Actor Interview

For my trailer, I decided to do an actor interview to introduce the audience to who the actor is and how she feels about the film and genre in general. I focused on the character of the victim as she is the most prominent in the trailer. I interviewed Claudia Nixon (playing the victim) to see her thoughts about the trailer and the genre.

Do you like your character?

"I feel like my character is quite similar to who I am as a person, and to various other horror movie victims and so it has been quite easy to act in a way that is effective for the film."

Have you been able to relate to them? If so, how?

"As I said, I am quite similar to the character, so it has been quite easy to relate to the character's circumstances. The girl is a typical teenager and so being myself, with added emphasis on the 'victim' characteristics such as looking scared, was the best way to go about acting in the scenes."

What do you like the most about playing this character?

"I like that the character is similar yet different to my life. Although she is a typical teenager, she is in very different circumstances that have been interesting to explore throughout the filming."

How do you feel about acting in a horror trailer?

"I'm not really a fan of horror films so getting the chance to act in one was a different experience as I don't know much about how characters are portrayed in horror films. I found it exciting and daunting at the same time as I wanted the film to look professional, however, filming it was fun and I can't wait to see the final trailer."

If you could pick any genre to act in, which would it be? Why?

"I'm not really sure. Every genre is different and requires a different approach to the acting, which is something I like when I'm watching different films."

Do you think your character is stereotypical of the horror genre?

"From what I know about horror films, I think the character is very stereotypical of the horror genre. She is a teenager, walking on her own - something that would signify her being a typical target - and is shown to be very oblivious about her surroundings - something that is also typical of a horror victim"

Mood Board

This is the mood board for my trailer. I have picked these images as they are key to describing my film idea. The images all directly relate to the trailer and the story that I want to portray through it. 

The image of the woman being followed is key to my film as it shows someone stalking someone else, something that is prominent in my trailer. This links to the bottom right image of the girl running from something. This is similar to a shot I have in my trailer of a girl running from the person following her. The fear shown in this image is exactly how I want my trailer to look and how I want the audience to feel watching it. The masked face and claws coming from the door hint at the antagonist in the trailer, who is considered to be the character that the audience don't warm to. These images are important for the mood board as they represent the evil that the victim is trying to protect herself and get away from. This is what the film centres around.

The images of the street lamp and the moon are symbolic of the type of location I want the trailer to be set in. The darkness is essential for any horror film. With the small bursts of light from the street lamps, the location is shown to be mysterious and ominous - perfect for a thriller/horror film. The street lamps also create a sense of normality for the character and the audience as it shows a location that the audience can relate to in their everyday lives. The relatable features also link to the pictures of the house and the phone, things that will be important in the lives of my target audience. 

Dialogue and Sound

As my trailer is for a horror film, I did not want to take away from the mysteriousness of the situation by using an excessive amount of dialogue and so I decided to not have any dialogue or a script involved in the film. In other trailers for horror films, there is little dialogue and this adds to the ominous and spooky effect. I wanted my trailer to be as effective and eerie as other professional trailers. 

Although there won't be any specific dialogue sequences, I will include various lines of dialogue throughout the trailer to heighten tensions. For example, phrases such as "who are you?" and "why are you doing this?", as well as some possible screaming sounds.

Highlighting the scarier moments in the trailer using music and sound motifs, as well as clever editing, will be, in my opinion, far more effective than overusing any dialogue. The music will add to the dark and ominous environment of the trailer, and heighten tensions in the audience. Having little dialogue in a trailer may be unconventional, however, I think this will improve my trailer and increase the appeal for the audience. 

Influences in Production

For my trailer, I looked at various horror/thriller trailers to inspire parts of my filming. Finding trailers that were quite conventional of the genre were the easiest to get inspiration from as I wanted my film to be as effective as possible. I watched many trailers on YouTube and the two trailers that influenced me the most were 'Hush' and 'The Darkness'.

The trailer for 'Hush' was influential for me as it related to my film idea. The aspect of the antagonist following/stalking the main character is similar in my trailer, and the introductory establishing shots of the location is also very similar. The mysterious nature of the trailer links to the type of film I want to create, through the use of the ambient noise of the location, the slight use of soundtrack at the end which puts you in the characters shoes and the montage of events leading up to the antagonists face. These conventions are key in heightening tensions and making the audience feel as though they are in the trailer. The montage helps to not give any big parts of the film away and entices the audience to go and see it. The use of sound motifs towards the end of the trailer is effective as it builds tension up until the sound cuts out for the title. This is common in horror films and is something I want to include to make my film look effective and professional. 

The trailer for 'The Darkness' is less like my idea, however, I still got some inspiration from it. The broad establishing shots and use of sound influenced me as these are commonly used to build tension and allow the audience to feel like they are in the film. The slow deterioration of the boy to the curse is interesting as it plays on the theme of innocence turning to darkness. Using the theme of innocence is something I want to explore as it would be unsuspecting and scarier. The link between the darkness and their home is also influential as it becomes relatable to the audience and far more realistic for them. Use of the family house and the desert as the locations is clever as it is unconventional for a horror film. The trailer gets darker as the curse gets stronger which builds tension and makes the film look scarier and more exciting. Using conventions of lighting, camera and sound will make my film look effective, and the trailer for 'The Darkness' incorporates these very well. 

Camera and Editing Techniques for Horror

As my trailer is for a horror film, I wanted to look at stereotypical uses of camera and editing that I could incorporate into my trailer to make it look professional and effective. I found three videos that speak about different techniques that could be used to get a greater horror effect on the audience.

This video was quite helpful for my trailer as it taught me how to light the film and create a more professional look without having to buy expensive equipment. The video was comprehensive so that I could understand how to achieve the same look, and showed me that my film could look as professional and effective. The video also showed me some editing techniques, regarding tinting colours and different angles to suit emotions and setting, which I thought might be useful for a horror film. The colour editing was useful as it could be easily incorporated into my film to make it look scarier.

This video showed me different conventions of the horror genre and how I could use them to improve my trailer. The video  uses real examples of films to give me inspiration about how to edit and style my film. This video was helpful as it helped me to see the conventions that will make my film stand out as a horror/thriller. By listing each convention and then showing examples, I was able to see exactly how I could incorporate it into my film and how to make it look as effective as possible.

Research and Planning Feedback Targets

Well done Niamh, so exceptional progress made this term.  To improve:

 Can you link your choice of costume to your wish to appeal to a global audience.  Why are your choices suitable? 

Include your own choices for titles informed by your very confident research.  You have details about certification - which would you want an why - refer to a range of titles that received the selfsame certificate to evidence your thinking.  Can you revisit your genre research and explore pros and cons for each genre, given your timescale and budget?  Can you revisit some trailers and include some more narrative analysis (enigmas, narrative stages, Propp's character types) and consider exploring mise-en-scene, sound, editing, use of symbolism, use of camera, conventions of genre, conventions of form even more.

Well done Niamh - keep evidencing your journey and remember to interview, video diary and photo your journey towards post-production.

Costume Research: Victim

For costume ideas for the characters, I focused on looking through Pinterest and Google for typical outfits. I needed a costume for the protagonist victim which showed the personality of the character, but also something that worked well with the plot of the film. I found that, particularly on Pinterest, there was a lot to look at and get inspiration from, which was really helpful when it came to picking costumes and figuring out what would work well within my film. 

For the protagonist, I tried to think about things my friends would wear, or things I have seen other people wearing out and about. My friends each have different styles which I thought I could somehow combine, or get inspiration from, which helped me to determine what kind of look I wanted to give the victim. I want her to look like a teenager and also quite casual, which I felt was quite easy to categorise.  I took photos of my friends outfits, to add to the pile of inspiration I got from the internet.  

As you can see, my friends have quite similar styles. Darker colours seem to be popular, with black trousers and a casual jacket being a shared choice of clothing. Casual shoes, such as trainers, are also seen quite a lot among teenagers, which you can also see from my research down below. I like the idea of more relaxed clothing for the protagonist as I want her to be as relatable as possible for the audience. 

In addition to searching for inspiration from my friends, I searched 'teenage outfits' in Pinterest and Google to get an accurate representation of things that teenagers might wear as this is the age group that my protagonist would be classed under. This was useful as, although it was quite similar to inspiration I had already gathered, it showed me that I was along the right lines for the look that I wanted to give the character. 

As you can see, from the photos, there is an emphasis on comfort in the clothing choices. Casual trainers, such as Vans and Converse are popular. These are usually paired with either black or blue jeans and a jumper - and occasionally a denim/bomber/leather jacket. These key pieces of clothing are popular with teenagers and can be regularly seen in the media, through film, television and celebrity photos. This will influence the costume of the protagonist as I want her to look and feel relatable to the audience as this will encourage them to watch the film and empathise with her character. 

Costume Research: Antagonist

The other costume I needed was for the antagonist. I found that, particularly on Pinterest, there was a lot to get inspiration from - especially from other films - which was really helpful when it came to picking costumes. 

For the antagonist, I used inspiration from other films that I found online to compile a list of essentials that the antagonist costume should include. I already knew that I wanted to use a mask for the antagonist - something that wasn't too obvious or overdone and something that could easily be bought online. I also thought about the use of dark clothing as it would blend into the darkness and increase the intensity of the character - which is conventional in a horror film. However, I didn't want these ideas to form the identity of another antagonist in another film, so I looked for other inspiration to combine together for the costume. 

From the photos I found online, it seems that plain white masks, as well as animal masks, were popular in horror films as they gave no indicator of identity. Plain, white masks are quite overdone, but also very effective at the same time and could be customised to fit my film. Dark clothing is also a convention of horror films, so it could end up looking quite overdone and stereotypical. The photos show that ordinary, dark clothing is effective as it gives the antagonist a sense of normality rather than the supernatural. Another idea that came from the photos, was the use of a cloak instead of normal clothing, however, this gave more of a supernatural vibe, which is not what I was looking for. The use of weapons, particularly weapons that could be found at home, for example, a cooking knife or baseball bat, are commonly seen in horror films, and is something I will have to consider for my film. 

Makeup Research

For makeup ideas, I wanted to look into possible injuries that could occur on the victim. I found videos that would help me to see how to do this and if it would work with my trailer. These videos include burns and cuts/wounds - something I think I could incorporate into my trailer to make it look realistic and effective.

The first video I looked at focused on cuts and wounds across the face, something that I think I could use in my trailer to add intensity to the victim's character and the story. This video was helpful in showing me how to complete cuts and wounds without having to use latex or any other professional equipment. From about 2:16 onwards is the part I would use as this is where it tells me how to do the cuts rather than the full makeup look. The only thing that might not look as effective in the actual film is the fact that it is not 3D, which might enhance the fact that it is makeup and not an actual wound.

The next video I looked at focused on cuts on the hand/body, which is also something I am considering using, especially if I use horror conventions, such as tripping over in the woods. This video is a from a professional special effects artist working for the BBC. This video is more complex than the other one as it included the use of wax/latex to get a more 3D effect for the wounds. This seems like it would be more effective and look more realistic in my film if I were to show cuts and wounds. The video is also more in-depth about the process of getting a realistic looking wound on the hand - something I would need, as I have never done special effects makeup before.

The final video I looked at focused on burns to the skin, which is something that could be considered in my trailer, but probably not as useful as the previous videos. This video may not be necessary, however, a burn could always be an option for my film. The video is effective in clearly showing the steps needed for this, which is helpful in showing me how I could increase or decrease the intensity of various wounds. The burn looked realistic, however, I could add more red paint, for example, to make it look more painful and recently done. This type of wound might be harder to convey in a horror film as a cut/wound would be a lot more common.  

Sound Research

For my film, I will need to use specific horror motifs to really make the film intense and exciting to watch. For the trailer, I will need to make it as exciting as possible to attract the audience and make the film look really effective. I found some non-copyright soundtracks that would be effective in my trailer and have analysed them below.

The first soundtrack I looked at was a suspense sound. This sequence would be effective in my trailer as it would increase tension and heighten the fear within the audience. It creates an eerie and mysterious feeling that would be perfect for the type of film I am making. Specifically, this sound would be good for introducing the antagonist and the early parts of the trailer as it establishes the genre and begins to introduce and heighten tensions. It is quite a gentle soundtrack as it would work very well with diegetic sound over it and wouldn't take away from the actual trailer. This type of sound is common in horror films and I think it would make my trailer very effective.

This sound effect is very conventional of horror films. I think that this would be effective in my trailer as it would highlight tense parts of the trailer. Adding this sound motif in during tense moments or shocking moments will make the audience feel exhilarated and want to watch more. This would be effective when the antagonist begins to get closer to the victim. However, the only thing that might be an issue is the fact that the 'boom' effect happens right at the beginning of the video, which could mean it is hard to use when editing as it is quite quick. 

The next clip is of a violin motif. These are also common in horror films, however, this type of sound effect would be used mostly in tense parts of the film/trailer, where something bad is about to happen. The way that it gets faster paced, louder and more high-pitched at the end and then cuts out is effective as it will show heightened tensions and that something bad might happen. When the sound cuts out, I will most likely put a fade to black to make the section of the trailer increasingly dramatic and tense.



Another clip I looked at was of scary whispers. This possibly won't be used in my film as it sounds primarily like children, and more supernatural than I want my film to be. This type of sound motif is used a lot in horror films as it puts the audience on edge. The echo-y effect of the whispers makes the audience feel uneasy, contributing to the horror effect. The booms in the background add to the intensity of the whispers and increase the fear and tension that the audience feel whilst listening to it. This would be effective if I used it when the victim was alone, however, it might not fit with the storyline.

The final clip I looked at was of a thunder storm. The large crash at the beginning of the clip makes you jump and so would be effective in helping to establish the genre and scene at the beginning and throughout the trailer. Pathetic fallacy is effectively used in horror films to increase tension and make the film seem scarier. This clip would be effective in my trailer as it could help to show or allude to the destruction and chaos that might happen.

Location Research

For my trailer, I decided to look at stereotypical locations for a horror film. I took some photos of my house and a deserted field so see what would be effective as a location for my film. I liked both locations and so will most likely try to incorporate both into the trailer. 

Using a house, most likely at night, is going to be effective in portraying the normal life of the protagonist. This will be relatable to the audience and help to show the equilibrium of the film. For the house, I was thinking about possibly having shots of the door opening and closing, or close-ups of the handle turning - these are conventional shot types in horror films as they add tension and increase the suspense.

Having the house incorporated into the film will allow the audience to feel engaged and as if they are in the film with the girl. As it is my house, it will mean it would be a convenient filming location to get the shots I need to make an effective horror trailer. This would also mean it will be easier to film at night, which will make the scenes tense and exciting. The fact that it is relatable to the audience is key to the tension as it will make the audience feel like they are in the film. This will engage the audience and make the audience relate to the characters and plot more easily.

Woods and fields are common horror locations as they create a fearful and tense environment for the protagonist. This location contrasts the safety felt in the house and in the protagonist's life, which creates tension in the audience. The field portrays the isolation and ominosity within the film, conforming to conventions of horror films. The field will create a unnerving feeling within the audience and will be effective in portraying the typical characteristics of the antagonist. The secluded nature hints at the personality of the antagonist and introduces the audience to the character. The trees in the field will be effective in hiding the antagonist in certain shots and allowing the use of sound motifs such as twigs breaking, which will increase tension in the film. 

Titles Research

For my trailer titles, I looked at typical horror poster titles to see what type of font, colour and position I should use for my trailer. I chose three posters - The Exorcist, Scream, The Thing - to analyse. I chose these because they use quite similar techniques when it comes to the title and language on the poster.

The Exorcist uses a bold, white font for it's poster. This is common for horror movies as it stands out against a typically dark background. The font is quite traditional but having it in all capitals makes it look more eye-catching. The traditional font creates a more spooky setting for the film, hinting at the time period in which is was set, and inferring that it is a more traditional horror film. The title is effective as it doesn't take away from the image on the poster - allowing the audience to focus on the image. As in most posters, the extra information is smaller, but still fits with the overall theme of the other titles. The fact that there is nothing behind or in the font, like the other titles I have researched, is effective as it allows the audience to separate the two aspects and focus on the title and then on the front image individually.

Scream uses a similar bold, white font, however, this one is more modern and eye-catching. The use of the letters being spread out is effective in drawing the audience's eyes across the poster and by using a warped shape for the 'M', it creates a more eerie and sinister vibe as if it were a fang or a knife. This puts an emphasis on the end of the title and infers something tense about the film. In contrast to The Exorcist, the title for Scream is at the bottom of the poster. This is effective as it allows the audience to fully take in the image before looking at the title - it draws the eye down the poster rather than up.

The Thing, though technically not a white font, it still bold and stands out from the black background. The way that the word 'Thing' is larger than 'The' in the title is interesting as it emphasises the 'Thing' in the poster and the film. This makes the audience wonder what it is and makes them want to watch the film to find out. The use of the image in the title somewhat answers the audiences question about the 'Thing', however, the image is slightly blurred by the included snow so it is not completely answered. This pathetic fallacy suggests that chaos and destruction may occur, as snow is known to disorient people and cause accidents to happen. The image in the title is effective as it draws the audience's eye to not only the title of the film, but a significant aspect of it. 

Horror films typically use bold white fonts as a way to modernise and create a more high-brow appeal. The use of capital letters is significant in the titles throughout the genre and helps to make it stand out on the poster and catch people's eyes. For my trailer, I will aim to continue this trend by using a white, bold font on a darker and more ominous background.

Final Idea Treatment

My film centres around a conventional idea of a young girl being followed by an unknown masked character - though she doesn't know it until they make it known to her. The antagonist will not be revealed until the very end and will continue to watch her, possibly using cameras and other equipment. The protagonist will be a teenage girl who soon realises that she is unsafe and not on her own. 

I am aiming to make the film a horror/psychological thriller and will aim it towards a target audience aged 15 to 35. The rating will be a 15 to allow me to include special effects makeup and possibly gory moments within it. If the certificate was higher, to allow for more gory detail, it would not be effective in reaching the full target audience.

PLOT

The plot of the trailer will follow the acts of the antagonist in pursuit of the victim - however, the audience don't know why or what happens. It will start by introducing both characters, using many close-ups to heighten tensions and increase the mystery. The trailer will include the exposition, development and complication stages of Todorov's Narrative Theory. The compilation stage will include  a stereotypical montage scene where it will be clear that the girl is being followed - this will follow her realisation of being followed. The climax stage will not be shown as the trailer will end on a cliff-hanger, leaving the audience wanting more. For the trailer, I want to show as little as possible of the film, as this will entice the audience and create a more tense and effective trailer. 

CHARACTERS

The main story will focus on the victim and the antagonist. In the film there will most likely be more background characters, however, the trailer will primarily focus on these two characters. This is because these are the characters that will make the trailer tense and exciting, and will draw in the target audience. 

The victim will be a teenage girl and will be relatable to the audience, which will entice them to see the film as it will allow them to feel as though they are in the film/situation of the character. The antagonist will be wearing a mask and dark clothing to conceal their identity - something that it conventional in horror films. This character will be following the victim throughout the trailer which will end on a cliffhanger - setting the audience on edge and making them want to watch the film.

KEY LOCATIONS

For the location, I will be using a house and a field/forest. The house will be to show a normal teenage life and to establish the exposition in the trailer. This location will also be relatable to the audience. The field/forest will be to introduce the antagonist and create an eerie, ominous feeling for the audience to react to. Using these locations at night will heighten tensions and indicate the horror genre of the film. This will make the trailer more effective and aim to entice the audience further. 

GENRE CONVENTIONS AND SUBVERSIONS

I will be using quite a lot of conventions in my trailer as I think this will be effective for a horror film. Although conventions can sometimes be cheesy and overdone, I am aiming to use them in a way that enhances my trailer and will make the audience want to watch the film. For example, the location and characters are very conventional of the horror genre, as well as some of the music that will be used. To subvert stereotypes, I might include the aspect of cyber-stalking as well as physical stalking - something that isn't seen much in horror films. 

Institution Research

Looking into production institutions is vital to see which type of institutions would produce my film. The institutions I have decided to research all specialise in horror and thriller films, among other genres. These are the types of production institutions that I would expect to produce similar films to mine.

Blumhouse Productions

Blumhouse Productions is an American film and television production company. I was founded by Jason Blum in 2000 and has been producing films such as 'Paranormal Activity' and 'Insidious' ever since. The company only first began getting credit in 2009, with the release of 'Paranormal Activity'. The film was made for $15,000 and grossed $193 million worldwide, after being released by Paramount Pictures. 'Insidious' grossed $97 million on a budget of $1.5 million. The company rose to fame and was nominated for an Academy Award (Best Picture) with the  2014 film 'Whiplash'.

Vertigo Entertainment

Vertigo Entertainment is an American film and television company, founded in 2001 by Roy Lee and Doug Davison. It was founded after Roy Lee left BenderSpink and joined with Doug Davison to start their own company. Vertigo has a first-look deal with Warner Brothers to produced films and in 2013, they got a first-look deal with Fox 21 to start producing projects for television. Films produced by Vertigo Entertainment include, It (2017), Blair Witch (2016) and The Strangers (2008).

Twisted Pictures

Twisted Pictures is an American independent production company, focusing on horror and thriller films. It was founded in 2004 by Mark Burg, Oren Koules and Gregg Hoffman after the box office success of Saw (2004). This led to a nine-picture distribution deal with Lionsgate and the company went on to produce six sequels in the Saw film franchise, among other well known horror and thriller films.

Certificate Research

In order to protect children and certain ages from unsuitable and possibly harmful content in films and the media, the BBFC examine and age rates films before they are released. This is also to give information to consumers about a particular film or video that they might want to watch. To make these decisions, they consider issues such as discrimination, drugs, horror, dangerous and easily imitable behaviour, language, nudity, sex, and violence.

U Universal - Suitable for all

A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and above, though some children may not enjoy parts as it is hard to tell what different children may find unsettling.

In a U film, discriminatory language or behaviour is not acceptable unless clearly disapproved of within the film. References to drugs or drug use must be infrequent and not harmful or aggressive. Potentially dangerous behaviour which may be copied must be clearly disapproved of. Emphasis of realistic or easily accessible weapons is never shown. Very mild bad language is used and not very often. Scary sequences should be brief and unlikely to cause anxiety/issues in young children and the outcome should be reassuring. Mild violence may be acceptable if it is justified by context - for example, in a comedy or animated film.

PG - Parental Guidance is advised

A PG film should not unsettle a child around eight or older. Unaccompanied children of any age may watch but parents are advised to consider the effects on younger or more sensitive children.

In a PG film, discriminatory language is also not accepted unless clearly disapproved of within the film, or in an educational or historical context. Discrimination by a character created to identify with children will not be accepted. References to drugs and drug use must be cautious with an anti-drug message. There must never be a glamorisation of accessible weapons. Only mild bad language will feature and frequent use may result in a higher certificate. Sexual activity may be implied but should be discreet. Dangerous situations should not be prolonged or intense, though, there ay be moderate violence without detail, if justified by context.

12A/12 - Suitable for 12 years and over

Films classified as 12A and 12 contain material not suitable to children under the age of 12. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in the cinema without an adult accompanying them and no one younger than 12 can rent or buy a 12 rated film or video.

Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be supported in the film and is unlikely to be acceptable unless condemned. Use of drugs must be infrequent and not glamorised in any way. There should be no promotion of the use of weapons. Strong language may be permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used and who it is used by. Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed, with moderate sexual references permitted. There may be moderate physical and psychological threat and horror sequences, though the film should not be focused around these. Violence should not go in to detail and there should be no emphasis on any injuries or blood. Sexual violence may only be implied and its depiction must be justified by context.

15 - Suitable for 15 years and over

No one younger than 15 may see, rent or buy a 15 rated film or video.

In a 15 film, it must not condone discriminatory language or behaviour, although it may be permitted. Drug taking may be shown but also must not be condoned or encouraged. Dangerous behaviour should not go in to detail as it could be copied. Very strong language may be permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used and who it is said by. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual context and sexual activity may be portrayed, but are unlikely to be accepted unless justified by context. Violence may be strong but should not be focused on the infliction of pain and injury. Verbal references to sexual violence are allowed, however depictions must remain discreet and justified by context.

18 - Suitable only for adults

No one younger than 18 may see, rent or buy an 18 rated film or video.

It is believed that adults should be able to choose their own entertainment. There are, however, some exceptions - where it is in breach of the law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence, where material appears to risk harm to individuals or to society, or where there are more explicit images of sexual activity.

Target Audience Profiling

The profile for 28 Days Later similar is my project and so it is useful to look at to gain insight into the trends in target audience. 28 Days Later is a thriller/horror film - although, it may have appealed to a very broad audience given its dystopian sci-fi angle. You can see that it was popular with a broad class spectrum at the box office - although, largely with the C1 profiles. I think that the gender spread is interesting as it is shown to be a pretty even split between the two. This shows that my trailer should ideally appeal to both genders and mainly between the ages of 15 and 34 to reach the full expected target audience. 

For my film, I want to attract a broad audience from the age of around 15 to around 35, meaning I will have to use conventions to attract the audience and make the film relatable to them. I have found that this audience is typical due to the adrenaline and thrill that a horror film can provide to an audience. For my film, it is clear to see that I will need to class it as a 15 so that I can take full advantage of the full target audience. Making the most of the target audience means that the film will also benefit from an increased profit when the film is distributed. 

This image is symbolic of the typical target audience for a horror/thriller film. My target audience, through the ages of 15 to 30 is embarking on lots of different key moments in their lives, such as first employment, first houses etc. Things like social media and friends, as well as places travelled to and things learnt, are most likely to influence the target audience in their day to day lives. Having things in the trailer that relate to the target audience will ensure that they go and see the film and hopefully enjoy it. Having relatable characters to the target audience will also ensure they go and see the film as they are able to step into the characters shoes and live through the story as if it were their own. Multi-platform technology, such as mobile phones, are key to marketing towards this target audience. As they are so common in youth culture, multi-platform media campaigns will be able to be targeted at a much wider audience through the use of social media and the internet. Not only is this a cheaper, more efficient, way of promoting the film, it will attract a much larger audience and in turn, a much larger profit. 

Questionnaire Results

From my questionnaire, I have created some graphs to represent the answers that I received. This will help me in deciding some key aspects for the film, in relation to the feedback I got from the target audience.


Question One: Which do you think is the best title for a psychological thriller/horror film?

This question formed an idea about what type of title the target audience thought would be best and would make them want to go and see the film. 'Watching...' was the most successful title, gaining 40% of the vote. 

Question Two: Which do you think would be the most effective slogan for a psychological thriller/horror film?

The slogan is equally as important as this is something that aims to sell the film. The questionnaire was important in seeing what the audience responded to well and what they thought would effectively sell the film. In this case, it was 'He Can See Your Fears'.

Question Three: What would be the best location for a psychological thriller/horror film?

To film my trailer effectively, I will need a tense and exciting location. To find out what my target audience thought was the scariest and filled with the most suspense, I asked which they thought would be the best. A house in the night proved to be the scariest - with 60% of the sample voting for it. 

Question Four: Look at the pictures of the masks below. Which would be the scariest for a psychological thriller/horror film?

For my villain-type character, I wanted a disguise that would increase the tension and make people want to go and see the film. I picked five masks that I felt would work equally as well in my film and asked the target audience to pick their favourite. Overall, there was a tie, with Mask 1 and Mask 4 coming out as the favourites.

Question Five: What kind of character would be most effective as a victim?

I wanted an opinion on what type of character would work best as a victim in a horror film. I found that the stereotypical teenage character was most effective, holding 55% of the vote, possibly because this character is easily relatable to the target audience.

  

Question Six: How long would you expect typical horror trailer to be?

Trailers are, on average, between 1 min 30 seconds and 2 minutes long. However, I wanted to see how long a trailer the target audience would expect as I didn't want to make it too long and make the audience not want to see the film. I also didn't want to make it too short either. I found that 2 minutes on average would be the best length to make my trailer. 

Question Seven: What types of camera uses would make the trailer more tense and enticing?

I wanted to know what types of things made people want to watch a film after seeing the trailer. I thought that camera is quite important in increasing tension and making the trailer more exciting and I found that using close-ups and jump cuts would be the most effective in doing this. 


Question Eight: How should sound be used to make the film trailer effective?

Another element I decided to ask about was sound, as sound is used very effectively and cleverly in horror films and trailers. The target audience helped to show exactly what makes a horror trailer effective. I found that, to make my trailer effective, I should primarily use little dialogue, but I should also include some heavy music throughout the trailer. 

Question Nine: What part of a trailer entices you to go and see a film?

As well as specific elements, I wanted to know, overall, what to focus on in my trailer to ensure it is effective. I added classically focused on elements in a horror trailer as the answers to see which is more important to the target audience. From the questionnaire, I found that the characters and the plot are most effective to focus on, with a cliff-hanger following closely behind. 

Question Ten: On a scale of 1 to 3, rate the following things in order of which you expect to not see in a film trailer? (1 = most, 3 = least)

For question ten, I used multiple graphs to show which aspect of a horror film the target audience least expect to see in the trailer. I found that the ending of the film was the least expected to see in a trailer with 50% of people saying that this is what they don't expect or want to see it, whilst 50% also said that the villain's identity was the thing they didn't care as much about seeing (50% put ending as 1 and 50% put villain's identity as 3).