Interview Analysis

Interview Analysis

To narrow down my target audience and to ensure that it is accurate for my short film, I conducted 10 interviews with men and women in between the ages of 18 and 50, who were in my current target audience. This allowed me to get more detailed information and find out what they expect from a thriller movie, and how I can use this information to create my own.

The first question that I asked was how they would define a thriller movie, allowing me to understand what kind of topics and features they expect to see in them. Although the answers were varied, they were all similar, which gave me clear ideas of what to include in my short film. 7 out of 10 of the people interviewed commented on how thriller movies include suspense, used tension, or kept them on the edge of their seats, which shows me that people expect to be shocked by a thriller movie, and that they want it to be unpredictable so that they don’t know what will happen next. Other comments included that it was almost like a cross of an action and a horror movie, it involved a critical situation, and that they usually climax near the end of the film, when everything is revealed.

The next question asked was what they liked about thriller movies, allowing me to see what features I could include into my own film. Common answers included that they kept them guessing, they are interesting, and that there is often a big climax. Some people also commented that they liked it when a thriller movie has an unexpected twist. 2 people said that they liked the frightfully realistic storylines, or the storylines that could happen in that context, which I will consider for my own short film. The answers to this question has shown me that my target like thrillers to build up tension and suspense throughout, which leads to a big, unexpected climax, so I will compare this to the ideas for my own short film to find out which one appeals to them the most.

I then asked my target audience what they disliked about thrillers, so that I could avoid putting these factors into my film. Around 8 out of 10 people interviewed commented on the fact that many thriller movies can be boring, repetitive, and have obvious endings that the audience expect. This has shown me that I will need to think of a very original idea to ensure that is isn’t predictable, and is different from other thriller movies. One person also said that they found that thrillers could be confusing; I will have to consider this in my own short film as I only have a limited amount of time to show a story, which may make it more of a challenge to make sure the audience understand what is happening.

As one of my ideas is a psychological thriller, I asked my audience what their expectations were of this sub genre. There was a mixture of answers for this question. One person said that with psychological thrillers, they expect it to be hard to distinguish the bad character from the good, which is similar to one of my own movie ideas. Other people said that they expected it to ‘freak them out’, include twists and turns, and see the movie through the protagonist’s point of view, so that the audience finds out information as they do. Another answer that was common was that the character is facing a challenge, or other people are against them, but they turn out to be right in the end, and that a psychological thriller was a bit like a horror movie included in a thriller. All of these points are valid and will help when I come to decide on my final idea, and write the script for my short film.

As action is commonly used in some thriller movies but not others, I decided to gain an idea of how much action my target audience would like to see in my thriller movie. Answers for this question also varied; however, by looking at the responses as a whole, I have found that my target audience would like a bit of action included in the movie, but they would prefer the storyline to come first, and would find it more entertaining if it was the storyline that built up the tension and suspense, not the action. Answers included that it depended on the type of thriller that it was, which I will consider when choosing my final idea, and that if there is a good storyline, then there doesn’t need to be a lot of action.

I used questionnaires to get a basic understanding of who my target audience would be for my short film, as well as some ideas for my thriller. The results from these showed me that my target audience preferred either a sad or unclear ending. To narrow this down further, I used my interviews to find out whether sad or unclear ending were most popular with my target audiences. 8 out of 10 people interviewed said that they preferred thriller movie to be unclear. Several reasons were given for this, such as, it leaves you thinking about the movie afterwards, it is less common, and that some people like to make up their own minds. This information has allowed me to make my target audience even more specific, as I have found that people in it like thriller movies to have an unclear ending. I will also use this information to help me to decide on a final idea for my movie.

As I find thriller movies that have a twist more interesting, I decided to find out if my target audience felt the same way by asking them whether they would like to see a twist in the storyline, and why this was. The majority of people asked said that they would like to see a twist in a thriller movie. However, a few people commented that this is only if it is unique, as twists can now be even more predictable than thriller movies without them, so it has to be something that the audience really doesn’t expect. People said that twists were more creative, interesting and unique, as too many thrillers have obvious endings. The one person who said that they did not want to see a twist in a thriller movie, said that this was because the audience enjoy guessing what will happen in a movie, and wants to be able to figure it out by him or herself, not to be proven wrong. As most people do want a twist in a thriller, this has narrowed down my target audience again, to people who like twists.

The last question that I asked my target audience was about violence. As some thriller movies contain quite graphic scenes, but not all of them do, I wanted to find out if they preferred to see the violence on screen, or for the camera to turn away and it be left to their imagination. The majority of people agreed that it is best for it to be left to the imagination, as this means that more people can watch it, and it is less scary. However, there were small amounts of people who either wanted to see violence on the screen, or wanted a mixture of both. This question has finalised my target audience, and has shown me that most people like violence to not be shown on screen in thriller movies, which I will incorporate into my own short film.

Justification of Target Audience

By using the information that I have gained from my questionnaire and interview research, I can now state that my target audience for my short thriller film is men and women between the ages of 18 and 50 who like unclear endings, a twist in the storyline, and violent scenes to be left to the imagination by the camera not showing it.

This has been proven through my research that I have conducted, and I can now aim my short film idea towards people who are in my target audience. I will also complete focus groups to look at other aspects that my target audience like in thriller movies, so that I can incorporate this into my final product.

Although my target audience's age range is fairly wide, my research has shown me that this genre can appeal to a wide range of people. However, I have narrowed this down in other ways by looking at the aspects of thrillers that they enjoy.

Three Short Film Ideas

Three Short Film Ideas
1. A young 10 year-old girl lives with her mentally disabled Father in the City. She looks after him herself as her Mum is not around anymore. During one night, the Dad is panicked, and he runs away because he has been startled by something. The young girl then sets off to the places that he is likely to go to in the City, and eventually finds her Dad. This idea will contain a lot of tension and suspense, typical to the thriller genre. It also contains a Unique Selling Point, which is the fact that the Dad has mental problems and it is a little girl who is rescuing a grown man, rather than the other way around. Other thriller codes and conventions included are the location of this short film, and the chase that will be involved.
2. A young girl lives alone with her Father and the audience soon find out that the girl was once a twin, but the twin was brutally murdered the year before. They will find this out through photographs of the girls together and dialogue. Both the girl and her Dad are still very upset about this which comes across in the way that they talk about her. One night, the ghost or spirit of the dead girl enters the house and the Dad wakes up to see her. The dead twin then tells the Dad that the thing that killed her is coming back at midnight the following night, and he must find away to protect the other daughter. The Dad goes back to sleep, thinking that this was a dream, but in the morning, there are signs that it was real. The Dad is then frantically thinking of who it could be that killed one of his daughters, and just before 12 o’clock the next night, he panics and quickly locks himself and his daughter in her bedroom, making sure that nothing can get in or out, as well as having weapons prepared in case something did manage to break through. When the clock strikes at 12, something changes in the Dad, and the audience then realise that he is the murderer, but he didn’t even know it himself. The movie ends there, and the audience decide themselves if the girl dies or not, but it is hinted that she did by seeing the reactions of the dead girls ghost. Thriller codes and conventions in this idea include the fact that the characters are against some sort of time limit, putting more pressure on them. The themes involved are also typical and include topics such as murder, making it more appealing to the target audience. The Unique Selling Point of this idea is that the father turns out to be the killer, although he didn't realise it himself. The fact that the victims are young children also makes this idea unique and imaginative.
3. A Dad takes his daughter on a camping trip up to the mountains in the winter time, as an early Christmas present. They have a great time getting to where they set up the tent, and playing in the snow and on the mountains. Later, when it starts to get dark, the Dad has pains in his chest, and eventually has a heart attack and dies, leaving the little girl all alone on the mountains, where she is too far away to get back by herself. The girl leaves the tent anyway, attempting to find someone who can help her Dad. It will then show the little girl walking into the mist of the mountains, leaving the audience to make up their own minds on what happens to her. This idea also includes a time limit, as the girl is trying to get back down the mountain before she freezes to death or gets lost. Other thriller codes and conventions included are the fact that it is an isolated area where there is more tension built, as the girls chances of survival are smaller. The Unique Selling Point of this idea is also the fact that it is a small child who is in danger, and also the fact that it is a very unusual but realistic situation to be in, making it appeal to my target audience.

Health and Safety

Health and Safety
When deciding on a final idea for my short film, I have to consider the health and safety implications of each of them to ensure that my cast and I will be safe.
My first idea is about a mentally disabled man who runs away from his house, leaving his young daughter to find him in the city. Although this idea would be manageable, there are still aspects of health and safety that need to be considered.
The first thing that could be a health and safety risk is the location, which would be a city at night time. This could be a hazard due to the people that might be around at this time, as well as cars, which would be a danger to my actors if they are hard to see. To eliminate this risk, I would need to provide high visibility jackets and also ensure that we are always filming on the pavement and never on the road.
The weather is another factor that I will need to consider. As I will be filming in winter, the weather is likely to be cold, so I will need to think about the well-being of my actors by ensuring that their costumes will keep them warm. I will also need to create a contingency plan in case the weather is too bad to film in, so that I am able to finish my movie.
As I will be filming in the city, there will be facilities available for my actors, such as toilets and places to eat. However, some of the props that I intend to use could cause a health and safety hazard. This includes either a knife or a gun, but a replacement for these is easily available, such as a toy gun or fake knife, which I will consider when deciding on my final idea. If I am using a toy gun outside I will also have to alert the police, as it could cause problems when pedestrians are near.
My second idea for my short film involves a man trying to figure out what or who killed one of his daughters to try and stop it from coming back for the other one. Locations are the first thing that could cause a health and safety problem. I intend to film most of this idea inside a house, which lowers any possible hazards. However, there is a possibility that I will be using outside locations too, such as a graveyard. Filming in outside locations could present health and safety risks due to the weather, as well as having to get permission to film there.
The weather acts as a health and safety risk as it will be winter when I am filming. This will mean that it will be cold, and there is also a chance of snow and ice, To deal with this I will create a contingency plan such as moving the location to an area that can be covered, oe an inside location. I will also leave dates free that I can use to film anything that has had to be postponed.
Props could also cause a health and safety risk in this idea, as again, I want to use a knife or another type of weapon. However, by using a fake prop, such as a rubber or plastic knife, I will still be able to incorporate this into my film.
My third short film idea is based on a girl who has gone camping in the mountains with her Dad, and whilst they are up there, her Dad dies, leaving her alone. The first health and safety risk is the locations that I intend to use, which are mountains. This is a major safety hazard due to the weather and conditions that would be involved. However, I may be able to substitute this location for a safer one, such as a country park, which would still have the same effect in the movie.
The next issue that I need to consider is the weather. Filming during the winter months means that there is a greater risk of snow and ice, as well as the fact that it will be cold. To get around this problem, I will create a contingency plan that will allow me to keep filming either in a covered outside area, or in a different inside location.
I also need to think about the wellbeing of my actors in this idea. The cold weather means that if I am filming outside, I will have to ensure that their costumes will keep them warm. I will also need to ensure that basic facilities are available to my actors, such as toilets, food, and water. These facilities would be available in a country park, as the one that I intend to use is located near my own house; however, they would not be available to people if I was filming in a location such as the mountains, which I will need to consider when choosing my final idea.
Unlike my other two, this idea would not incorporate any dangerous props or costume, meaning that there is less of a risk of my actors being harmed, and I don’t need to source alternative props.
One health and safety issue that I will have to consider for all three of my ideas is the equipment that I will be using. My camera and tripod could cause a risk, as well as any other electrical equipment or leads that could cause an injury. This can be avoided by ensuring that everyone is aware of the equipment, and that I am extra cautious around it.
Access may also cause health and safety issues in all three of my ideas. This is because for all of my locations I will either be filming in a confined space, such as a house, somewhere that may require permission, such as a cafe, or somewhere where other people may be present, such as a graveyard or public footpath. To avoid this I will ensure that any inside locations are free of clutter, and that there is plenty of room for my actors, my equipment, and myself. I will also ensure that I get permission for any outside locations that will need it, such as the graveyard, and if other people are present I will postpone my filming until they have walked past.
The main health and safety issues that arise from this idea are the location and the weather. However, both of these hazards can be avoided by choosing an alternative location, as well as good planning, which will allow me to film around bad weather conditions.

Interview Questions

Interview Questions

1. What is your age?

2. What is your gender?

3. How would you define a thriller movie?

4. What do you like about thriller movies?

5. What do you dislike about thriller movies?

6. What are your expectations of a psychological thriller?

7. How much action do you like to see in thriller movies?

8. Would you prefer a sad or unclear ending?

9. Why is this?

10. Would you like to see a twist included in the storyline?

11. Why is this?

12. Do you prefer to see action and violence on the screen, or do you prefer it to be left to your imagination?

Jodi Ferguson

Focus Group Questions

Focus Group Questions

Questions to be asked after each idea:

1. What do you like about this idea?

2. What would you change about this idea?

3. What do you think about the characters in this idea?

4. What do you like about the storyline?

5. Do you think the themes in this idea are suited to the thriller genre?

Questions to be asked at the end:

1. Which idea do you think would be most successful?

2. Which of these ideas do you think would be most feasible?

3. Which of these ideas would you most like to see?

4. Which of these ideas is most typical to the thriller genre?

5. What type of music would you expect to have in these ideas?

6. How would you improve your favourite idea?

Jodi Ferguson.

Short Film Analysis

Short Film Analysis – Cold Remains (48 Hour Film Project 2010)

This short film, ‘Cold Remains’, is a suspense/thriller movie, looking at the stealing of a very important ring, as well as the relationship between the girl who took the ring and the guy who is trying to find it.

Similar to the short film ‘Affection’, the narrative structure is linear. I think that this is more appropriate for short films, as a non-linear structure may confuse the audience who only have a short time to grasp the storyline. I think that it worked effectively in this movie because it added to the tense atmosphere, as the audience didn’t know what to expect.

The response that the majority of thriller movies want audiences to have is to feel tense and to want to know what will happen next, which came across in this short film. To get this response from the audience, the filmmaker used several techniques.

The use of music allowed the suspense to build throughout the movie. At the beginning, there is a loud noise as the man’s hand grabs the girl’s shoulder, instantly causing the audience to feel tense, even though she is in no real danger at this time. Slow music is used to build up scenes, and it is then replaced with faster music when there is more action. I think that this was effective and I will think about how to incorporate this technique into my own short film.

The crosscutting technique was also used in this movie, as the girl was racing to get to her apartment before the man who was after her, so that she could hide the ring. This also created tension in the audience, as they are wondering who is going to make it back first, and they get to see both characters at the same time, so that they are not left wondering what the other character is doing, losing the suspense.

Although the storyline of this short film is not entirely original, as it is based upon the theft of an important item, it still contains unique elements that make it more interesting for the audience to watch. One of the unique elements that are used is that the girl who stole the ring is dating the guy who works where the ring was kept, adding a complicated relationship into the storyline. This was effective as it added some emotion into the movie, and allowed the audience to have a better connection with the audience, rather than only including mystery and action. Doing this also means that it will appeal to more audiences, as more people will be able to relate to the characters.

Gender representation is also important in this short film. At first, the woman is presented as typically beautiful, and in control of the main male. The male is seen to be fairly nerdy and less powerful than the woman. However, as the film progresses, there is a role reversal and the audience discover that the male is actually the one with the power, and the woman is seen to be fairly helpless once she has been caught.

The mise-en-scene in this short film also helped to create a tense, ‘thrilling’ atmosphere. Dark lighting was used to set the uneasy tone of the film, and the location also created this effect, as it was in a busy city where crime is likely to happen. The colour themes were also considered, using black for the colour of the bar, the woman’s dress, and many of the locations, which adds mystery and the idea of danger.

This short film has shown me how to create a tense atmosphere, and it has also shown me how to make the audience understand and connect with the characters, so that it has more of an impact on them. Overall, the simple but interesting storyline makes this short thriller film a success.

Short Film Analysis

Short Film Analysis – Affection (48 Hour Film Project 2009)

This short film, ‘Affection’, is a thriller about a couple who are going to view a house for sale, only to realise that there is something strange going on inside.

The narrative of this short film is a linear structure, meaning that it runs in chronological order. I think that this worked effectively for the thriller genre, as the audience didn’t know what had happened previously or what is going to happen next, making it more realistic.
This short film uses several techniques to get the audience response that they want, which in a thriller movie would be aspects such as fear, shock, and tension.

One way that this film does this is by using dramatic irony, letting the audience know something that the characters don’t. An example of this is when the audience see a female figure quickly walk past the window of the house, which the characters can’t see. This creates tension in the audience, as they know that the characters are in danger, but the characters are unaware of this.

Another way that this short film gets a good audience response is by using the sound of a baby crying, which turns out to be a recording rather than a real baby. This creates tension and shock, as the audience know that it must be part of a plan, and they want to know what will happen to the characters. The sound plays an important part in this film and in the thriller genre as a whole, as it allows the filmmaker to create tension and suspense, by letting the audience know that something is about to happen.

This short film uses an original idea, which makes it more interesting for the audience to watch. The unique selling point of this short film is the idea of it being set in a house for sale, as well as using the theme of a baby crying, which turns out to be fake. This movie also contains other unique ideas, such as it being set in broad daylight, which is unusual for a thriller movie. This adds to the ‘thrill’ factor of the movie, as the audience will be able to relate to it because it is more normal, making it scarier for them to watch as they feel that it could happen to them.

This short film considers different aspects such as lighting, colour, performance etc. (mise-en-scene). The house is shown to be isolated, which gives it a creepy vibe, as the audience know that there is no one around to rescue them if anything happens. The baby’s cot is also covered in a black sheet, which can symbolise death and danger. Both of these features are typical to the thriller genre, and all help to create the effect that the audience want to see.

Watching this short film has identified ways to create tension and suspense that I can incorporate into my own movie, such as the use of music to build up the atmosphere, and not showing the audience everything that is happening so that they don’t know what is coming after the characters. It has also showed me the impact that a short film can have, even if it has a very simple storyline, which I will consider when creating my own movie. Using a simpler storyline is effective, as it allows the audience to have a better understanding of the characters, rather than trying to understand a complex story.