Research Competitors

ASPHYXIA

ASPHYXIA | Short Film from Will Lowell on Vimeo.

Research Market

I have researched into the market for my Psychological Thriller/Social Realism short film and found that both genres affect the cinema industry as well as the audience in several ways.

 

Psychological Thrillers affect different people in unique ways. The desired effect for the majority of Psychological Thrillers is to aim emotionally and affect the audience via creating tension or mystery. Compared to Horror, Psychological Thriller provide more depth. Adults enjoy it as there is more suspense and it is quite unpredictable, whereas with Horror it is much easier to guess the story line right, and this is a major pro for my film as people would be instantly attracted to the genre itself.

Weblinks:

• http://www.thedaonline.com/arts_and_entertainment/reviews/article_b1b2c4b2-4130-11e3-b54e-001a4bcf6878.html
• https://jayeles.wordpress.com/2011/02/09/what-impact-do-psychological-thrillers-have-on-the-audience/

BFI has stated that Social Realism is better than any other genre as it pushes the boundaries in the effort to put the experiences of real Britons on the screen and shaping the ideas of what British cinema can be. Social Realism has said to be the most 'typically British' of all film genres.

Reading this article has given me hope as I initially thought Social Realist movies aren't really in trend today, but it is one of the most favoured genre in Britain, this really adds points to my film. It shows what life really is like and audience enjoy that since they can relate to the scenarios. I believe that there is a potential market for my film as I am projecting day-to-day life scenarios and a topic that everyone has been through at least once in their lifetime- Bullying.

I have chosen to go for these 2 particular genres because it is a fusion that has never been brought to the screen, they are mainly preferred by teens and adults. The reason why I have chosen this particular age group since they are easily compelled towards social realist and thriller based movies, and will be willing to try anything new. Allowing me to play with different ideas and after the conventions.

 

Research Competitors

ASPHYXIA

ASPHYXIA | Short Film from Will Lowell on Vimeo.

PsyKo PITCH

Psyko pitch from Varshini1999

PsyKo Script

Psy ko script from Varshini1999

Articles (Theme Related)

Scary Clowns Are Terrorizing France

Since mid-October, police in towns and all over France have been cautioning around an improbable risk: clowns. The late arrest of 14 young people in Agde, in the south of the nation, for hassling passers-by while dressed as clowns is only one incident out of many.

While comparable cases of clown associated violence (did by what professional clowns in France claim are not real clowns) have likewise happened in the U.S., England, and recently in Spain, the state in France has driven one French town to ban clown costumes, not only for Halloween bur for the whole month of November.  France's most malevolent have been teenaged pranksters, their weapons including baseball bats, knives, guns, and chainsaws some tend to be real.

On Monday, a student in Besançon, in eastern France, cut his hand while evidently raising it to protect himself from an axe employing clown impostor. Different episodes have included direct ambush: In Montpellier, a clown and two assistants beat a 35-year-old man with an iron bar in an attempted robbery.

“The Police Nationale issued an official warning to both clown and anti-clown factions on October 24, warning that “anyone, regardless of whether they are an aggressive clown or a clown-hunter, found with a weapon in public thoroughfares will be arrested."

 

REFERENCE:

 

• Goldhammer, Z. (2016). Scary Clowns Are Terrorizing France. [online] The Atlantic. Available at: http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/10/clown-killer-quest-ce-que-cest/382092/ [Accessed 22 Nov. 2016].

• YouTube. (2016). Just In Time For Halloween, Clowns Terrorize French Cities. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWVkGWPYzpk&t=4s [Accessed 22 Nov. 2016].

 

Analysis of Results

SYNOPSIS AND PROPOSAL

Content outline miss rocque 2 from Varshini1999

Focus Group

In this task I have been required to create a focus group in order to help me improve and add a few elements to up my game.

What is a Focus Group?

It is a gathering of intentionally chosen individuals who take part in an arranged discussion that is expected to inspire customer perceptions about a specific subject or area of interest for a situation that is non-threatening and open. The focus group is a collective intentionally. Dissimilar to an interview, which tends to happens with an individual, the focus group strategy permits individuals from the group to collaborate and impact each other amid the examination and thought of ideas and viewpoints.

What are the advantages of Focus Groups as a Market Research Method?

Focus groups are traditionally formed to recognize the feelings, observations, and thinking of consumers about a specific item, service, or solution. It does that extremely well, to a limited extent, since focus groups use qualitative data collection techniques. Similarly as in the dynamic of real life, the members can associate, impact, and be affected.

 

Undertaking this research will help me comprehend how to improve and where I would have to improve.

 

I have asked a few individuals to watch movies based on psychological thriller and see the things they liked about it, the things they didn’t, and what could have been done to make it better. After projecting my idea majority of the people said they enjoyed it, however, they believe that because it is very plain and simple it can easily bore the audience. Adding deep suspense is the only way to draw audiences’ attention and hold it. However of course it all depends on the structure and the flow each scenes. Besides that, they thoroughly enjoyed my idea and supports it.  

 

REFERENCE:

 

The Balance. (2016). Tame Your Focus Groups and Get Useful Insights. [online] Available at: https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-a-market-research-focus-group-2296907 [Accessed 12 Nov. 2016].

MY FOCUS GROUP

Audience Figures

When looking at the genre Thriller, they tend to be popular with the under 25’s and have a slight female skew. Individuals who have an observant and focused mindset, they offer a majorly effective, distraction free advertising environment.





Based on National Metro Statistics-

 Looking at the general population stats 36% of individuals who are 50+ prefer watching thriller based movies. This stats would be really useful to me as usually you would think that adults and teens would be the primary target audience.

When looking at thriller movie gender profile, it seems that female tend to participate and take more interest when it comes to thriller genre, compared to males. As the stats below shows, 57% of females enjoy watching thriller films compared to 43% of males.

My film is a psychological thriller, basically it is a sub-genre that play with the audiences minds by manipulating a character or a plot in order to keep the audience stay focus and work along with the storyline. Doing this research has allowed me to apply the a few techniques in order to draw the primary target audiences attention; which are females. I am lucky in a way that my main character is female, who gets bullied and goes through a really dark phase, this would stir interest meaning that my film has the chance of capturing the primary audience. This is an example of a secondary research.

Target Audience Demographic

When producing a film no matter how great it could be quality wise, the audience's response are vital to any mainstream production, as it is the approval of the film within the general public that decides its prosperity.

The illustration shown below is the list of the top two hundred and fifty films, as rated by IMDb users.

My movie aims towards audience who range between 16-45 as it contains violence, but mainly the fact that individuals under the fixed age aren't typically drawn to psychological thrillers. Due to the fact that it can be confusing and majority of the elements are hidden from them in order for them to get involved and work along with the storyline. Young teens don't prefer that, they enjoy movies that gives it all out to them; for them to understand and know what is exactly going on.

Purpose of demographic audience?

The class stratification is an imperative piece of breaking down demographics as occupation a major contribution of our identity as individuals and, crucially to institutions. For instance, in case you're a judge or a top lawyer, then chances are you'll be sitting in front of the TV later than the prime-time slot, other than maybe checking in with short news upgrades. Appearing differently in relation to these individuals, there's class E, which incorporates students and the unemployed, who might sit in front of the TV and movies a considerable amount when they're stuck in at home with very little to do. A ton of media productions are pointed (as with different classifications within demographics) at one or several specific class, as they conclude that their productions will engage them more than others.

The demographic audience for my film varies from 'Casual / Lowest grade workers (class E)' to ' Middle Class (class B)'.  Psychological thrillers are adored by adults no matter the age and what they do for living, not everyone but by a good number of adults and late teens. I would say my movie also aims towards the 'Upper Middle Class' however my storyline is about teens and nothing really out of the ordinary, this wouldn't really appeal to those individuals as they don't have the time unless if it is an 'Avatar, The Shawshank Redemption or Interstellar' standard. On the other hand, as it is about teenagers and how they cope at school, parents would want to get an insight of it; no matter their demographic status. In conclusion, I believe that my movie would gain a mixture of demographic audience ranking from class E to class A.

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Psyko Constraints

Psy ko constraints from Varshini1999

Film Analysis

Mood Board

The mood board that I have created fits the approach and story of my film, which is pretty bloody, gory and eerie. This film is mainly aimed towards teenagers and adults and they are the mass audience when it comes to horror movies. Films similar to this, draws the attention of teenagers as they are thrill seekers, they enjoy a little bit of violence and blood which creates that special atmosphere in the cinema. When it comes to horror, personally, I feel that most horror films tend to be quite similar, unnatural and simply unrealistic. This world is filled with psychopaths, serial killers and blood craving beasts and this gave me a chance to project reality through motion picture. In a way, this film is a message for people to be aware of individuals who are out there lurking in the dark.

Mood Board

Short Film Justification- PsyKo

I have chosen horror genre due to the fact that it's a genre that can be simply made with just a little of imagination and acquiring the basic knowledge of camera angles and shots. Addition to this, I chose this particular genre in order to fit my budget. My budget for the movie would mostly go for the costumes and the "weapons", which wouldn't really add up to much based on online shopping offers and fake weapons that you can get under £100. Locations and setting is not a major problem because based on my script the action will take place in a park, underground tube, tunnel, anywhere that creates a sense of eeriness and that contains low key lighting.

The location I have chosen is very close and acquires the features that is necessary for my film. The region I have selected is surrounded by woods, hills, and alleys; the perfect settings for any horror movie. The only cons about this is that as it is a public area we have make sure that we don't disturb the public and cause any problem within the neighbourhood. Due to the fact that some of the shots will be taken in the woods and alleys its crucial for us to scan the spot in order to prevent any accidents from taking place and if the conditions are clean enough for us to carry on with the shoot. The key to run a smooth production is to always make sure that everyone in and out of the production are happy and comfortable. Some of the scene will have to be shot in a house, and so for that I have decided to use my house due to the fact that it is Victorian style and it will naturally have that spooky touch; especially at night. In addition to this, it will prevent us from spending unnecessary money on location.

I chose this movie because I feel like horror films in the current generation tend to be quite similar. Most of them are either based on a haunted house, or of a possessed object (perhaps a doll, a typical generic convention in current horror topics). Clowns are famous conventions in horror films, however lately they seem to have disappeared from horror movies, which gave me an idea to introduce them back to horror movies as it would be a change and would attract more people.

In conclusion, choosing to go with horror genre has given me the privilege to enhance my creativity and my imagination. Understanding the basic skills of camera angles and shots will make the procedure of directing easier and I haven't got to worry about the budget due to the fact that I only need a clown costume and maybe a few props.

Pros and Cons

Ideas Selection

Short Film Ideas