Audience Feedback

Why is Audience feedback essential

It is very important to carry out audeince feedback as it is neceesary to know what the target audience thinks of the product produced. The audience is the one that brings in the revenue and makes the work produced credible. So it is essential to make the product exactly to what the customer wants. The feedback allows a filmaker to make the necessary changes.

The feedback tells the filmaker evrything that is good about the film and everything that has been appreciated and liked by the viewers. At the same time the feedback tells the viewer things that didnt go so well and that can be improved. This feedback can be used to make the necessary changes and make the film better that would be liked by everyone.

Screening the film

We screened the film in school after school. We selected 10 people from each year randomly. This selection method allowed us to have different types of people to give us feedback. In this ay the feedback would't be biaest. Me and my group members gave the viewers a paper and and pen. We asked them to write one positive and one negative feedback. This feedback then helped us to see what one thing about are film was good and one thing that can be made better.

Uploading on Youtube

In addition to the screening i also uploaded my thriller film online. We uploaded the films on youtube as  we wanted more feedback. By uploading the film on youtube we got instant feedback. This feedback was given by people from different parts of the world. We recieved mixed comments and opinions of people from different parts of the world.

What feedback did you recieve ?

We recieved one negative comment and one posuitive comment from everyone that came to the screening of the film. One of the choosen comment both negative and positive feedback have been written below:

1)  interesting, realistic narrative, which was easy to follow. The first part of the narrative draws the audience in and makes them want to continue to watch  Kira Reynolds
2 ) The sound went very well with the narrative of the film and the actors were very convincing and engaging  Reggie Clark


Bad comments :
1) Use a wider variety of camera angles Jade Warden
2) More variety in the sound that is used  Eren Sadik

Reflection

The feddback given by the viewers was very constructive. As a group we went through all the comments that we recieved by the viewers. All the comments were helpful. Some of the weaknesses of our thriller film includes using more range of camera angles. We used very limited angles ; by using range of angles it can be interesting. We also used one type of sound throughout the film. Many people suggested to use various types of sound to build the auidiences interest.

Group Meetings

Group Meetings 

Me and my group members kept in track the meetings we had as a group and the the topic of each meeting. We kept in record whatever we discussed in that meeting and the opinions everyone had in this meeting. The purpose for carrying out this task was to keep in record the evidence of our planing that went towards our production. This planing helped us with our production as we could consult this document to look at any points that were made during the discussion. By carrying out these meetings it gave us a chance to mingle and know more about each other so when filming we have more understanding. The meetings allowed us to take in consideration the different ideas made by everyone and include these ideas in our thriller film.

I believe me and my group members worked very well together.  We made sure that we respected each others opinions and used only the best idea after making sure it was good with every person in the group. We cooperated very well with each other in the group.

Extra group storyboard

Extra group storyboard

Once we filmed our opening sequence we started going into the editing stage in the production. Before adding any effects to our opening sequence we made sure that we added all the clips that we filmed scene by scene in a correct order. This gave the film a continuity and made it more easier to get suggestions from our fellow students. Once we got our film together the total running time was 57 seconds. I reviewed the marking criteria which asks us students to have the opening sequence over 2 minutes. We soon realized that we didn't have enough footage to add to our thriller opening. While Drew continued with editing me and Becky came up with an extra 1 minute to our thriller opening. We quickly jot the ideas down on a piece of paper. As a group we then decided on what to include in that 1 minute of our opening. Once the ideas were finalized. I drew the storyboard and jot the idea scene by scene. We organized a filming time and carried out the filming. Below is the extra storyboard :

Planing Sound

The importance of sound

Sound is an important factor of any type of film. Audiences will often put up with the imperfect images but they are unforgiving if the audio quality isn't right. A film and video production doesn't include the dialogue but it includes different types of music and  parallel sounds. The audience will pay attention to it because it creates the mood of the scene. It is important to edit the audio with the right scene but if the sound doesn't match with the scenes then it can make a film look cheap. Sound adds emotion and rhythm to a film. There are two types of sounds diegetic that both the audiences and the characters can hear and non-diegetic that only the audience can hear. this is usually a soundtrack or tension building music played at the back. Sound is  a very powerful element for any type of film. It engages the audience with the scene and makes them feel the emotions that the characters might feel, For example loud music would make the audience tense. Sound can easily direct audiences attention.

Weeping/screaming sounds

This comes under diegetic sounds. The female character would be scene weeping and screaming. She would be screaming for help when the male character catches the female character and she is crying out loud for help.  this will be another element that would create tension within the audience. The audience would feel sympathy for her as she is in a situation where she is helpless.

Creaking

I will be adding the creaking sound to my thriller opening. This sound will be used to add tension when the villain enters the  scene. The door would slowly open which will create tension and nervousness in the audience. The constant creaking sound will create tension and will create tension between the audience and the character.

Footsteps

I would be using  sounds of footsteps when the villain enters the scene. The villain wouldn't be seen on screen but the audience and the character would hear footsteps. This will create tension between both the characters and the audience. The footsteps would create dramatic effect and set the mood of the scene.

Suspenseful music

I would also be using suspenseful music in the background at the beginning of my thriller opening this music will set the mood of the opening and will tell the audience what's to come next as the suspenseful music will create tension.

How is it conventional ?

Sound engages a distinct sense which can lead to a synchronization of senses. Sound helps to clarify image or events. The above sounds are very conventional to a thriller film. All sounds gives us clues as to what to expect. Foe example the creaking sound used in my thriller will make the audience expect that someone or something has entered the room. Sound can help the audience or redirect the viewer's expectations. The footsteps will also indicate that someone's coming this will create tension and suspense as to who it might be.  The weeping sound is conventional as the victim is in a situation that is playing with her emotions. Her emotions come out ; she weeps as she is helpless. This will make the audience feel for you. The soundtrack used to set mood of  a scene.

Editing Styles

The importance of editing

Editing involves turning raw material into a finished product. It is one of the most important components of  the entire film industry. editing is when all the shots are put together to give it a continuous feel. The development in technology these days have allowed filmmakers to make CGI ( computer generated images ) to include in their films. These days people can film a movie in a small room and polish it using the latest technology. It allows them to get rid of any unwanted audio , audio retouching , adding transitions and effects and the credits and titles at the end. Following are some of the editing styles we will be using  :

• Slow editing
• Fade
• Jump cut

Slow editing : Me and my group members decided to use slow editing for the first shot ; this involves the female character sitting in the chair weeping. The reason i choose slow editing is because it created dramatic effect and sympathy for the character through the slow motion. This is a very conventional type of editing style. It involves in the character doing something in slow motion. The slow motion adds effect to a scene. For example in the movie 'strangers'  the female character is walking towards the door slowly.This makes the audience worry about what is going to happen. It makes the scene dramatic. The dramatics of the scene keeps the audience wondering what's going to come next. This feeling will keep them interested in the film so they can find out what was there. Slow editing is the most conventional form of editing. Slow editing adds to suspense and this involves the audience into the film and they want to continue watching to find what might happen next.

Fade : We choose to use fade editing style at the end of our opening sequence. This is because the ending shot involves the female character sitting in he chair and male protagonist with a knife near the female characters legs. We can see the female characters blood running down near her legs. Ending the scene on fade would leave the audience wondering about what happened to the young girl. What did the male character did with her.This is another conventional editing style. It involved an ending of a scene with a fade. A black screen. This leaves the audience thinking of what happened to a character in the scene. It is a mystery and it makes the audience to carry on watching to find out. this keeps the audience interested in the film and makes them want to continue watching.b A fade usually means an ending of a scene or the film. Fade can be used both ways an end to a scene or leaving a scene on a cliffhanger. This is another conventional type of editing as it leaves audience thinking and they want to continue watching to find out what happened.

Jump cut : Jump cut is an abrupt transition between shots.We used jump cut editing style when the young girl is running from the make character. The camera is focusing on her when from behind the male protagonist grabs her. The camera suddenly focuses on the male character. Jump cut is a change in focusing of a subject. The point of editing is to give a film a continuous feel. But a jump cut makes the camera focus from something to something else. This is conventional to a thriller film because it leaves the audience guessing on what happened to a previous subject. It involves the audience in the film and leaves them guessing on what happened to the character in the previous scene. This is another conventional type of editing as it leaves the audience guessing. Jump cut involves cutting through a shot to another one. It leaves the audience in suspense on what happened in the previous scene.

Conclusion

Using the above editing styles will make our thriller film conventional to the common factors of a thriller film. I have decided to use the above editing techniques for my thriller film. Every type of editing technique complements the conventions of a thriller film. The slow editing is the most conventional form of editing. This type of editing creates dramatic effect that involves the audience and creates suspense as the audience doesn't know what is about to happen. This creates the common factors of conventions suspense and surprise. The audience expects something else and something different happens. Fade is another editing style that can leave the audience in suspense. It leaves the audience thinking about what might had happened. Fade involves a blank screen that can be edited to indicate an end of the scene or to leave a mystery.

Opening Credits

 The purpose of film credits

The opening credits is at the beginning of the film this introduces the important roles in that film. In some cases it underlines the famous actors or actresses within the film. The opening credits can be presented in number of ways. Usually there is a background to the credits and a soundtrack. this is usually the opening scene or a part of the film. The opening scene sets the foundation of the film it hints what may the film be about. Having the credits at the beginning of the film is a traditional way but some of the films have changed that to the end of the film. One example of this type of film is ''around the world in 80 days 1956 ''.

Order of the opening credits :

• Name of the studio
• Name of the production company
• Producer name
• Director name ''A film by ... ''
• starring ''main actors and actresses ''
• The name of the film

Seven opening credits

1. color : The use of color is important in a film. This opening credit has used black and white. This use of black and white has given it a scary look and make it look full of suspense. The black and white use of color makes the opening sequence have a scary mood. Shadows are created as-well this makes the audience think of what maybe the shadow is coming from. This creates enigma which is a common aspect of a thriller film.
2. style of the credits : The font used is in white color to make it stand out from the dark background. The font seems like it is carved this can be compared to n intimidating look. It looks spooky this complements  the genre of the film. The style of the credits are very conventional and the color scheme of the font and the style is conventional.
3. conventions of thriller  : The sounds used are full of suspense and go with the genre of the film. The sounds are alarming. Disturbing images are created that are common to a thriller film. We can only see the persons hands and shadows . His identity has been hidden. Hidden identity is a common convention of  a thriller. There is a use of range of iconography used like pins , needles , and blades. These are common conventions of a thriller. This builds up tensions and hints what might the film be about. 
4. order of appearance :  Following is the order that it came in :

• production company name
• A film by David Fincher
• Brad Pitt
• Morgan Freeman
• Name of the film ''Se7en''
• Gwyenth Paltrow
• Directed by David Fincher

The production company has been stated at the beginning. David Fincher has been shown many times as he is famous for creating suspense and shock in his films. We can see the names of the actors as they are top Actors ( brad pitt and Morgan Freeman ). The name of the film is written in the middle of the opening sequence. The name flickers which creates suspense. David Fincher is said at the end as well for emphasis as he is one of the top thriller filmmaker.

Sixth Sense opening Credits

1. color : The background is plain black and the credits are white. The white is used to make the credits stand out. There is a contrast of black and white to give it a suspenseful look. 
2. Style of credits : The font style is plain and simple. The credits come and go. This creates suspense. The credits come in and fade out. The credits come and go quickly. This creates mystery through the credits.
3. conventions of a thriller : The comparison of black and white is conventional to a thriller film as black and white creates suspense. The music is loud it startles the audience. These create shock and suspense and are the common conventions of thriller films.

1. order of appearance : Following is the other it comes in :

• production company
• producers
• actor
• title name
• casting by
• Editor
• Director

Group Discussion

As a group we looked at different types of thriller opening sequences. this helped us to gather ideas for our thriller opening. The film se7en opening sequence was very conventional to the thriller genre. The use of font, style , images and sound all went perfectly to gather and created the elements of shock and suspense. This film sequence has inspired us for our thriller film. The font style in the opening sequence is conventional to a thriller and we will be using something similar to the font. The sound effects used created suspense an a thrill. The sounds startled the audience. We will be using sounds similar to startle the audience.

Our thriller film

Me and my group members decided on the following :

• The size : Small and subtle
• The color : Grey with glow around the edges. The glow will create effect. This will be conventional to the thriller genre.
• The order in which they will appear : production name , directors , actors , editor and the title of the film
• The style of font : Carved  on a tree  ( title ) Rest of the  credits will be bold and scribbly 

Filming Schedule

Introduction

Having a filming schedule is important. It allows the filmmaker to be more organized. The filming schedule made us complete our filming routine in time. The schedule had  details of what we need and what type of camera shot that we need to use. Me and my group members came up with the schedule. While filming our thriller we made some changes. We shot more clips using different camera angles. We filmed extra clips so we have choice when we are editing. Below is our filming schedule: