Research into target audience - Miss Miller

My research was carried out so I could get an idea as to what types of aspects of thrillers the general public prefer, giving myself a wider output as to what conventions  I and my group should include into our opening sequence. I asked 40 people as having a larger sample of people answering the questions gives me a bigger insight into what aspects people would expect in thriller films. I will use the results to alter my opening sequence as I will cater the opening sequence to the most popular aspects mentioned.

The questionnaire -

1) Please specify your gender:

Male   

Female           

2) What is your age?

11-14            

15-17

18+

                       

3) Do you like the thriller genre?

Yes                 

No                  

Sometimes    

4) What type of thriller do you enjoy?

Psychological

Action            

Crime             

Other             

5) What type of settings/ environment do you prefer to see in a thriller film?

Forest

Deserted house/warehouse

Abandoned outside area, for example car park

Other

6) What gender protagonist do you prefer?

Male

Female

7) What type of weapons do you like to be seen & WHY?

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…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

8) What type of soundtrack do you like to hear in thriller sequences and WHY?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

9) Do you like to see gore when watching thriller films?

Yes

No

Sometimes

10) Do you prefer your antagonist to have a hidden identity or to be seen throughout the film and WHY?

Hidden identity

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Seen throughout

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Pie chart analyse

Question 1

The results shown for question one states that I questioned more females to that of males (43% males, 57%). Although both males and females were questioned, with only a minor difference between the number of those asked in both gender groups,  more females were questions. Due to this I need to consider how this affects the later questions and results given, as the results given may cater slightly more towards female viewers, therefore the results may differ to that of if the more males were questioned to that of females. Both question 1 and 2s purpose is to establish who the questions are being asked to, in which I intend to gather results from both males and females, and focus mainly upon those aged between 15-17, which I believe has been achieved (refer to segment below). 

Question 2

The results I gathered for question 2 state that the majority of those questions come under the age category of 15-17. This should make the results for the later questions more representative to what I am trying to investigate as the age certificate my group and I have decided upon is 15; therefore we are gathering feedback from those in the target audience we intend to cater the sequence towards. By knowing this, we can incorporate aspects into our opening sequence which are present within films that have a BBFC rating of 15, making it so there is fewer that we can't actually include, possibly resulting in the final product seeming more realistic and conventional to the thriller genre as we can include things such as violence that will make that happen.  

Question 3

The result for question 3 show that the majority of those questioned either answered yes or sometimes (80%) to if they like the thriller genre. Because of this, the majority of the results shall be applicable to what I am trying to investigate as the most of the peopled questioned do like the thriller genre. If the participants majority of the participants responded back saying that they don't like the thriller genre, the results gained would be irrelevant as to what we are trying to investigate with the questionnaire itself. However, as 33% f those questions like thrillers "sometimes" and are not full out thriller fans, I must consider this when it comes to analyzing the answer given to following questions, as if I am going to alter anything due to the answers given they not be representative as to what is trying to be investigated, making them not  "fully" representative, further by the fact that 20% of those don't like thrillers at all.

Question 4

The results for question 4 show that the most popular sub genre of  thriller is psychological. This is good as the opening sequence my group and I intend to create will have psychological elements to it, therefore there is no need to alter or change any ideas or concepts we intended to include as it is the most popular sub genre given within the answers.  The second favorite genre which is specified is action, which is also helpful as we also intend to have action elements to the sequence also; incorporating the two most favored types of sub genre specified (Psychological and action). As the target audience that we are catering the opening sequence towards is for those 15 and over, the BBFC age certificate shall be 15, allowing for action filled segments in, in which there isn't much that can't be included because anything which would surpass such a rating, we would not be capable of filming/ producing regardless. For the psychological aspect in relation to the age certificate, it will enable my group and I to incorporate mentally frightening/puzzling things that the audience want, as establish with the results shown. 

Question 5

The results for question 5 show that the majority of those questions prefer a deserted house/warehouse as the setting in there thriller films, followed by abandoned area and forest. As this is so, we shall incorporate all of these locations into the opening sequence, therefore it caters towards the target audience intended. The location which we originally planned on using was a deserted area, rather than being specific to a house/warehouse, therefore as it is the 2nd most popular option and complies with what is already planned we shall continue with the original plan. As both top options are very similar, yet one is specific to two places, it doesn't matter in the grande scene of things which one I chosen,  as the question was multiple choice, those that answered the both questions essentially prefers locations which are quiet/deserted, therefore as long as the final location chosen complies with this, being specific towards a warehouse/house in not an issue. The locations most commonly given are conventional to the thriller genre also, therefore incorporating them  

Question 6

 The results of question 6 shows  that the majority of those questioned prefer there protagonist to be a male.  Although, the results of this question may not be applicable when it goes to filming the opening sequence, due to the narrative itself, which is also influenced by the number of those within a group, therefore they may not in fact be a protagonist within the opening sequence due to there only being an antagonist and victim. The narrative is influenced by how many characters within and how many people can take part in the production, Although if that is not the case and the narrative chosen does have a protagonist within, a male shall be used to follow the request of the target audience, also following the conventions within the thriller genre. 

Question 7

The results of question 7 show that the most popular type of weapon  chosen by those questioned was a gun, followed shortly by a knife. This is most probably as both of which are common iconography in thriller films, by knowing such we shall have both types of weapon present during the sequence to please the target audience and to follow common thriller conventions. If my group and I were to incorporate a gun into our narrative, it would not be possible to film with an actual firearm, therefore we would have to use a replica, to which it could degrade the authenticity of the production unless it was an extremely believable and good replica. To avoid the production from having a tacky feel or appearance, the best option for my group and I to go for shall be a knife, as there is little difference between the results given by those in the target audience, it remains to be conventional to the thriller genre, and a real one can be used, therefore adding towards the realism of the production, making the opening sequence be visually appealing for the audience in regards to listening to there feedback onto what they want to see, and it will add towards the realism factor as mentioned previously. 

Question 8

The results of question 8 show that the most popular type of sound track is of a fast paced action variation, slowly followed by a slow paced tense type, then a dark eerie type. This follows the trend of the answers given previously that the most popular sub genres of thriller were psychological and action; matching with the soundtrack of slow paced tension (psychological impact) and faced paced action (action sequences). From knowing this, we shall incorporates aspects of both elements mentioned into our the opening sequence, therefore following the feedback from the target audience and providing a opening sequence that caters towards them. As the results obtained from question 8 follow the trends of previous questions asked, it reinforces the idea that the results of the questionnaire are representative as to what I am trying to investigate; finding out what the target audience specified for my opening sequence and what they expect to see within, by doing so making it seem more realistic to that of real thriller sequences. As there is little variation between answers given, an exception of fast paced action music being the highest result obtained, all types of music shall be incorporated into the sequence at some stage to accompany the themes mentioned previously however, as the most popular option was fast paced action, that particular variation will be the most present throughout, having the longest amount of film time. 

Question 9

The results of question 9 show that the majority of those questioned stated that they either like there to be gore, or they do sometimes (1/4 of those don't). Before gathering results from those questioned, my group and I didn't intend to include to much gore so that the opening sequence follows the requirements for a 15 certificate; however both can be achieve by having short segments in which gore is shown, therefore still catering towards the target audience through the results given. As a large portion of those questioned did say that they either like gore sometimes or that they do, to comply with what the target audience wants as well as following the other guild lines (such as the BBFC rating), we will try to incorporate some aspect of gore within the opening sequence, by doing so  utilizing the benefits of having a target audience aged 15 and over, incorporating gore aspects that are conventional to the thriller genre, making the opening sequence more visually appealing for the audience, by doing so adding towards the realism aspect. As 25% of the target audience do not wish to see gore within thrillers, the parts in the segment in which we will try to incorporate gore will only be reasonably short segments. However, the results of this question may not be applicable as we may not be able to incorporate gore into the sequence, due to possible complications when editing, although this wont be known until we start the production. 

Question 10

The results given at question 10 state that slightly more people prefer the antagonist of the sequence to not have a hidden identity. However, as the difference in response shown is not significant enough to alter anything already planned in the narrative/sequence, therefore we shall still give our antagonist a hidden identify as the results given do not make me question not doing otherwise. Although, as the results given in the final question asked do not have an out right amount, the results of this question show that it is dependent on personal taste, rather than following a popular trend. However, as within the opening sequence the aim is to follow the feedback given by the target audience, while doing so making the opening sequence follow the conventions of thriller films. Due to this, I will most probably make the antagonist of the narrative have a hidden identity due to not receiving and outright response by the target audience, and it is conventional to the thriller genre, and the enigma created will assist with adding a dark, eerie feel to the opening sequence. 

Vox plots

Here are the 3 box plots I recorded of volunteers taking part in answering the questions provided in the questionnaire. The purpose of the vox plots is so that there is video evidence of volunteers answering the provided questions, rather then having no evidence of doing such.

(Vox plot 1, 2 and 3)

Conclusion 

I have found the research that I have conducted useful as I now have a better perception as to what the target audience want to see in the sequence, what they would expect to see, and what they wish to see; be doing so enabling me to alter things to co-inside with the feedback given. By following the feedback of the target audience, making the sequence more visually appealing, it will add towards the realism factor of the production.  As mentioned in the pie chart analyse, I shall incorporate the results of the such into our thriller sequence by adding/removing aspects which received the most amount of feedback via the volunteers responses.  If I was to carry out the research again, I would change some of the questions so they are more specific as to elements which I intend to be in our sequence, rather than just thrillers in general, as it would provide with more concise results.