You are on page 1of 13

What gender are you?

10 9 8 7 6

5
4 3 2 1

0
Male Female

This graph shows us the genders of people who took our questionnaire. It shows us that 9 males took the questionnaire and 5 females. By asking this question it has allowed us to gain deeper knowledge into finding out what both genders think as our target audience is unisex. This allows us to gain deeper knowledge into what our target audience think and want and to know whether our opening sequence appeals to both genders. Stereotypically, our previous research showed, that males are more likely to be associated with a psychological horror film. To challenge this we made our cast mainly female to draw in both genders to watch our film.

Is the soundtrack conventional with a psychological horror?


12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Yes No

This graph shows whether people thought our soundtrack was conventional to our genre of a psychological horror. 11 people thought it did and 3 people thought it didnt. It allows us to see whether our soundtrack met the needs of our target audience. We manipulated the sound to make the scene more dramatic at certain pivotal moments when more tension is necessary to build. This is powerful as it can also dramatize the influence of an equilibrium change within the narrative. We included sounds such as a piano and eerie violin strings to encourage the spooky atmosphere. The people that thought no may have felt like we needed more instruments and a stronger sound which we will test out over our footage.

Does our product connote the conventions of a psychological horror? Why?


8 7 6 5 4 3

2
1 0 Yes - sound track is extremely coventional Yes -Themes and Yes - Pace of the film met Yes- Camera positions suit characters build up tension the conventions the genre

7 people felt that our soundtrack was extremely conventional to our genre. We used sounds such as a piano and eerie violin strings to encourage the spooky atmosphere and built the tension with the sound at pivotal moments within the narrative. This made our soundtrack conventional to our genre. 4 people said that our themes and characters built up tension. We dressed our characters in normal clothes to create a higher sense of realism and verisimilitude. This would lead the audience into believing what is happening creating more tension. 1 person said that the pace of the film met the conventions and 2 people said that the camera positions suited the genre. We included camera shots such as In our film we included a variety of camera angles such as low angles, close-ups, tracking shots etc. We manipulated the positioning of the camera to add to the spooking atmosphere, it also built tension on vital scenes to make the audience feel on edge as to what may happen next. This meets the need of the audience as this is what they expect to feel when watching a psychological horror film.

Was there a sense of enigma during the sequence, did this work? How?
6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Yes- Gives a sense of foreboding, tenison and danger Yes - Mystery was created Yes - Soundtrack was mysterious Yes- Camera angles added tension

When answering this question 3 people said that our opening sequence gives a sense of foreboding, tension and danger. This is conventional to our genre as horror films are meant to create danger and leave the audience feeling on edge. This shows us that we are meeting the needs of our target audience in what they were expecting. 3 people said that mystery was created. This uses enigma code as the audience are left wandering about what is going to happen next and keeps the audience interested in what is going to happen next. 5 people said that our soundtrack is mysterious. Within our soundtrack we included sounds such as a piano and eerie violin strings to create a sense of spookiness and mystery. This shows us that we have been successful when making our soundtrack and wanting to target it in this way. 3 people said that the camera angles added tension. When filming our opening sequence we included shots such a close-ups , tracking shots and low angles to make the viewers feel on edge and to build tension where necessary. This shows that we have met the needs of our target audience.

Are the titles conventional to a psychological horror?


12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Yes No

11 people thought that our titles were conventional to our genre of a psychological horror movie . For our titles we created, we used the colours white and a hint of green for the font of the writing with a black background. A black background can connote danger, evil and death. It brings are dark atmosphere and mood to the beginning of the film. This uses enigma code as it creates a mystery because the darkness of the background makes the audience feel on edge when watching which engages them to want to watch on. Binary opposition is used here as the colour white for the text can connote light, purity and goodness. It contrasts with the black background as we have bad and good contrasting each other. However 3 people thought that our titles were not conventional to our genre. This may have been because they might have preferred a different colour on the titles such as red as red connotes blood, evil and suffering which is more relatable to a horror film.

Does the opening sequence entice you to watch the rest of the film, if so why?
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Yes No

1
0 To reveal what happens Conventional to the genre next Leaves you on a cliff hanger Not enough suspense built

8 people chose that our opening sequence would entice them to want to watch the rest of the film because they want to reveal what happens next. As we left our opening sequence on a cliff hanger it leaves the audience in suspense as to what may happen. Throughout the opening sequence we have also left a lot of unanswered questions such as who the text to the mother could have been from, who the person in the house watching them was and who reached out to the girls shoulder at the end. This draws the audience in to want to know the answers to these questions and find out what happens later on in the narrative. 2 people said that it was conventional to our genre. This means it would draw in horror film loves right from the beginning. This uses the uses and gratification theory as it allows the audience to identify the genre from the beginning of the film. 3 people said because it leaves you on a cliff hanger. This would draw the audience in to want to find out what is going to happen and who and what it may have been about.

Does the editing pace of the film add to the genre? (E.g. cuts between scenes)
12 10

0 Yes No

11 people who answered our questionnaire thought that the editing pace of our film added to the genre. When editing and cutting our footage, we created certain moments very jumpy and made it switch from shot to shot and to different people revealing something vital about each character. We did this at it would allow for the audience to feel on edge when watching and also keep them interested and engaged into what is going on. This adds to the genre as this is how you are meant to feel when watching a psychological horror. This uses the uses and gratification theory as it allows the audience to identify the genre because of the tense theme of fear from the scene cuts. However 3 people said that they didnt think our editing pace added to the genre. This may have been because they felt the scenes were cut in the wrong places and too frequently.

Has the lighting been used sufficiently in order to add to the genre (pshyological horror)?
12

10

0 Yes No

11 people thought that the lighting within our opening sequence was used sufficiently in order to add to the genre. Within our film we used dark lighting inside the location of where it takes place, it creates a spooky atmosphere and eeriness within the house. This also can reflect onto how the audience is feeling as it makes them feel more scared and on edge. This uses the uses and gratification theory as it allows the audience to identify the genre by the dark setting. However 3 people thought that our lighting did not add the genre of a psychological horror. This may have been because we did not portray the scene to be dark and spooky enough.

Is the dialogue effective, if so why? (e.g. more dialogue, less dialogue)


6

3 Yes No 2

0 Little dialogue adds tenison Minimal dialogue leaves unanswered questions Less dialogue connotes vulnerablity More dialogue to gain further knowledge of the narrative

Have the main characters been established in the role they are going to play? (e.g. who the villain is? who the damsel in distress will be? etc.)
14 12 10

8
All characters expect the villian 6 4 2 0 Yes No Not enough information given

12 people thought that our characters have been established as o what plays they would be playing from watching the opening sequence. Through each character that was previewed we showed what role they may be playing through the film however we gave the characters less dialogue within the opening sequence to make the characters more eerie. We haven't revealed who the villain is and what they look like yet to engage the audience into watching the rest of the film to find out what happens later on in the narrative even though the villain has been used within the opening. This is why 2 people may have thought no.

Are there any improvements/changes you would make, if so what and why?
12

10

Yes No

0 It was good and conventional More dialogue needed Make lighting more eerie

10 people thought it was good and conventional and that we didnt have to change anything. We made our film conventional by having dark lighting to bring a spooky atmosphere, used a variety of camera angles conventional to the genre such as close-ups, created a spooky soundtrack to create tension, created titles suitable for our film etc. 2 people thought that we needed more dialogue. The reason for us not having dialogue was so that not too much was given away at the beginning to draw the audience in to want to watch more. 2 people said to make the lighting more eerie. We did have dark lighting within our setting but maybe could have exaggerated this to meet all the audiences needs and expectations.

Do the camera/shot/angles represent the conventions of a psychological horror?


16 14 12 10

8
6 4 2 0 Yes No

All 14 of the people who took our questionnaire thought that our camera shots and angles represented the conventions of a psychological horror. We included a variety of camera angles such as low angles, close-ups, tracking shots etc. Using these shots helps to create tension and helps portray the tense atmosphere to the audience. This uses the uses and gratification theory as it allows the audience to identify the genre and feel on edge. The advantage of this is that it allows us to show the significance of each character and are able to represent the change in power.

How has the mise-en-scene set the narrative for a psychological horror?
4.5
4 3.5

3
2.5 2

1.5
1 0.5 0 Lighting and sound The setting and location Empty eerie house Cold and harsh atmosphere Gives the protagonist a sense of isolation makes it relatable

4 people thought the lighting and sound set the narrative for a psychological horror. Within our opening sequence we used dark lighting to create an eerie atmosphere within the house and make the characters seem more vulnerable and encourage the feeling of the audience feeling on edge. We created an eerie, spooky soundtrack throughout the whole of the opening sequence which became more dramatic at pivotal moment to build the tension. 4 people thought the setting and location. We used a house to film as it would make it easier for the audience to relate to it being a family home. This would also make them more scared as it would make them realise that it could also happen to them just like it did to the normal family in the film. This helps raise the verisimilitude. 4 people thought that using an empty eerie house set the narrative of a psychological horror. This adds to the theme of fear and creates more tension and spooky atmosphere. 1 person said because of the cold and harsh atmosphere and 1 person said that it gives the protagonist a sense of isolation and makes it relatable.

You might also like