Questionnaire (Field Research)

A questionnaire is a series of questions that are asked to random members of the public, and is used to extract specific information.

I have designed a questionnaire to ensure that my trailer decisions made are justified, and reduce the risk of failure. Capturing the audience's attention is essential, and in order to attract their attention, we would have to meet their wants and needs. A questionnaire is mixed with open and closed questions. 

A closed question is a question in which the person being asked would have to give a specific answer. In this case, they would have to tick a box, so answers can be quantified in analysis.

An open question is a question in which a 

I have interviewed 100 people in Bond Street (Central London), on the 12^th January 2013. Below is the questionnaire that we've handed out to people:

Questionnaire for Media Trailer (Pre-Production)

How old are you?

0-11 [ ] 12-14 [ ] 15-17 [ ] 18-25 [ ] 26-35 [ ] 36+ [ ]

What movie genre are you interested in?

Thriller [ ] Drama [ ] Romance [ ] Comedy [ ] Horror [ ]

What type of horror would you most prefer to watch?

Action [ ]  Comedy [ ]  Gothic [ ]  Natural [ ]  Psychological [ ]  Science-Fiction [ ]   Slasher [ ]  Splatter [ ]  Zombie [ ]

Out of these titles, what one would you prefer a paranormal trailer to be?

Psychosis [ ]  Ultionem (Latin for revenge) [ ] Narrow Light [ ] Blood and Trust [ ]

What colour would you most associate with horror?

Red [ ]  Blue [ ]  Green [ ]  Yellow [ ]  Purple [ ]  Black [ ]  White [ ]  Orange [ ]

What keeps you most interested in a trailer?

Editing [ ]  Storyline [ ]  Actors [ ]

What are your life’s goals?

__________________________________________

Do you think horror trailers in 2012/2013 are too violent?

Yes [ ]  No [ ]

Explain why

__________________________________________

Current Prop List/Starting to Film

With reference to our script and storyboard, I have written up a prop list that we would need for our scenes. A prop is "a portable object other than furniture or costumes used on the set of a play or movie". Below, I have put props that we would need, and the reasons why we need it:

Current prop list for filming from SorinA2Media

Starting to film

Also, we have started filming the production for our trailer. We have taken shots of the main scenes that will help build our storyline. This includes taking shots of the "football scene", where we establish that the cast is playing football, and the phone is dropped, which will lead to myself (Josh) picking up the phone. We have taken a shot where we establish the scene of us playing football. We done this through the use of an establishing shot (long shot), to help set the scene. We also did a panning shot of the scene (where the camera position stays still, but the lens moves from one side to another) to help set the scene.



Moreover, we used a shot where we see Will shoot the ball into the back of the net. We've done this with another long shot, to ensure the whole activity of shot can be seen from the nature of the game, to the goal being scored. It also shows that the phone is dropped. However, I would've preferred to have the camera switch to another shot to see the phone falling out of his pocket (close up shot), but unfortunately, we do not have the high-quality technology in order to do that, nor could we figure out a reasonable alternative.



In order to show that the phone was dropped out of Will's pocket, we've decided to use a close up shot to establish the phone being stolen by someone else, which is not Will, but infact myself. We see myself cautiously kneel down and pick up the phone whilst everyone else is celebrating. I then slide it into my hoodie pocket, and I stand back up, before walking out of the shot.

Scene addition/Wreckie - Casual Location/Scene Change

A change that we've made is to include candid shots to give off a sense of a relationship in the opening scenes. What this will do is establish that the status quo (referring back to Todorov's theory, the equilibrium), being that the two are just acting how the stereotypical normal couple would. The idea we've come up with is to use a location where it is calm, and away from a busy environment, so that the couple can essentially escape from reality. In this instance, my group figured that using a park would be ideal for this. Below, we have captured shots of a few parks that we could potentially use in our filming.

(Photos)

What this will do will use the theory of "Mulvey's Male Gaze". This will be done, as the person behind the camera will be "Josh", and the person in front of the camera will be Rachel. Josh filming Rachel will make it seem to the audience that Josh praises Rachel enough to film her, and is willing to show her off to the world. Moreover, since the only character in the shot is an innocent Rachel, it results in all the focus being on her. I have decided that this will be around the opening of the trailer, to help establish that she is an innocent girl in a relationship.

Also, we have decided that it may been too hard to pull off the illusion of someone being hung in a house. Therefore, we have decided that it would be easier to give off the impression that Rachel has committed suicide through the overdose of pills. This would be emphasised through scattered pills, and a red coat thrown on the floor to reflect her unstable and stressed nature at the time. This would also be accompanied with blood running off her mouth, suggesting internal bleeding.

Starting to film - 16/1/13

Today, we have filmed some shots in regards to both the equilibrium and disruption. Firstly, we have filmed various shots in the bathroom, for an abduction/death scene that we intend to include towards the end of the trailer. In this, we have included Sinead to be the victim, since she is one of the argued antagonists in this film. She becomes relevant to this trailer, since we introduce her at the equilibrium section of the trailer. She is one of the people that mocks the killer at the beginning of the trailer, who looks to seek revenge on those who mocked her, hence why she is involved here.

We have decided to use a public toilet, since the ones we've used especially suggest isolation. Using isolation will suggest that the victim will have barely anywhere to run, since they are confined.

We have used a variety of shots to show how this scene comes about. Firstly, we have used a shot where we show Sinead entering the toilet. This is done in a long shot, where it shows a face-on shot of her entering the toilet. This is used as an establishing shot for where she comes in, should we use it to establish that location in our trailer.

We have then used a shot of where she is seen putting on her makeup, giving off the impression that she is carrying out her normal duties when she is there. This is done using a mid-shot, where only her torso and upwards can be shown in the shot. Also, we have placed the camera so that her reflection can be seen in the mirror, to show her facial expression whilst doing her make up. This is to show that there is no suggestion of worry from her body language to facial expression when she is doing her make up.

There is then a extreme close up on the lights that flicker in the toilet, to suggest that there could be a power cut, but in this instance, to introduce the presence of a paranormal entity, being the killer that is Rachel. Showing an extreme close up of the light shows that

Changing the layout of my blog/Character Profiles

Changing the layout

Minor change. In order to help emphasise the feel of horror, I have decided to change the layout so the focus is much more narrow-minded towards this genre. Although it may not be significant to our final trailer, it will be significant in terms of presentation, hence why I have decided to make this change.

The background that I've decided to use is named "fireblocks". Fire suggests danger, destruction and hazard, which usually means that someone should be alerted. Fire could also lead to death, which compliments the horror genre very well.

Character Profiles


The importance of character profiles is to help the actors in grasping an idea on how they should act. With detailed explanation, the actors can understand the personality of their character, which would mean that the way they would portray themselves in the trailer would be more pin-point. This would be in comparison to how they think they should act as the character, which may give off the wrong impressions of the character. I have produced several character profiles of the main characters in this trailer.

Rachel Smith

She is 17 years old. She is a follower of mainstream, and often likes to enjoy listening to her music to zone out of the world. Although she is an outgoing person, her perspective on life is narrow, and just focuses on having fun rather than considering any possible consequences.  As seen in this trailer, her consequences finally catch up to her, and she doesn’t know how to deal with it effectively. This leads on to her becoming confused and lost since she doesn't know how to deal with all the social pressure, which eventually leads her to find an easy way out, through committing suicide.

However, Rachel then becomes much more sadistic, as she is brought back to life. Instead of being the playful, and innocent girl that she once was, she becomes quite the opposite. Her characteristics become generally known as torturous through psychological dominance, and she is portrayed as shallow, and literally soulless. She doesn't express much emphatic facial expressions, except when she intends to play mind games on her victims.

Josh Rowland

Josh is also 17 years old, and is in a relationship with Rachel. He enjoys football, skateboarding, and darts. He comes across as playful, but also empathetic and joyful. He is always looking forward to what life can bring to him, which results in him always acting in a positive mood.

Tom Whyte

Tom is 18, and is a close friend of Jack. They have known each other for 5 years, being in the same classes for the majority of those years. He shares the same interests as Jack, but has more of a tendency to show off, create attention and create controversy which leaves him to be a bit annoying at times.  He does stuff mainly for “a laugh”, without much consideration of the consequences that his actions may behold, since his actions portray his naturally cocky and arrogant nature.

Mohammed Jama

He is in the circle of friends between Jack, Tom and others. Naturally timid, Mohammed comes off as an introvert, yet is still up for a laugh. Because he’s much of an introvert, he would look up to more outspoken members of the group, and follow their lead as they’re much more expressive than he is. However, he is still in control of his own opinions, and even though he won’t express it as much, he will gradually and eventually make some of his thoughts known to his friends.

Multiple theories

In our lesson today, we've learned about multiple theories that can help engage the audience.

Barthes theory
Barthes theory looks at two aspects of engaging a viewer.

Action codes - This is where something is implied, and the viewer can suggest what is going to happen next. For example, a cowboy drawing out a gun implies that a shootout is going to happen.

Enigma codes - This is where the viewer doesn't know what is going to happen, which leaves them guessing. This means that they can't imply what is going to happen, but is engaged enough to find out what it is.

Vladamir Propp's character theory
This involves looking at the stereotypical roles of characters. There are 8 types of characters that are usually prominent in films:

Hero - This is the character that is looking to restore the equilibrium in the film's world, so society benefits. Examples include Spiderman, Batman and Superman.

Villain - This is the character that causes the disruption, and looks to solve the disruption for the better good for themselves rather than society. They are always in conflict with the hero. Examples of villains include Dr. Doom, Magneto, and the Joker.

Donor - This is the character that gives the hero a vital piece of information to help solve the disruption.

Helper - This is usually referred to as the "sidekick", which is the character that aids the hero into solving the disruption.

Princess/Prize - This is the character that the hero may want to marry, but can't because of unfair evil. Therefore, they go to try and solve the disruption, so that they can marry the princess. An example of this is Mary Jane in the Spiderman movies.

False Hero - This is where a character tries and take credit for the

Father

Dispatcher - This is the character that sends off the hero to do the mission. Examples are Albert in Batman, or M in James Bond.

Film's Cool session: Meeting Gary Osbourne, and permission letter

Once again, I have participated in the film's cool session run by our teacher. Today, we had Gary Osbourne, the director of the Ivor Novello awards, and Jesse come in and help out with what song we should choose.

Below is a Q&A session with both Gary and Jesse, inspiring us how to break into the media industry as a possible career choice.
In order to use Gary Jules' "Mad World" for our trailer, we have to ask permission to use the song with intention of generating no profit. This will mean that we are legally able to use the song without any pressure of lawsuits that may arise through the use of this song. Below is the email created so that we gain permission to use the song, "Mad World".