Sunday, 10 May 2009
Friday, 8 May 2009
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Thursday, 2 April 2009
Audience continued ... (Nicole Davidson)
When producing any media text you must take into consideration the audience in which you are aiming your text at, they vary dependent on genre, location, purpose of text, appropriateness of text etc. There are many different types of audience that are targeted within film making, popular certifications include PG - Parental Guidence, 18 - anyone 18 or older, 15 - any persons 15 or older. These types of audience are chosen due to the fact that certain movies are not suited for a certain age group such as 18's - they are not suited to anyone under the age of 18, this may be due to unsutiable language, scenes etc. Adding to this, a movie made for a 5 year old is not likely to appeal to a 17 year old.
The more precisely you’ve defined your audience, the better chance you have of creating a movie they want to see. When targeting an audience there are many things to think about,these include:
1) Content - if there are many sex scenes, violent scenes or other scenes that are not suitable for a younger audience then this must be considered.
2) Genre - Genre plays a significant part in the certification of a film and the audience that it aims to target. Films such as romance may be suited to an older/teenage female audience as they are more interested in this type of film.
3)Country/Location - This is something to think about when targeting an audience. There are different likes and dislikes in different countries and even areas therefore it is important to investigate the trends of that specific audience.
4)Attractiveness of the protagonist to the audience - This is whether the target audience sees themselves reflected in the protagonist. If they do then it is more likely to appeal to them and make them want to watch the film.
5)Content of film - This needs to be considered when choosing the target audience. If the content of a 4 year old film includes sex and violence then they are not likely to watch it.
6)Marketing - There are two main types of marketing; niche and mass marketing, and depedent on the purpose of the film either one has to be thoroughly thought out and taken into consideration. Mass marketing is when the filming company decide to go after the whole market and produce their product to appeal to all audiences. Whereas niche marketing focuses on one target group and specifies in their needs and wants. We are using niche marketing within our film as we are specifying our film on teenagers as they are most likely to be interested in our genre and many teenagers go to the cinema whereas older audiences have less time.
The more precisely you’ve defined your audience, the better chance you have of creating a movie they want to see. When targeting an audience there are many things to think about,these include:
1) Content - if there are many sex scenes, violent scenes or other scenes that are not suitable for a younger audience then this must be considered.
2) Genre - Genre plays a significant part in the certification of a film and the audience that it aims to target. Films such as romance may be suited to an older/teenage female audience as they are more interested in this type of film.
3)Country/Location - This is something to think about when targeting an audience. There are different likes and dislikes in different countries and even areas therefore it is important to investigate the trends of that specific audience.
4)Attractiveness of the protagonist to the audience - This is whether the target audience sees themselves reflected in the protagonist. If they do then it is more likely to appeal to them and make them want to watch the film.
5)Content of film - This needs to be considered when choosing the target audience. If the content of a 4 year old film includes sex and violence then they are not likely to watch it.
6)Marketing - There are two main types of marketing; niche and mass marketing, and depedent on the purpose of the film either one has to be thoroughly thought out and taken into consideration. Mass marketing is when the filming company decide to go after the whole market and produce their product to appeal to all audiences. Whereas niche marketing focuses on one target group and specifies in their needs and wants. We are using niche marketing within our film as we are specifying our film on teenagers as they are most likely to be interested in our genre and many teenagers go to the cinema whereas older audiences have less time.
codes & conventions - nicole davidson
Codes and conventions
When making a horror movie or watching it there are many stereotypical codes and conventions that are used throughout in order to help the audience gain an understanding of what is happening and the atmosphere that is being created. The codes and conventions in a film can be separated into three different groups - technical (camera techniques & shots), symbolic objects or codes (clothing, colours) written and audio (music, sound effects). These give the text meaning and determine the response of the viewer. Without codes and conventions it would be hard to understand what is happening during the film and the type of genre that is being portrayed.
When watching a horror film there are different codes and conventions that are stereotypical to the genre.
Technical codes and conventions – during a horror movie the camera angles and shots used include many point of view shots. These are used so that the audience can see things from a person’s point of view so that the audience feel as if they are there experiencing what the character is and this helps to keep the audience interested and involves suspense. Many close-up shots are used within in a horror movie so that the audience can see emotions. Camera angles are used to help the audience understand what type of atmosphere that the producer wishes to create in a certain scene or event.
Clothing and colours – Stereotypical clothing and colours used in a horror movie include dark and mysterious colours. These are used in order to create an eerie atmosphere and tension throughout the audience. Dark opening credits are used to code to the audience that they will be watching a horror movie.
Music and sound effects – Music and sound effects are used throughout in order to create an atmosphere within the audience. Sound effects such as footsteps and heavy breathing are used within horror genre in order to code to the audience what is occurring and make them feel a certain emotion.
When making our opening sequence we must include and take into consideration all of these factors in order to make our film a success.
When making a horror movie or watching it there are many stereotypical codes and conventions that are used throughout in order to help the audience gain an understanding of what is happening and the atmosphere that is being created. The codes and conventions in a film can be separated into three different groups - technical (camera techniques & shots), symbolic objects or codes (clothing, colours) written and audio (music, sound effects). These give the text meaning and determine the response of the viewer. Without codes and conventions it would be hard to understand what is happening during the film and the type of genre that is being portrayed.
When watching a horror film there are different codes and conventions that are stereotypical to the genre.
Technical codes and conventions – during a horror movie the camera angles and shots used include many point of view shots. These are used so that the audience can see things from a person’s point of view so that the audience feel as if they are there experiencing what the character is and this helps to keep the audience interested and involves suspense. Many close-up shots are used within in a horror movie so that the audience can see emotions. Camera angles are used to help the audience understand what type of atmosphere that the producer wishes to create in a certain scene or event.
Clothing and colours – Stereotypical clothing and colours used in a horror movie include dark and mysterious colours. These are used in order to create an eerie atmosphere and tension throughout the audience. Dark opening credits are used to code to the audience that they will be watching a horror movie.
Music and sound effects – Music and sound effects are used throughout in order to create an atmosphere within the audience. Sound effects such as footsteps and heavy breathing are used within horror genre in order to code to the audience what is occurring and make them feel a certain emotion.
When making our opening sequence we must include and take into consideration all of these factors in order to make our film a success.
Questionnaire analysis - Nicole Davidson
When deciding to make a horror movie we made a survey so that we could ask our target audience what type of aspects they liked when watching a horror movie.
1.Do you like horror movies?
No III 12%
Yes IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 88%
This is a positive outcome, it is clear to see that a significantly high proportion of our target audience are interested in the horror genre therefore we have chosen a suitable age group.
2. Do you find sound effects important in a horror movie?
No I 4%
Yes IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 96%
From this question it is evident that an audience believe that sound effects play an important part within a horror movie. We must take this into account when producing our opening sequence so that it is successful, not enough sound effects will disappoint our audience, but too many may overwhelm them.
3. Do you like 'jumpy' films?
No III 12%
Yes IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 88%
This conveys that a high percentage of our audience enjoy films that include much tension and frightening aspects. As a result, when doing our opening sequence we must try to incorporate this type of entertainment in order to appeal to our audience.
4. Does a 'build-up of trouble' appeal to you?
No IIII 16%
Yes IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 84%
This shows that there must be a good atmosphere within our movie and that tension and a serious of events that portray a result of trouble must be included in order to interest our audience.
- A story of the past to follow (a tradition from the past in the story that continues as the film starts)? IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 64%
- A story that starts as the film starts? IIIIIIIII 36%
We used this question so due to the fact that we are starting a new film and therefore needed to know whether to produce it as if it was a continuation of a previous film or begin a new film altogether. It is now evident that our audience prefer a story that is followed on from another one, therefore we need to take this into consideration when making our film.
8. Do you like bloody and gore?
No IIIIIIII 32%
Yes IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 68%
This is a surprising result due to the fact that we thought blood and gore would be a big part of a horror movie and entice an audience. Therefore we must include less gore and blood when producing our final product.
In conclusion, these questions helped us gain an understanding of the type of interventions and characters that our target audience enjoy when watching a horror movie. We used an opportunity sample when carrying out our research due to the fact that it was quick and easy and focused on our target groups 15+ years old. By asking 25 people from the West Hatch sixth form media class, we were able to gather data of what they like in a horror movie and recognise popular ideas.
1.Do you like horror movies?
No III 12%
Yes IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 88%
This is a positive outcome, it is clear to see that a significantly high proportion of our target audience are interested in the horror genre therefore we have chosen a suitable age group.
2. Do you find sound effects important in a horror movie?
No I 4%
Yes IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 96%
From this question it is evident that an audience believe that sound effects play an important part within a horror movie. We must take this into account when producing our opening sequence so that it is successful, not enough sound effects will disappoint our audience, but too many may overwhelm them.
3. Do you like 'jumpy' films?
No III 12%
Yes IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 88%
This conveys that a high percentage of our audience enjoy films that include much tension and frightening aspects. As a result, when doing our opening sequence we must try to incorporate this type of entertainment in order to appeal to our audience.
4. Does a 'build-up of trouble' appeal to you?
No IIII 16%
Yes IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 84%
This shows that there must be a good atmosphere within our movie and that tension and a serious of events that portray a result of trouble must be included in order to interest our audience.
5. What sort of character shows vulnerability to the audience? Suggest some answers.
-Young girl IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 64%
- Child IIIII 4%
- Animals II 8%
This conveys that a young girl is stereotypical of a character that portrays vulnerability. This is the type of character that we were aiming to use within our opening sequence, so this is a positive outcome.
6. Which of these is a better way of creating a scary atmosphere in a horror movie?
Monster? I 4%
Character (human)? IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 80%
Other? O 0%
Spirit? IIII 16%
This shows that a human is a good way to create a scary atmosphere during a horror movie. This is also a good outcome due to the fact that we were aiming to use a human for the ‘murderer’ and the ‘victim’.
- A story of the past to follow (a tradition from the past in the story that continues as the film starts)? IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 64%
- A story that starts as the film starts? IIIIIIIII 36%
We used this question so due to the fact that we are starting a new film and therefore needed to know whether to produce it as if it was a continuation of a previous film or begin a new film altogether. It is now evident that our audience prefer a story that is followed on from another one, therefore we need to take this into consideration when making our film.
8. Do you like bloody and gore?
No IIIIIIII 32%
Yes IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 68%
This is a surprising result due to the fact that we thought blood and gore would be a big part of a horror movie and entice an audience. Therefore we must include less gore and blood when producing our final product.
In conclusion, these questions helped us gain an understanding of the type of interventions and characters that our target audience enjoy when watching a horror movie. We used an opportunity sample when carrying out our research due to the fact that it was quick and easy and focused on our target groups 15+ years old. By asking 25 people from the West Hatch sixth form media class, we were able to gather data of what they like in a horror movie and recognise popular ideas.
Institutions - Nicole Davidson
Institutions
When making our horror movie we have to take into consideration the types of institutions that deal with the ‘horror’ genre.
Institutions that deal with this genre include Dream works SKG, Dimensions Film, Crystal Lake Entertainment, Craven-Magdalena Films, Evolution Entertainment, and Studio Canal etc.
Dream Works SKG is an institution mostly familiar with films for a young audience, creating popular and successful films such as Shrek that won many awards after it was produced by DreamWorks SKG. DreamWorks is also involved with DreamWorks SKG but is popular when creating films such as Ghost Town as a comedy, the action film Eagle Eye and The Uninvited, which follows the same genre as we have decided to create, horror/thriller.
Craven-Maddalena Films (founded in 1996) is a popular institution for creating horror/thriller movies such as the Scream Films, The Hills Have Eyes, Cursed, Red Eye etc.
Studio Canal is a French based institution founded in 1996 by Pierre Lescure. It doesn’t concentrate on a certain genre, producing films such as Bridget Jones’ Diary a comedy, Mulholland Drive a horror and Intimate Strangers a French romance.
In conclusion if we were to choose an institution for our film Craven- Maddalena film is the type of institution that we would focus on, this is due to the fact that it specifies in the horror genre and that is the type of move that we will be focusing our opening sequence on.
Budgets
When thinking about making a film it is essential that the film maker keeps to their budget and has a target for the budget in which they are able to use.
When dealing with filming and budgets the UK Film Council (UKFC) was set up in 2000 by the labour party to develop and advertise the film industry present in the UK. It is funded by the national lottery and has a board of 15 directors. They put a lot of help into low budget and micro-budget films.
In the UK there are different budgets and institutions that deal with the production of film and the budgets that are given to each film. There are many small film producers evident in the UK that makes low budget and Micro-budget films. Micro-budget films have found a niche in a UK arena dominated by big Hollywood studio releases. Although micro- budget films are in fierce competition with independent US titles and bigger budget UK releases, the dramatic increase in micro budget movie production points to a sector on the up. The UK currently produces around 100 low and micro-budget feature films per year and around £18.5 million is spent on making them. There is evidence that somewhere in the region of 15% of low and micro-budget films fail to achieve their full potential in distribution or exhibition.
When making a film all producers want to create professional products, even if they have a low budget to spend. Some of the criticisms of cheap production are that producers need to take more time and effort to prepare, plan and create a finished and presentable product. This is what we will be focusing on when making our opening sequence. As a first time movie release there are low budgets available compared to that of established movie producers therefore many things must be taken into consideration such as location and the use of as little money as possible? However, although there are low budgets for these types of movie makers they have much more work to do in order to produce a film that is appealing to an audience, and this is where an opening sequence is essential in order to draw the audience in.
When making our horror movie we have to take into consideration the types of institutions that deal with the ‘horror’ genre.
Institutions that deal with this genre include Dream works SKG, Dimensions Film, Crystal Lake Entertainment, Craven-Magdalena Films, Evolution Entertainment, and Studio Canal etc.
Dream Works SKG is an institution mostly familiar with films for a young audience, creating popular and successful films such as Shrek that won many awards after it was produced by DreamWorks SKG. DreamWorks is also involved with DreamWorks SKG but is popular when creating films such as Ghost Town as a comedy, the action film Eagle Eye and The Uninvited, which follows the same genre as we have decided to create, horror/thriller.
Craven-Maddalena Films (founded in 1996) is a popular institution for creating horror/thriller movies such as the Scream Films, The Hills Have Eyes, Cursed, Red Eye etc.
Studio Canal is a French based institution founded in 1996 by Pierre Lescure. It doesn’t concentrate on a certain genre, producing films such as Bridget Jones’ Diary a comedy, Mulholland Drive a horror and Intimate Strangers a French romance.
In conclusion if we were to choose an institution for our film Craven- Maddalena film is the type of institution that we would focus on, this is due to the fact that it specifies in the horror genre and that is the type of move that we will be focusing our opening sequence on.
Budgets
When thinking about making a film it is essential that the film maker keeps to their budget and has a target for the budget in which they are able to use.
When dealing with filming and budgets the UK Film Council (UKFC) was set up in 2000 by the labour party to develop and advertise the film industry present in the UK. It is funded by the national lottery and has a board of 15 directors. They put a lot of help into low budget and micro-budget films.
In the UK there are different budgets and institutions that deal with the production of film and the budgets that are given to each film. There are many small film producers evident in the UK that makes low budget and Micro-budget films. Micro-budget films have found a niche in a UK arena dominated by big Hollywood studio releases. Although micro- budget films are in fierce competition with independent US titles and bigger budget UK releases, the dramatic increase in micro budget movie production points to a sector on the up. The UK currently produces around 100 low and micro-budget feature films per year and around £18.5 million is spent on making them. There is evidence that somewhere in the region of 15% of low and micro-budget films fail to achieve their full potential in distribution or exhibition.
When making a film all producers want to create professional products, even if they have a low budget to spend. Some of the criticisms of cheap production are that producers need to take more time and effort to prepare, plan and create a finished and presentable product. This is what we will be focusing on when making our opening sequence. As a first time movie release there are low budgets available compared to that of established movie producers therefore many things must be taken into consideration such as location and the use of as little money as possible? However, although there are low budgets for these types of movie makers they have much more work to do in order to produce a film that is appealing to an audience, and this is where an opening sequence is essential in order to draw the audience in.
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