Target audience questionnaire - with analysis of results

Questionnaire:
Group member Amy Smith created a survey, using the website Survey Monkey, that has questions designed that will help my group and I discover what our target audience would like and dislike to see in horror films. This survey is a crucial part in our research as it allows us to gain a deeper insight as to what our target audiences would actually be interested to see in our horror film. Below is a link to the questionnaire.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JCRZDQS


Analysis of results:
Analysing our results was also important as it allows us to see who will be watching our horror film, and what they will want to see. The results of this will be useful when we begin to film our final product, as we will have a greater understanding of our audience profile, and what codes and conventions they will be wanting to see. Group member Simran created a Prezi analysing our questionnaire results.

Horror Genre Research

Horror Genre and its History
I createdThis timeline shows how the Horror genre has transformed and changed over time, starting from 1920 to the present day. Creating this was useful as it has shown me that our video must be in keeping with the horror films of this decade.
http://www.dipity.com/bethbrewer100/Horror-Genre-and-its-history/

Horror and the conventions associated with horror
For the next part of the research, group member Simran created this video was created to demonstrate the conventions of the horror genre. The presentation that she has created has given us a deeper insight to some of the stereotypical conventions that are used in the horror genre. The creation of this presentation will help us when we create our final video because, we will know what types of conventions we can use that will follow the horror genre.



Certificate ratings:
During research we noticed that the majority of horror films are certificated 12 and above. The vast majority of horror films are rated 15 and 18, as some of the images and narratives are too; sexualised, sadistic, or extreme gore and violence. We will have to consider this when we create our final video, as it will have to meet the expectations of our target audience. 

Director Research: We also chose to look into our genre more by researching a famous Horror Film director, we chose to look at Wes Craven, as he has directed many famous horror films including many of the Scream series and Nightmare On Elm Street series. Below is a slideshow I created on a website called Zenfolio to demonstrate further research into our genre.
http://bethbrewer.zenfolio.com/p981291258/slideshow


Iconography:
We have also looked at some conventional iconography associated with the Horror genre, embedded below is a collage created on a website called Photovisl, with some detail that group member Amy has created to show some typical iconography. 

Horror iconography usually follow a pattern, using the same or similar iconography in order to make the genre identifiable to the audience. This means it makes it easier to label who is the protagonist and who is the antagonist through the iconography associated with them. Iconography can be a symbols that are featured in all horror movies. These include:

• The Haunted House
• Symbols of Death
• Disfigured face
• Masks
• The screaming victim ('The final girl').
• Murder weapon aka: Knife, meat cleaver, chainsaw etc.
• Binary opposites of good vs evil.
• Dark places.
• Blood and bloody body parts.

Preliminary task

Today's activity was to create a preliminary video, that demonstrates my understanding of the 180 Degree rule, match on action editing, and shot reverse shot. The video had to include an example of the 180 degree rule, match on action and shot reverse shot editing. This activity was particularly useful because it has taught me that editing is essential for continuity. For example following the 180 degree rule is crucial for maintaining the audience's interest and understanding of the narrative. This will impact our final product, as this knowledge will allow us to create a final piece that uses professional editing techniques, and ensures continuity for our target audiences. 

This is the storyboard to our preliminary task; 

Preliminary task script:
Character A: Hey! You alright?
Character B: Hey, yeah. Why didn't you come to my party last week?
Character A: Nobody invited me. I thought it was weird you didn't invite me but, I didnt want to say anything.
Character B: Oh sorry, i thought you knew.
Character A: That's okay, i'll come to the next one.
Character B: Yeah, I've got to go now, so bye.
Character A: Alright, see you later.

Preliminary Task:

Evaluation:
Collectively we created a Prezi that provides an evaluation of our preliminary task.

Match On Action

Match On Action - this is an editing technique that is compatible with continuity editing. Specifically match on action is where action/movement from one shot begins in one shot and it completed in a different shot.

This video provides an example of a match on action shot.















This is my own footage and editing to demonstrate how I understand match on action.
Match on action is essential when editing as it provides continuity because actions started in one shot continue into another, allowing the audience to perceive the text as more realistic and enjoyable.
My task was to create a video demonstrating an example of match on action, I decided to simply film someone walking up the stairs. The simplest part of the process was filming because two cameras were used, both cameras filmed the entire walk up the stairs. One camera was placed at the top of the stairs, in which the character would be walking towards, and the second was placed at the bottom of the stairs, in which the character would be walking away from. The purpose of this task was to improve my ability and match on action technique in order to improve my editing skills to produce the best match on action  in my horror film opening possible.

The editing was more challenging because the clip had to look smooth and as well as be a match on action it had to be continuity edited in order for it to look realistic. To ensure this, when editing I counted the character to take six steps to be half way up the staircase, and between the 6-7th step I carefully cut across to the perspective of the other camera at the top of the stairs.

Through this process I have learnt that it is useful to use two cameras when filming match on action. this is useful because it allows for continuity, so that should there be any editing problems you have the option to change the way of editing.

If there was any way in which I could improve upon my techniques, I would consider using three cameras so that I could attempt to create a longer action clip. For example I could have set up another camera at the bottom of the second flight of stairs so that i could demonstrate my understanding of match on action further. I will consider this when making my horror opening.

This technique practice will help when it comes to filming and editing my horror film opening as my piece is likely to be more realistic and enticing to watch if the character's actions and movements are smooth and follow onto the next cut. I believe this will allow for my horror film opening to appear more conventional and realistic.

180 degree rule and shot reverse shot

The 180 degree rule:
This is where there is an imaginary line that the camera should remain on the same side of, it enforces continuity editing.

The camera only stays on one side of the line so that the characters have the same eye line match and the same characters stay on the same side. for example characters A always stays on the left and character B always stays on the right.






This rule must never broken, if it is it could cause confusion for the audience, and make the effect of the film less intense and realistic. in order to cross the line either back or forth you must show that movement on the camera as this is the only way to not disorientate the audience.

Shot reverse shot:
Shot reverse shot is an editing technique that allows audiences to see the intended characters easily. The technique doesn't show the camera moving, but instead cuts from one shot to another, that may be a shot of characters, or something a character may be focusing on. Shot reverse shot can be crucial for when trying to depict something dramatic that the character may be looking at. For example if a character hears something spooky and suddenly looks at the direction it comes from, the camera will cut to a shot of a spooky dark room, which is indicative of the spooky noise. Therefore the camera work has suggested where the spooky noise has came from, this is useful for editing a horror movie, because it is suggestive, even with minimal dialogue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2J-SmwN2Ok
Script for the preliminary task:
Character A: Hey, how were your lessons?
Character B: They were good thanks, I don't have any homework today. How about you?
Character A: Hmm, they were okay can't wait to get home. I got a detention in English today.
Character B: Oh really? That sucks!
Character A: Yeah oh well I don't like English anyway.
Character B: Do you want to go McDonald's after school then?
Character A: Oh yeah! I could do with a burger!Character B: Mmmmm lets go then.

Today's activity was to create and edit my own 180 degree and shot reverse shot footage, to demonstrate my understanding and application of this type of editing. The above link is my own footage of my understanding of the 180-Degree rule and shot reverse shot.
This activity was particularly useful as it demonstrated to my group, the importance of using two cameras placed in two different places. This ensures continuity will be accurate when it comes to editing, as opposed to using one camera and filming the same footage twice from two different perspectives.
If I had the opportunity to improve this activity I would have positioned the cameras more directly behind/over the shoulder of the characters. I believe this would have made it more specific as to what types of editing I was trying to demonstrate. Rather than having them slightly below the characters.
My understanding of these editing methods will help whilst I am making my opening to a horror film, because; the 180 degree rule will be useful to ensure the audience comprehend the danger of the setting and or the characters by not becoming confused by inaccurate editing. Also shot reverse shot will be useful for effect because shots cutting quickly is a simple yet greatly impactive.

The purpose of this task was to display how I understand and could apply the 180 degree rule and shot reverse shot to my own footage and editing skills. We had to create a video that demonstrated the 180 degree rule and shot reverse shot, which was a useful challenge to my editing skills. This practice has taught me that using these methods when editing can create a coherent video for a spectator to watch and enjoy. This will impact my final video because we will have a greater understanding of how to apply these methods and the necessity of using them, to create a good piece of work.

Introductory Post

My name is Beth Brewer and i am 17 years old. My candidate number is 3030, and i am studying at Swakeleys sixth form. The coursework I will be producing is the intended opening titles of to a Horror film. I will be working with two others in my group; Simran Takhar 3206, and Amy smith 3055.