians stopping what they are doing to investigate what has just happened. You can see blood on the ground, surrounding his head. During this image you can hear whispering and a sharp-high pitched noise. These sounds are quite disturbing, because whispering is quite a creepy sound and high pitched sounds tend to make people feel uneasy and on edge.

Fifth Still
The fifth still includes the film title. 'The Grudge' is written in black, which contrasts to the blood-red colour of the background. The colour red is generally associated with danger and anger, which links the colour of the background to the events that occur within the film. Leading up to this shot are sounds of running water and eerie music playing through it, it sounds as if something is crawling through a puddle, which creates horrific images in the minds of the audience, therefore putting them on edge, and then as the title appears the sound of someone breathing in deeply returns.

Sixth Still
This still is set in the house of a woman, and it shows an old woman and her carer sitting in one of the rooms. As we are watching this, we see the names of the executive producers come on screen in the bottom left corner, written in red, which continues the theme of anger/danger. All we hear is the carer trying to talk to the woman.

Deciding the Genre

After having a group discussion including ideas of what we could use in an opening scene for a film, we came to the conclusion that 'Horror' would be the best genre to work with.

Reasons for choosing 'Horror'
- we can experiment with special effects
- the use of camera angles and shots
- the use of sound
- we would be able to get a reaction from the audience


Examples of existing Horror films
- The Grudge
- Saw
- The Amityville Horror
- Dawn of the Dead                             
- The Exorcist



It will be difficult to create tension and the right atmosphere for the audience, but by doing our individual research and working together as a team we believe we can create a successful horror opening scene.

AS Media - Main Task

Emma Uddin, Sarah Whitehouse, Rebecca Ivan and myself have decided to stay together as a group to complete the main task, as our preliminary task was a success.

Here are the other members' blogs:

http://emmamediablog.blogspot.com/


http://www.becca-beccasmediablog-becca.blogspot.com/


http://www.sarahsmediaas.blogspot.com/