Tuesday 14 December 2010
Emmaline Gordon Resit - Target Audience Profile
Our horror film will have a large target audience and will hopefully branch out to demographic groupings such as A, B, C1, C2, D and E. However of these groups we will aim our film to attract mainly students and the middle classed. These are people in demographic groups B, C and D. Our immediate targets are specifically teenagers and young adults ages 15-25 as these are the sort of people that have a larger amount of free time to visit the cinema and watch films resulting in maximum profit. This is also a reason our film is also largely aimed at the un-employed as they are available to visit the cinema on more of a regular basis than people who work full time. Another reason for our horror film being aimed at this class is because the most popular sub-genre at the moment is that of gore, blood and violence and because our film will include these aspects it is imporrant that we are selling ourselves to the correct British audience that will enjoy these concepts, which is traditionally a person of middle class.
Our film uses the Male Gaze Theory as all of the lead victims are female and they have been targetted as they are beautiful, which see's the whole film through a males eyes. However the film will be aimed at both the male and female gender and we will have male antagonists through the horror. This type of film genre is often successful with young couples as it allows a male to comfort a female whilst watching the film and can be seen as a romantic increasing popularity in cinemas. Obviously with there being references of a sexual nature in our film, we would most probably have to start looking at making our film cirtificate an 15 so they can make their own decisions on whether or not to watch the film. Although many 12A year olds are influenced by horror movies/games/television shows we can't say that it is alright to advertise our film to them because legally they arent 15 and some of the contents of our film may disturb them.
Another thing we would have to take into consideration is the race, religious and social aspect of our film. As it is a British horror, we have cast British people to act in it, but we have to be careful that we dont offend or discriminate anyone when filming our horror film. We will need to make it religiously open for everyone to view and we would also have to take into account social issues. For example, the 9/11 bombings are quite a social issue for people so creating a horror film where a plane gets over taken, and flown into a building may cause to much upset.When looking at the data recieved from people filling in our 'Target Audience Questionnaire' the majority of people that go to watch a horror film at a cinema would expect the age certificate to be that of an 15 - 18 so maybe if it was any less then we would loose our audience, therefore the film wouldn't do very well.For our film however, we have all decided that we are going to make it an 18 because of its content. However, we have looked at all the issues such as;- sexuality- race- religion- social and polital issuesand have treated each one with care, and created our horror film that wont offend anyone.In our 'Target Audience Questionnaire' we asked whether or not a films trailer would be enough to make you go and watch the film when it is out, and all of the people asked said yes. Therefore, we would need to create a trailer that is catchy, but however suitable for all audiences. For example, we couldn't have a trailer for our horror film come on before a film such as Shrek starts because the likely audiences will be between the ages of 5-16 therefore it would be innapropriate. We could however advertise before films of the same genre and certificate rating. For example, we could put a trailer in the adverts before films like SAW vI and THE STRANGERS, because they all have the same sub-category genre.
Our film uses the Male Gaze Theory as all of the lead victims are female and they have been targetted as they are beautiful, which see's the whole film through a males eyes. However the film will be aimed at both the male and female gender and we will have male antagonists through the horror. This type of film genre is often successful with young couples as it allows a male to comfort a female whilst watching the film and can be seen as a romantic increasing popularity in cinemas. Obviously with there being references of a sexual nature in our film, we would most probably have to start looking at making our film cirtificate an 15 so they can make their own decisions on whether or not to watch the film. Although many 12A year olds are influenced by horror movies/games/television shows we can't say that it is alright to advertise our film to them because legally they arent 15 and some of the contents of our film may disturb them.
Another thing we would have to take into consideration is the race, religious and social aspect of our film. As it is a British horror, we have cast British people to act in it, but we have to be careful that we dont offend or discriminate anyone when filming our horror film. We will need to make it religiously open for everyone to view and we would also have to take into account social issues. For example, the 9/11 bombings are quite a social issue for people so creating a horror film where a plane gets over taken, and flown into a building may cause to much upset.When looking at the data recieved from people filling in our 'Target Audience Questionnaire' the majority of people that go to watch a horror film at a cinema would expect the age certificate to be that of an 15 - 18 so maybe if it was any less then we would loose our audience, therefore the film wouldn't do very well.For our film however, we have all decided that we are going to make it an 18 because of its content. However, we have looked at all the issues such as;- sexuality- race- religion- social and polital issuesand have treated each one with care, and created our horror film that wont offend anyone.In our 'Target Audience Questionnaire' we asked whether or not a films trailer would be enough to make you go and watch the film when it is out, and all of the people asked said yes. Therefore, we would need to create a trailer that is catchy, but however suitable for all audiences. For example, we couldn't have a trailer for our horror film come on before a film such as Shrek starts because the likely audiences will be between the ages of 5-16 therefore it would be innapropriate. We could however advertise before films of the same genre and certificate rating. For example, we could put a trailer in the adverts before films like SAW vI and THE STRANGERS, because they all have the same sub-category genre.
Monday 6 December 2010
Emmaline Gordon Resit - Location Scouting
For the opening 2 minutes of our horror film we decided to use a maximum of 5 locations in which shoot to reflect the idea of a walk home from work we desired to reflect and creat suspense for the rest of the plot. For all of these locations we were required to research the most effective areas to film in that would not only create suspense but reflect the uncomfortable feeling in our audience we felt necissary for our horror to be truly successful. We made sure as long as trying to think outside boundaries of every day horror films to make our own unique it was also important to look at typical codes and conventions of previous successful horrors and we decided it would be appropriate to use stereotypes of horror locations to concur with our tense theme.
Location 1 - Woodland
The choice of the Broomfield Hospital woodland was decided on not only because it was convenient to get to as it was central point to where we held our actors and actress' before shooting, but we felt it would be effective in creating suspense for the audience. The setting of a woodland is a typical code and covention of a horror as it is low key area which connotes the unkown and arouses fear and suspense in the audience. All lighting has to be natrual and as it is largely covered in tree's the lighting in an area such as this is darker. The darkness is a stypical code and convention of horror films as it enables a persons worst fears to go on unseen and the unknown to us is often the most feared. We also found it an appropriate place to film due to the plot of our entire film. The opening of our horror was to based around the idea that our lead protagonist is being 'stalked' on her journey home. A woodland area would be appropriate for something like this to occur as a perpetrator would be easily hid behind the wildlife. It is a confined area with many places for the agonist to hide leaving our victim helpess and vulnerable.
For this location we researched previous horro films that had used this convention effectively, for example in the horror 'Hide and Seek' (2005) a large amount of the main drama is set in the woodland outside the protagonists home, which creates suspense as it is generally a concealed dark area where anything or anyone could be lurking. I have found a particular scene of 'Hide and Seek' which i feel effectively connotes danger through the dennotation of the woodland area and creates suspense in the audience.
Location 2 - Broomfield Road Garages
Another choice of location are the Broomfield garages as similarly to the woodland area we shot in it is a low key area. It is quite a dim and shadowed area as it is full of what appears to be abandoned garages. Isolation and abandonment is again a typical code and convention of a horror as it creates a sense of helplessness and vulnerability which is key for tension to occur. As again it is a confined area it is a place that perpetrators could hide and lurk unnoticed. We felt that choosing this location was quite unique to our film as there are not many well known horrors that have used this idea, however the basis and thought process behind the choosing of this location used alot of stereotypes associated with fear. As we reached this area to film too the lighting was further more low key and the dark background reflected the dangerous mysterious mood we wished to portray in our horror. The image of the dead trees in the area - similarly too the woodland area we felt connoted the darkness of the night, death is similarly a theme that is fluent throughout our horror. For these reasons in particular we felt the garages were a good area to film our horror to reflect the general mood of the genre.
The choice of the Broomfield Hospital woodland was decided on not only because it was convenient to get to as it was central point to where we held our actors and actress' before shooting, but we felt it would be effective in creating suspense for the audience. The setting of a woodland is a typical code and covention of a horror as it is low key area which connotes the unkown and arouses fear and suspense in the audience. All lighting has to be natrual and as it is largely covered in tree's the lighting in an area such as this is darker. The darkness is a stypical code and convention of horror films as it enables a persons worst fears to go on unseen and the unknown to us is often the most feared. We also found it an appropriate place to film due to the plot of our entire film. The opening of our horror was to based around the idea that our lead protagonist is being 'stalked' on her journey home. A woodland area would be appropriate for something like this to occur as a perpetrator would be easily hid behind the wildlife. It is a confined area with many places for the agonist to hide leaving our victim helpess and vulnerable.
For this location we researched previous horro films that had used this convention effectively, for example in the horror 'Hide and Seek' (2005) a large amount of the main drama is set in the woodland outside the protagonists home, which creates suspense as it is generally a concealed dark area where anything or anyone could be lurking. I have found a particular scene of 'Hide and Seek' which i feel effectively connotes danger through the dennotation of the woodland area and creates suspense in the audience.
Location 2 - Broomfield Road Garages
Another choice of location are the Broomfield garages as similarly to the woodland area we shot in it is a low key area. It is quite a dim and shadowed area as it is full of what appears to be abandoned garages. Isolation and abandonment is again a typical code and convention of a horror as it creates a sense of helplessness and vulnerability which is key for tension to occur. As again it is a confined area it is a place that perpetrators could hide and lurk unnoticed. We felt that choosing this location was quite unique to our film as there are not many well known horrors that have used this idea, however the basis and thought process behind the choosing of this location used alot of stereotypes associated with fear. As we reached this area to film too the lighting was further more low key and the dark background reflected the dangerous mysterious mood we wished to portray in our horror. The image of the dead trees in the area - similarly too the woodland area we felt connoted the darkness of the night, death is similarly a theme that is fluent throughout our horror. For these reasons in particular we felt the garages were a good area to film our horror to reflect the general mood of the genre.
Although garages are not commonly used in popular horror films, the idea of an isolated mysterious area often is. The use of darkness and cold weather in a location is also a common code and convention of a horror film used to create suspense and fear. A film that uses isolated areas to create suspense is 'Hostel' (2005) which has a similar plot basis as our horror. The idea that victims are held hostage and tortured, another film similar to these are the 'Saw'(2004) films. They similarly use isolated areas to connote despair and helplessness for the victim who is endangered.
Location 3 - Court Road
The last location chosen for our protagonists journey home was that of a road with no one else on it. By this point in the journey it is getting dark which there for continues to build tension as the opening sequence reaches it's climax. As we previously agreed for the other locations it was key for this part of the protagonists journey to be as isolated as the others to continue reflecting a feeling of helplessness and vulnerability to create continued suspense in the audience. We related this location idea of films such as '28 Days Later' (2002) which are entirely based around usually human filled residential areas being abandoned and isolated which relates to the sense of abandonment we wish to reflect in our protagonists character.
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