Evaluation: Question 5) How did you attract/address your target audience?

Secondary research is important in existing films because it is extremely reliable to gather up information. It gives brand new ideas and influences different perspectives which could help appeal to the target audience we are aiming at. From looking at secondary research I collected, it is evident that the target audience for thriller films is aimed at both genders from the age of 15-35 year olds. The target audience isn't a specific ethnicity or occupation as that does not matter. 

From my research into thrillers, I believe that the target audience that they appeal to consist of the following:

Age: 15-45
Gender: Unisex
Ethnicity: AnyOccupation: Any
Hobbies and Interests: Crime, Psychology, etc.

I believe that from thriller films the target audience enjoy the tension that scenes build and the darkness that comes from the thriller film. This comes from the lighting, make up, costume, hair, sound and location in the thriller film. The conventions is what makes a thriller. Further to this, I believe they like to exxperience are fear, tension and uncomfortable. This was good research as it meant that for my thriller i had to consider good music which was scary, an eerie location to set the atmosphere and lighting which set the mood.

Conventions such as tension building and scary music like, when the antagonist is walking towards the victims sleeping or when the music starts off with small sound effects and then builds to louder, more broader music, will be enjoyed by the audience as these factors contribute to a typical thriller film. Our group made sure that we followed these conventions (which include scary music, tension building, etc) in order to portray a similar target audience with their expectations. I aimed my thriller at audiences between the ages of 15-35 from both genders so I can stick to the conventions of a worthy thriller. Conventions that I stuck with throughout the creation of my idea is the simple antagonist/victim approach which is the main event of the thriller and the petrifying scenario which scares the audience.


As part of our primary research, we decided to carry out a questionnaire for our audience to fill out in order to have an idea of what they would like to see in a thriller film. Communicating with our target audience is the best way to make our thriller successful. This is my questionnaire:

4 Key Questions:


My first example is question number 5) what’s the best thriller you have watched and why? This is useful for my group because firstly it’s an open question which gives us all different answers and opinions to come across. Also, it can gives us fresh ideas which we never thought of using, so this question is very beneficial.

My second example is question number 10) Do you prefer supernatural or reality in thrillers? This is useful because it gives my group a basic idea of where our narrative is going. Also, it helps us decide which type of thriller is more appealing to our target audience.
 

My third example is question number 12) would you want the antagonist to have a hidden identity? This is useful because it helps my group create the antagonist character which will attract the audience as the majority of the audience did say they wanted the antagonist to have a hidden identity.

My fourth example is question number 8) would you prefer a psychological thriller? This was useful because at first we wanted to do a psychological thriller but our results showed that our target audience preferred a thriller which wasn't psychological so we changed our idea. 

 

Overall, the primary research was important as it is reliable and because it is yourself. Also, it gives more of the opinions to the specific questions the researcher asked which could be difficult to find through secondary research.

The questionnaire was vital as we got more information about who the target audience was and what their interests were. I believe primary research helped me attract and address my audience. The questionnaire provided many questions for the audience to answer, I believe the more questions I provide the audience, the more detailed answers that bring a various number of opinion I will receive.

One bit of feedback I received was from Lara aged 16. This made me proud because I realised that I have followed the conventions of a Thriller due to feedback.
Another bit of feedback I received was from Ella aged 16. This showed me that there could have been better additions to the narrative.

  Criticism I got was from Trey aged 19. This shows me that I could have made certain things clearer in my narrative.
This positive comment was from Sean aged 17. This shows me that people understood my narrative and liked how the whole thriller flowed.