Evaluation Task 4

Here is my presentation on identifying my ideal audience member to watch my film opening...

Audience Research...

Inside the actors' studio...

Certificate Ratings

 Suitable for All - U stands for Universal; suitable for all audiences aged 4 years and over. Very mild language can be expected along with minimal amounts of violence, sexual content (innuendo).
Parental Guidance - PG (Parental Guidance) films are suitable for most children aged 8 years and older. PG films may prove upsetting to smaller children and so it is up to the parents to consider what content their children can be exposed to. Mild bad language and innuendo may be expected
.
Cinema Release suitable for 12 years and over - Anyone aged 12 and over can attend a showing of this film unaccompanied by an adult (over 18). An adult my bring a smaller child, but it is not recommended as some content might prove upsetting.
 
Video Release suitable for 12 years and over - 12 is a certificate exclusively for Videos, DVDs and Blu-rays, whereas 12A certificate is guidance for Cinema goers. Moderate violence, verbal sex references and infrequent strong language to be expected.
 
Suitable only for 15 years and over - Contains frequent strong language, Strong violence, Portrayals of sexual activity, Strong verbal references to sex, Nudity and Drug Taking.
 
Suitable only for Adults - No-one younger than 18 is allowed to view this film in a cinema or rent a copy. Very strong violence, Frequent strong language, Strong Portrayals of sexual activity, Scenes of strong horror and sexual violence, Strong blood and gore and discriminatory language and behavior featured.
 
Adult Works for licensed premises only - A special category, legally restricted primarily for explicit works involving adults.

 The BBFC are changing the way they classify films. Music videos are now being scrutinised and classified along with films, looking for explicit content, language and violence. These have previously been accessible to everyone and can be deemed inappropriate for children and younger audiences.

Collage

Here is the collage of film snapshots and title images I have compiled to represent as a whole the film genre I am basing my film opening around. I call it: PASTICHE. 

Audience Survey

Click here to take survey Here is the survey I have composed in order to collect audience information about film preferences. PLEASE TAKE THE SURVEY. Thank you.

*1. Which genre of film do you enjoy watching?

Which genre of film do you enjoy watching?   Action Adventure Fantasy Comedy None A mixture of all 4 (what I call - Pastiche genre)

*2. How many of these films have you seen?

How many of these films have you seen?            Scott Pilgrim vs the World Shaun of the Dead Hot Fuzz Juno Superbad Adventureland

Kick Ass 1 Kick Ass 2 The Producers Monty Python and the Holy Grail Coraline None

*3. Would you audition to be in a film like this?

Would you audition to be in a film like this?   Yes No

Maybe For a Price

*4. Do you play videogames? If so, list here:

I put a link to my survey on my Facebook page and on an online forum. From the results of my survey, I found out that my audience would react very positively to a film of my chosen genre. The fan-base would be vast, with over 70% of results stating that the audience members would watch a pastiche film and also audition for one. Most of the results read that the audience play videogames for fun, so would be able to identify with some of the references I would make in my film. 

Typical Synopsis

Typical Synopsis for an 'Action-Comedy' -
A down-trodden 'lovable loser' type character is living their unsatisfying life undisturbed. Then something significant happens requiring them to become a hero or use some physical/metal skill only they possess to overcome the villain. They will often be taken out of their natural everyday environment and end up somewhere they don't know how to behave. They may come across another, 'hero type' character who becomes their guide/love interest/friend. In the end the loser gains respect after defeating his enemies and returning home where their life is considerably better, usually after honing their special skill. These will contain a lot of slapstick in comparison to an Action film.

Typical Synopsis for a 'Syfy-Comedy' -
A 'nobody' character may be living perfectly happily until a series of unusual events begin to occur. They may be told by another (more experienced) character that they possess supernatural capabilities. They must then work on their powers to become strong enough to: save their home planet/dimention, overthrow an evil ruler in a futuristic world/setting, or save the planet from certain destruction by another planet. There is often an impossible feat the character must perform, and using their special powers (which should be more powerful than anybody else possessing them) save everyone. In the end they settle in to using their powers, and are often made a leader or a ruler due to their bravery. These are often feel good films, opposed to Syfy.

Typical Synopsis for a 'Teen-Comedy' -
A nerdy teenager whom is particularly unpopular usually attempts to boost their social status by providing fake IDs/alcohol/drugs, resulting in much physical comedy. They will often have feelings for a popular girl considered way out of their league, but will attempt to court them anyway. The police are often involved and make attempts to try and stop them. Eventually, the nerd uses their natural intellect to get the popular people out of a bad situation, sometimes by sacrifising themselves. These films can end in two ways. The first, the nerd gains the respect of their peers, gets the girl, and is happy. The second (and more popular version) the nerd is popular for that night and that night only, and the next day at school they are treated just as they were before and the girl refuses to date them. The character may be happy that he achieved the goal, just for the night, or angry that it didn't last for more than a few hours.

My hopes for my film opening is to use aspects of all three of these film genres and create a divine hybrid of lonely characters, social status, peer pressure and unconventional heroes.

Typical Synopsis for a 'Pastiche Film' -
A group of mundane, introverted nerds from different walks of life, ages and families come together for a greater good, either for the sake of everyone or against their will. Each character has an attribute exclusive to them which the group cannot function without. One link from the group will falter and leave and it is up to the rest of the group to restore order and regain their trust to defeat the demons and their demons. Everybody wins, a lot of death is usually expected.

Audience Expectations

Here I have interviewed some potential audience members to find out what they expect from my chosen genre of Pastiche film.

Other answers:

Jenny - "There will usually be a loser character, but in the end they'll turn out to be the hero".

Shona - "The little guy will beat the big guy using his intellectual power".

As a fan of my chosen genre, my personal expectations are for a misfit protagonist character to find a purpose, willingly or unwillingly depending on the antagonist and 'side-kick' characters. An 'otherworldly' force or power enters the world and to complete the journey of personal growth and self respect of everyone present it must be understood and teamwork must be applied after an initial period of nerdy hostility.

Relevant 'Oldies' (3)

Here are (in chronological order), the 5 'classic' films most relevant to the mixed up franken-genre I would like to use to form a concrete foundation for my film opening:

Monty Python 1975

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975

Blackadder 1988

Van Helsing 2004

Skyfall 2012

These all contain references to films other than themselves and were made in the last 40 years.

Director People (2)

Edgar Wright

Directed: Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, the World's End, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World...

Date of Birth: 18th April 1974

Wright uses "Fast action style editing, usually of mundane tasks, including whip pans and crash zooms." He also uses "deadpan humour in fast paced moments". He uses physical comedy in ways that have become his trademark: e.g. failed fence jumps... His films are recognised as they very often take place in either a bar or a pub.

Stephen Chbosky

Directed: The Perks of being a Wallflower, (Contributed to) Austin Powers - Goldmember...

Date of Birth: 25th January 1970

Director/Author (The Perks of being a Wallflower 1999), as well as an original Broadway comedy.

Gregg Mottola

Directed: Adventureland, Paul, Superbad...

Date of Birth: 11th July 1964

He is known for being an "indie-film hot shot" as Superbad and Aventureland were both 'coming of age', indie style films. He enjoys working with computer-animated characters as he did in 'Paul'.

 

 

 

The techniques of these directors are what inspire me when it comes to creating my own film opening, and also a standard which I can strive to achieve. 

Film Genres

I have found it a challenge to find a single genre that accomodates the wide variety of films I find to be my choice of style. Each film seems to fit into at least one category, but the majority of them do not agree with each other enough to fall into a single genre. However, I have concluded that the 'Adventure' catagory would be the best option, due to it being a very open genre with few rules on what is and is not allowed. In an adventure film, it is almost 'anything goes'. Sometimes the barrier between fantasy and reality is broken, and then sometimes it isn't. Both are allowed and that is why it is the genre I have decided to work with. Wikipedia says: "An adventure story is about a protagonist who journeys to epic or distant places to accomplish something. It can have many other genre elements included within it, because it is a very open genre. The protagonist has a mission and faces obsticles to get to his destination." Many of the films I am fond of include "crime fighters who often possess superhuman powers and battle similarly powered criminals."