Audience Research -Interviews

When establishing which methods of audience research to use, I think the best methods to use is an online survey to perhaps attract the teenager's opinions as they tend to use the internet more with social networking, and also do individual interviews to grab the middle aged/older citizen's opinions.

In the interviews we need to provide direct, specific questions that relate to our task in order to make our audience research as beneficial as possible. We need to ask questions that involve their likes/dislikes, their favourite thriller films, what they tend to expect, sub-genres and then link to a thriller opening. For an interview, open questions tend to be used to receive answers which include more detail, opinions and feelings. Whereas when a questionnaire is being provided, closed questions tend to be used which involve single answers, short phrases and also yes or no. They usually include tick boxes. They are more convenient and easy for the audience but you don't get as much detail as you would with interviews.

An example of a closed question would be "What sub-genre of a thriller would attract or interest you most out of the following? (please tick the boxes)"
-Action
-Psychological
-Crime
-Historical
-Mystery

An example of an open question would be "What do you dislike the most about thriller films?".

Anna's Interview:

I have decided to interview 3 people, the ages I have included are a male of 19 years (person 1), a female of 45 years (person 2) and another male of 50 years (person 3). This will help give an insight as to whether middle aged people are interested in Thriller films and if they are attracted by them. But it will also give me an idea if teenagers are interested as well.

"What do you expect from a good film? e.g. characters, camera angles, storyline, special effects etc.

Person 1: Good use of actors, something different about it. If British film, it will attract me more as good actors sucha as Colin Firth will be used.

Person 2: Well known actors involved with a good, interesting storyline. A film that engages the brain. If a humorous film, needs to be able to make me laugh. If a Thriller film, I would want to be genuinely scared which includes a good atmosphere within the audience.

Person 3: Has to have a unique style which includes a different storylines to other films.

"What is your favourite Thriller film and what made it enjoyable?"

Person 1: Inception. I think it is a good film as it is mind twisting and captivating as its about a dream inside a dream and so on. It engages the brain because it is a mystery and it keeps the audience like myself interested.

Person 2: My favourite thriller film would be Taken as when I was watching it, I didn't know what would happen next. It kept me captivated with the motivated cuts involved. I felt I could relate to the storyline as I am a mother of the same aged girl.

Person 3: The Silence of the Lambs. I enjoyed this film as it is plausible and well acted. It brought a good, unique storyline out into the world at the time. It was ahead of its time.

"How would you describe a Thriller film?"

Person 1: Camera angles from the antagonist's point of view to give to sense to the protagonist's that someone is watching them. Built up of tension in many parts to excite and build up hype of the audience.

Person 2: Dramatic, spooky feel, mind twisting. The music involved to be pitchy and strong. I would expect there to be occasional silences. Perhaps the music included would be recorded by an orchestra- non-diegetic sound.

Person 3: Weather conditions to be gloomy, dark and foggy or raining. Tracking of the cameras moving stealthily down corridors.

"What attracts you most in a Thriller film?"

Person 1: Good actors, action involved, fast speed and adrenaline pumping. An interesting, different storyline.

Person 2: Adventure, excitement. Usually completely different from normal way of life.

Person 3: Plausible storylines, fast pace, exciting.

"What makes a good Thriller opening in your opinion? E.g. music, camera."

Person 1: Introduction to some characters, clue of location. Motivated cuts included to hype the audience.Built up tension used by different pitches of music.

Person 2: Action sceme, perhaps a preview of what's about to happen- keeps the audience intrigued.

Person 3: Built up of suspense. Powerful imagery which draws attention and creates focus for the rest of the film.

"What sub-genre of a Thriller would interest or attract you the most?"

Person 1: Action, mystery, historical.

Person 2: Adventure and mystery.

Person 3: Historical, Serial Killer, Crime.

"What do you dislike the most about Thriller films?"

Person 1: Too complex, ridiculous, badly acted.

Person 2: Too realistic, if it ends with an anti-climax. -Need to end with Drama.

Person 3: Unrealistic, too long.

From looking at the results of my interview it shows that a wider range of people from different ages and gender is needed to discover what people really like to see in a thriller film. However, the interview does show that most males tend to have the same opinions, for example both the males I asked both said for 'what they thought makes a good thriller opening' that a good thriller opening needs to include a build up of tension and suspense.
I think to gain a real insight into what people may like, dislike or prefer in films, television programmes and in our case, the opening to our thriller film.