Target Audience Research

Target audience research:

The usual age for the target audience of a horror movie is 15-25. The most common reason for this is that young adults and teenagers enjoy thrills. The thrills that people discover during a horror move are most likely to excite a younger audience rather than an older audience. Many young audiences are not put off by graphic images and some would say that they are more drawn towards them. For an example, the human centipede, the film is banned from various countries however this makes the younger audience want to watch it more. Horror films are mainly aimed at males as opposed to females because stereotypically males prefer violence more than a female would.  Another reason would be that young males are more immature and would enjoy looking at gory things.

Horror films are mainly aimed at the middle class. This is due to the fact they can acquire thrills if they need to do so in other ways, whereas for a member of the working class it may be a way for them to escape the real world. Commonly the target audience and interests of a horror film are blood and intensive violence. Also, targeted at individuals that have an interest in the supernatural and unexplained. Horror films can also be targeted at groups of people. For an example horror films are aimed at groups of teenagers, as it is almost a social event to watch a horror film and be scared together. Horror films can also be aimed at young couples who are on their first dates. The audience can often relate to the characters that are in the horror movie and they often form relationships due to the similarities and therefore have a stronger emotion pull to the film.

Here are some horror movies that are aimed at different target audiences:

The cabin in the woods – young couples

Strangers- young men

A nightmare on Elm Street – couples

Texas chainsaw massacre – young men 

Target Audience Research

Target audience research:

The usual age for the target audience of a horror movie is 15-25. The most common reason for this is that young adults and teenagers enjoy thrills. The thrills that people discover during a horror move are most likely to excite a younger audience rather than an older audience. Many young audiences are not put off by graphic images and some would say that they are more drawn towards them. For an example, the human centipede, the film is banned from various countries however this makes the younger audience want to watch it more. Horror films are mainly aimed at males as opposed to females because stereotypically males prefer violence more than a female would.  Another reason would be that young males are more immature and would enjoy looking at gory things.

Horror films are mainly aimed at the middle class. This is due to the fact they can acquire thrills if they need to do so in other ways, whereas for a member of the working class it may be a way for them to escape the real world. Commonly the target audience and interests of a horror film are blood and intensive violence. Also, targeted at individuals that have an interest in the supernatural and unexplained. Horror films can also be targeted at groups of people. For an example horror films are aimed at groups of teenagers, as it is almost a social event to watch a horror film and be scared together. Horror films can also be aimed at young couples who are on their first dates. The audience can often relate to the characters that are in the horror movie and they often form relationships due to the similarities and therefore have a stronger emotion pull to the film.

Here are some horror movies that are aimed at different target audiences:

The cabin in the woods – young couples

Strangers- young men

A nightmare on Elm Street – couples

Texas chainsaw massacre – young men 

special effects makeup tutorial

This is another video that i have found that think will look good because in our horror movie, the scary character had been murdered at its house which is why it is still haunting it. The clawed special effects look will suit well with the murdered body and spiritual, ghost like character. The steps are pretty straight forward and easy to follow.

special effects makeup

Here is a special effects makeup tutorial that i have found online that we could use in our horror move to make one of our main characters look the part. As the character we have picked is standing in the garden staring up at Charlotte through the window, We thought an effect like this will look good and more scary.

SOUNDTRACK RESEARCH

Soundtrack research:

The following soundtracks that I have listed below are royalty free! See the links below to see our options for music for our film.

THIRTEEN:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eze5Lv1vCp8

One of the soundtracks that I have got is from the ride ‘Thirteen’ at Alton Towers Resort. The ride itself is a horror ride and is based around ghosts and spiritual and paranormal activity. There is no lyrics in this soundtrack, it sounds like something is whispering. There are many sections of this song that we can use for different parts of our opening two minutes. The song starts of slow but still scary and then gets more tense and faster the further in you get. Half way through the soundtrack you can hear nursery rhymes playing and the sound of someone heavy breathing over the top of it, almost as if they are running from something or have seen something. This will fit in well with the scene where charlotte spots the spirit standing in the garden. At the end of the song there is a countdown in a scary spiritual voice and then you hear a girl scream which will work well when charlotte spots the figure and is wishing it wasn’t there.

SMILER:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpAKsWssXpA

The next soundtrack I have found is much more tense and has a heavy beat to it, almost like a countdown to something that is about to happen or as if something was coming. In the background you can hear faint laughing, more of a cackle which is quite scary. This soundtrack is a good way to set the mood for the target audience. I would say that this soundtrack is more suitable for the scene where charlotte sees how the figure standing in the garden dies.  Half way through you hear a piercing scream almost as if someone is in pain and then it has people laughing to the beat of the song which will be a good way of making the audience feel uncomfortable and intimidated because it will make them think that they are being laughed at or as if something has control over them.

DARK TENSION RISING:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zvQoPyY2XE

This soundtrack sounds similar to the Jaws soundtrack in the sense that is soft and then has big, tense and scary outbursts where the audience then works out that something is going to happen. In the background of the tense music you can hear almost as if there’s a choir which can be quite daunting. When people think of choirs they most likely think of church choirs which link to death and grave yards which are associated with death. In our film there is a spirit that is disturbed and is causing fear and trouble to the real world. A spirit that is meant to be laid to rest or at peace is coming back for revenge.

Film interview with Charlotte

We have recently interviewed one of the people that is going to be in our film and asked her a few questions about the genre of the film, the location and setting of the film and about the planning of our film. Please watch the video to find out what was discussed in the interview!

The questions that were asked were the following:

Why did you choose to be in our film?

1. Why did you choose to be in our film?
2. What do you expect to see in a horror film?
3. What character are you playing?
4. Where is it being filmed?
5. Does the planning live up to your expectations of a horror?

Film Certificates

Film certificates

Universal:

When the film is rated U it means that the film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over although it is hard to predict what will and what won’t upset a child. U films should be set within a positive framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror. References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be infrequent or have a clear educational purpose or anti-drug message suitable for young children.

Parental guidance (PG):

Parental guidance is very similar to the Universal rating however some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. A PG film should not unsettle a child aged around eight or older. Unaccompanied children of any age may watch, but parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset their child. Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of, or in educational or historic context.  References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must carry a suitable anti-drug message. In regards to imitable behaviour, no detail of potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy, if that behaviour is presented as safe or fun.  There will be mild bad language only. Aggressive or very frequent use of mild bad language will result in the film being rated higher. There may be nudity but with no sexual scenes. Sexual activity may be applied but must be discreet and infrequent. If the film has any violence in it then it must be mild. However there may be moderate violence, without detail, if justified by its context.

12/12A RATING:

Films that are rated 12 or a 12A contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged fewer than 12. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless they are supervised by an adult. Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be endorsed by the work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly condemned.  Any misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not give instructional detail. In regards to the language used, there may be moderate language. Strong language may be permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, its frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification. In a 12/12A film there may be nudity, but in a sexual context it must be brief and discreet. Sexual activity may occur briefly and or discreetly portrayed. There may be moderate physical and psychological threat and horror sequences. Although some scenes may be disturbing, the overall tone should not be.  There may be violence in the film but it should not dwell on the detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by the context. Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated, and its depiction must be justified by context.

15 RATING:

No one younger than 15 may see a 15 film in a cinema. The film as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour, although there may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language. Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug usage for an example making it clear to the audience how to use/ do it. Dangerous behaviour should not dwell on detail which could be copied. There may be strong language. Very strong language may be permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used. There are no restrictions on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.  There may be strong threat and horror. A sustained focus on sadistic or sexual threat is unlikely to be acceptable.

18 RATING:

No one younger than 18 may see an 18 film in the cinema or rent out an 18 rated film. In an 18 rated film, sex material genuinely is there to inform and educate for an example human sexuality or safer sex and health, even though they can go into detail in an 18 rated film, there still needs to be a purpose. In regards to sex scenes, explicit images of sexual activity are allowed. Another reason why a film could be rated as in 18 is because the film may contain hard drug use and the scenes may be educational and instructional. There may also be sadistic violence or sexual abuse.

THE GUEST HOUSE

The Guest House:

The film ‘The Guest House is a romance film. At the very beginning of the trailer there is non-digetic music playing which is upbeat and fits in well with the target audience which is teenagers. The audience are able to work out that the film is going to be a romance film because at the very beginning they introduce the main character Rachel. The father of Rachel at the very beginning tells Rachel that she is grounded and that no boys are allowed over which automatically lets the audience know that she may have a love interest and is at that age where she will become sexual. This is a good way of getting the audience’s attention straight away because they will be able to relate to the troubles and struggles of being a teenager. The camera shot that they have used is a medium shot of both Rachel and her father having a conversation and so that the audience can see her body language and attitude towards her father. They way Rachel is dressed is very punk and gothic like which fits in well with the target audience because teenagers have a tendency to experiment when they are of a young age.

The next thing the audience can see is Rachel’s father informing her that he is going away for the weekend at a business conference and that he has a new work colleague that will be moving in with them later on. They then do an over the shoulder shot of Amy, the new housemate knocking on Rachel’s front door which is a good way of causing suspense in what the character looks like.

The audience can see in the next scene that both Rachel and Amy have become friends and have bonded within the first day of living with each other. There is still upbeat music playing at this stage to keep the audience hyped and in a happy mood to fit in with the genre of the film. Because the audience have not yet seen Rachel’s love interest and it is half way through the trailer, they start the question Rachel’s and Amy’s sexuality and wonder if both of them fall in love.

In the next scene you see various shots of both of the girls being intimate; this has a major twist to what the audience would have expected. Rachel conforms the general stereotypes of a homosexual woman because of the way she is dressed in dark and grungy clothing and Amy is dresses formally and ‘girly’ which subverts the general stereotypes.

LOVING ANNABELLE

Loving Annabelle:

The film trailer starts off with introducing the main character Annabelle to the target audience. The audience are able to work out that it is Annabelle’s first day at a new, private school. By her attitude and body language the audience can see that she does not want to be there and that she is behaving like a stereotypical teenager who thinks they are too cool for school.

The next scene we see is Annabelle being shown around the school by her teacher, it does not look like she is paying much attention to what Miss Bradley, her teacher is saying because she is so caught up in not wanting to be there. Annabelle gives of a rebel impression to her class mates and to the audience because of her body language and because in a few shots you see her hanging around smoking on the school premises as if she isn’t bothered by anything.

In the next scene we see Annabelle in her first class where she is being taught by the teacher who was showing her around, Miss Bradley. When Miss Bradley is speaking to the class and is asking them questions, Annabelle comes out with very forward and straight to the point answers, almost as if she is after Miss Bradley’s attention. By this stage in the trailer the audience are able to work out that Annabelle is homosexual because one of her classmates Kat says “finally a lesbian”.  The audience can work this out but yet can’t quite work out who her love interest will be.

Annabelle starts stroking Miss Bradleys hand when everyone is sat together which makes the audience question whether Annabelle fancies her teacher.  Whilst this is happening there is a narrative voice over of Miss Bradley saying “I can’t help but keep thinking that you are trying to get a rise out of me” this lets the audience know that she knows they way Annabelle feels towards her.

During the trailer the audience eventually can see that there is something between Annabelle and Miss Bradley because Miss Bradley shows more attention and affection to Annabelle than she does any other student. The audience can see that Miss Bradley knows that having an affair with a student is wrong but she can’t help feeling the way she does. Love is a powerful thing and once its there it won’t just disappear.

Annabelle conforms the general stereotypes of homosexual women because she is overly confident and aggressive. We know this because during the trailer the audience see her fighting with other students.

Anatomy of a love seen

In this trailer it starts off with two girls who are filming a love scene in a film and whilst that is happening the main character, Zoe, is narrating and is talking about love. Because of this, This tells the audience that there is going to be a love interest in the film for Zoe.

In the next scene the audience can see that the two actresses, Zoe and Mel fall in love through acting together and that they end up in a relationship in the outside world. Both of the characters subvert the general stereotypes of  a homosexual women as they are both feminine and ‘girly’ which shows a homosexual women in a different light in the media.

Throughout the trailer there is slow, harped and stringed music which connotes love and happiness and happy endings. The music starts to mellow down during the next scene when you can see that something has happened between both of the characters or they may have even broke up which makes it hard for them to continue pretending to be in love during the film that they are filming.

In this picture here, they have used a medium shot of the two characters on set about to film. The audience can see that they are both not happy and feel awkward. As Zoe is undressing herself a tear falls from her eye which shows the audience that she is not ok.

The trailer ends with both of the girls lying in bed together smiling, the audience will be asking themselves if they are both genuinely happy or if they’re just pretending for the film.

camera shots and editing