Creating Our Questionnaire

Before creating our trailer for our film, myself and Ferne decided to carry out some initial market research to ensure that our trailer contains all of the aspects we need use in order to appeal to our target audience.



We have decided to use a questionnaire to find out information that will be helpful to our overall project. This will influence our overall decisions, as we want to include our target audiences interest. We designed our questionnaire together to make sure we pulled together all of the information we both wanted to find out to help our project. This research is crucial as we are still in the early stages of planning and can easily make any alterations or changes that we may need to.



After asking 100 participants we analysed our results by creating clear graphs for each question. We both had 50 questionnaires to hand out each and in doing so we tried to target our audience in order to gain the responses of our target market, which is relevant to our project. After collecting the information we then put them into graphs and analysed each graph to show what importance it has to our overall project. In comparison to our plot and storyboard myself and Ferne have made an accurate representation of our target audiences needs. However we will evaluate our plot and storyboard to ensure we include certain aspects that our target audience want to see and that will appeal to them.


Creating and analysing our questionnaire results have helped me to gain an understanding of market research and have an insight to our target audiences interests and ideals that a film should have. This will ultimately help me in creating a target that will appeal to my audience and to include customer needs.

Analysis Of Others Storyboards

After creating out first storyboard, our class got together and swapped storyboards. The idea was that we would be able to gain feedback on our own storyboard and give others feedback, whilst gaining a better understanding of what to include.

I analysed Anna's storyboard and found it very good, although she could have had more annotations around the images to help her ideas be portrayed as well as they can when filming. Anna had lots of boxes that showed each individual shot, which gave her a very detailed plan to work on.

We received feedback that our storyboard was very good, however we had not added any images, and our feedback suggested it would be to our benefit. Myself and Ferne have taken on this feedback and have decided to add images to help us identify what our shot should look like when filming. This will be more time effective for us and will enable to undertake our filming more effectively, which will give us more time to do the editing and do more filming if necessary.

Creating a Storyboard For Our Trailer

Myself and Ferne have decided to work together on this project, as we feel we can contribute an equal amount of knowledge that will work together to create the best possible trailer and additional features.

When deciding what plot we were going to use for our trailers, we looked at both of our film pitches and decided which plot we could realistically use and portray as the most professional. We decided that we would use my film pitch for our trailer, as we could use many effects and shots that would make it seem professional.

Together we created our first storyboard for our trailer. This storyboard was very detailed in our annotations and gave clear notes to show what would be in the shot, who would be in it, what the shot type was and gave indications to the sound in the shot. We also described each shot transition and started to give estimations of shot times in order to fit in comfortably into a teaser trailer. We had six boxes for our storyboard, however some boxes contained flashing images that we have annotated but not drawn.

As this is our first storyboard for our trailer, i think we have a very detailed approach in its construction. We have contained a lot of information about each shot and its function to help us when we are filming the trailer. However the images may need to be drawn again, as instead of describing them, we need a clear box of each shot. This will help us in creating our own trailer as we have planned it in a lot of detail and it is very clear on what we need to achieve. This will avoid time wasting and help us to see what is necessary for the trailer.

Watching Trailers

After presenting my film pitch, i then started to watch teaser trailers in the genre of horror in order to gain a good understanding of what a professional trailer would include, as i would like my trailer to look as professional as possible. These trailers included, 'Jennifer's Body', 'Antichrist' and 'Sorority Row'.

I noticed that within these trailers, there were very similar aspects that they all used. Most of the trailers included captions and fades, in order to entice the audience as it is unclear and create a build up of action. Many had flashes of events and used unstable cameras to make the viewer feel uneasy and therefore apprehensive, as they aren't aware of what is happening. The fear of the unknown is hugely portrayed within horror movies, which include low level lighting, as in the dark you are unaware of your surroundings, which makes the audience feel uncomfortable. I also found that many horror trailers ended with a quick, scary image, which helps to make the film memorable for the audience and persuade them to watch the film.

By looking at teaser trailers i can gain an understanding of the conventions within them and then apply them to my own trailer. I have found it hard to find many teaser trailers, which means that my timings will have to be very accurate and will limit my use of certain shots.

Presentation of Pitch

I felt that my film pitch went very well as i used the slides and my script together in order to visually and aurally communicate my ideas. My presentation resembled the genre of horror as it was dark and used flashes on the images and fades on the writing, which created a scary vibe in order for the audience to imagine the film.

After the pitch i received some feedback from the class and found that people enjoyed my presentation and would have bought it. I also received feedback that my opening line for the film engaged them instantly. I am considering using this idea for my coursework as i believe it has potential and will be able to portray the genre of horror well in my trailer.

Creating My Film Pitch

Sophie Green is a sweet seventeen year old girl who lives in Ohio.

She just happened to fall in love with the wrong guy.

Blinded by love, she lies as she tell her family she is going on a girly holiday to get over him.

As Sophie seeks secret refugee at Kai’s house, all is not as it seems.

Clue by clue, her boyfriends dark secrets start to unwravel and her refugee suddenly becomes her prison.

This once innocent lie fabricated by love and desire, now holds more than one life in danger.

genre of horror aims to evoke emotions of fear and terror within the audience and hopes to visually show our worst fears which may achieve a cathartic response. It usually involves common themes of death, mental illness and the supernatural. The characters within this film genre usually have central villain to which the plot revolves around and a character that the audience are compassionate towards and therefore feel terror for their safety. Horror films traditionally combine with science fiction, such as films like Frankenstein, however a modern approach to the genre has seen a sense of realism, which in turn makes the audience fear for their own safety. This approach helps to engage the audience and stimulate more emotions that before.

The plot of my film is about a young teenage girl called Sophie who’s boyfriend, Kai, becomes isolated and out casted from her family, as they believe he will only cause drama in her life. With Sophie’s anger raging from being forbidden to see her boyfriend, she arranges a girly holiday in the UK, or so her family thinks. Really Sophie plans to spend the week with her boyfriend and couldn’t feel further from ultimate bliss. Although as time goes on Sophie grows suspicious of her boyfriends late nights and the blood stains she finds on his clothes. One day when Sophie is looking for a film to watch she discovers the horrific truth. As she plays the film her world crumbles and she knows that she is in danger as she watches her boyfriend: a rapist and a murderer. Bounding through the doors she tries to escape but Kai suddenly appears and drags her down to the cellar, where she sees the first evidence of his sickening secret. A bed with handcuffs attached to every corner of the bed for each foot and hand. As Sophie lays trapped Kai vindictively calls her sister in front of her helpless and ‘begs her to see him as he is so worried because Sophie has run away’. As Kai licks his lips he goes to hunt down his next victim. She knows her sisters fate, she's lying in the evidence, and yet will give anything to stop this, even her own life. A tragic story of sisterly love and sinister lies, but does good always prevail?

Sophie is the protagonist in the film and is portrayed as a sweet girl, who is stereotypical of an American sweetheart. She works hard at school, loves her family and cares for her friends greatly. However, love is a vision that is so dear to Sophie and when Kai takes interest in her, she falls head over heels for him and isolates herself from everything she found important. This makes her greatly dependent on Kai and very vulnerable to him.

Kai is a deceitful character with an evil hidden agenda. He takes great interest in Sophie’s innocence and beauty, and takes pleasure in corrupting her and having her as a trophy. The conflict with her family only encourages Kai as he thrives off other people’s pain. His crimes of rape and murder make him feel invincible and his control over Sophie arouses him, which makes him lead this double life of secrets.

I would like to use certain actresses and actors within my film, although it may not always be possible I will still like to share my vision.

I believe Rachel Mc Adams would play the part of Sophie beautifully as she has previously acted in the role of a sweetheart in the film ‘The Notebook’, in which she also has conflict with her family due to her choice of partner. She has also acted in thrillers such as ‘Redeye’ and has an endearing appearance, which may help the audience feel compassionate towards.

I also believe that the role of Kai would be most suitable for Cillian Murphy. Cillian Murphy has a charming appearance but however can have the look of no emotion and no remorse. Previously Murphy also acted in the movie ‘Red eye’ and played the role of the villian extremely well, sowing a callous side to him, which Kai must have. The main character would have therefore also worked together and avoided any demands or conflict that might have occurred between two professionals.

The target audience for most horror movies are people aged between 15 – 45. This is because between these ages people are less shocked then others and can appreciate the films artwork without finding it too offensive to watch. The certification of 15 is what I am aiming for, otherwise I will lose a huge percentage of my target audience and will ultimately lose money due to the restrictions. They will most likely be a group of people who watch the film, in order to comfort each other and to experience the emotions together. This would not be suitable for a family as this will not provide the parents with nothing but distress.

Many films within the same genre can be seen to have many similar aspects within other films as well, this is because the genre has many conventions and in following them your story will have similar ideas. My film grabs the best elements of horror of dark secrets, violence, isolation, helplessness and revenge. The concept of the film is the fear of the unknown and the loss of control we have over it, this concept is shown in the title of the film, ‘Secrets’. It creates an emotional and fearful experience that will terrify and keep the audience thoroughly entertained.

My task was to create a pitch for an original film that we had created. I found this very challenging to think of the plot for the film, as it had to be appealing to my target audience and it couldn't already exist. It also had to be something that i could realistically use to film a trailer, if i choose to use that plot.

I wanted to do a film under the genre of horror, as i researched it and presented a presentation on two trailers and the conventions of horror. I found this genre the most interesting compared to comedy, which i also investigated. I wanted to do a genre that i had researched as i have gained knowledge from this and will be more confident in creating a trailer from it.

In my film pitch i included lots of details about the film, such as the plot, possible casting, the genre of horror and its conventions, my target audience, an introduction to the film, character analysis and similar films.

After creating a plot i found it easier to think of the other details, as my film came together it seemed like it fitted into the horror genre well. My presentation contained slides that didn't use much writing in order to make the audience think, whilst i gave them more detail from my script.

Poster Analysis

For my project i then had to choose one of the three films that i previously analysed and analyse the film poster for it. I choose 'Pineapple Express' and through analysing the film trailer i could see synergy used throughout the marketing campaign, to make the film recognisable and unique.

I annotated the film poster in a powerpoint slide, commenting on the composition of the poster, the image and the text. Here is an example of what i included in my analysis:

The composition of this image suggests that the two characters lives are parallel with each other.

The facial expressions of the two characters are happy and relaxed, which are the affects of cannabis. This image anchors the slogan of ‘Put this in your pipe and smoke it’. This image also supports it due to the mist in the background which could be smoke and therefore suggests the theme of the film.

Evaluation:

I found this task very valuable to my overall project as it allowed me to see the synergy used in a marketing project and what similarities are used within the same genre. It gave me a greater understanding of the genre and the marketing within the film industr

y. This will help me when putting together my project. If i could improve my task i would have analysed another genre, as it was very specific and hard to gain a lot of information on.