Audience Research: Thrillers!

I wanted to carry out some audience research so that our group could get a general idea of what our target audience want. We also wanted to get an idea of distribution etc. My audience research proposal sheet is below:



I have created a questionnaire to carry out some audience research that runs parallel to my production piece for Media and that will help me to understand my audience and better my thriller subsequently. I believe that my research is useful as it not only looks at a vast age range (from 15-35) but also looks at various topics that will help us in our production process - characters, soundtracks and which aspects of Mainstream and Independent our audiences like. I have also ensured that I have both qualitative and quantative data. My results are below:


1. When watching a thriller, what main features do you expect to see?

Andy: “Lots of action”
Emily: “A mysterious location and a character that looks suspicious from the start”
Sam: “Moments that will make you jump and a lot of gore.”
Chris: “Sneaking around, characters double crossing each other, spies etc.”
Jess: “Someone getting murdered.”
Craig: “A good storyline.”
Jamie: “Dark lighting, creepy music and a storyline that drags the audience in making them feel involved in the film.”
Becky: “Tense music, moments of suspense.”
Ruby: “Violence, suspense, and a scary man.”
Alex: “For it to start off like a nice, normal film, to suddenly take a turn to make it scary. Usually based around normal life, to make it somehow realistic. Use of creepy music, and a character you don’t trust or are constantly afraid of.”

2. Do you prefer mainstream or independent films and why?

Andy: “I like mainstream because I find that independent films are sometimes lacking in the features and effects of mainstream”
Emily: “Mainstream, because they have actors that I have heard of or have seen in other movies.”
Sam: “mainstream. Because independent films seem "too" low budget and normally some sound is out.”
Chris: “Well I don’t have a preference as they’re both good in different ways. Mainstream films usually have all the amazing special effects but independent films can have a grittier, realistic feel.”
Jess: “Mainstream. Don’t really see many independent films…”
Craig: “It depends on the film itself – independent has a basic storyline but always effective with a low budget, but mainstream films have more action and better casts.”
Jamie: “I don’t have preferred choice, it doesn’t matter if the film is mainstream or independent as long as it is a good watch and entertains me then I like it.”
Becky: “Mainstream because most independent films are a bit ‘weird.’”
Ruby: “Independent films, because it is harder to guess what is going to happen and the characters and story line are normally more normal and relatable.”
Alex: “Independent films, as they focus on characterization, whereas the Hollywood films rely on good graphics.”

3. Describe a character that you would like to see playing ‘the bad guy.’

Andy: “They would be wearing flash clothes – like a suit and they would act as though they are in control and can rule a lot of people – for example, Marlon Brando from The Godfather etc.”
Emily: “Somebody attractive, an intriguing persona: Somebody that wears a hat – maybe with facial piercings that wears a leather jacket.”
Sam: “Dark, mysterious and spooky.”
Chris: “Russians are always a good bet, especially in the current climate.”
Jess: “I don’t know, but usually I like them. So it would help if they were sexually attractive, so you like them when you shouldn’t.”
Craig: “Rouge-like, bushy beard, a dirty look as though they live in squalor.”
Jamie: “The weird neighbour who seems to pop up in the storyline for no reason fooling the audience. Like the villain in Disturbia who seems nice and friendly until you see his true side at the end of the film.”
Becky: “I’d imagine them ugly with stubble, a shaved head and wearing mostly black.”
Ruby: “Someone hot, with a mean streak and chiseled cheek bones.”
Alex: “A naturally creepy kind of person with a creepy face/persona e.g. Alan Cummings.”

4. Describe a character that you would like to see portraying a ‘victim.’

Andy: “An attractive young woman, who isn’t really "with it" so to speak, like a blond sort of stereo type.”
Emily: “someone innocent...almost with an untouchable virgin image”
Sam: “Small, innocent and dorky.”
Chris: “Someone vulnerable and easily influenced.”
Jess: “Someone I don’t really like in the film, so I can laugh at them dying.”
Craig: “Either a femme-fatale or a man that wears suits.”
Jamie: “The ‘victim’ can be anyone really, as long as they seem powerless and weak compared to the villain. Most victim’s would have to be innocent though.”
Becky: “Someone kind that you would like and could empathise with.”
Ruby: “Someone that seems innocent and relatable and grows from the experience.”
Alex: “Someone who deserves it.”

5. What do you believe makes thriller films successful?

Andy: “the ability for the film to capture the undivided attention of the audience and action that makes them think: "I wish this didn’t have to end" ‘The Dark Knight,’ for example.”
Emily: “if they have an original story line...something different to all the rest of the thriller films out there...TWISTS!”
Sam: “I think a dark, jumpy storyline would probably be successful as a thriller.”
Chris: “an intriguing plot and a good balance between exciting action and narrative.”
Jess: “A film that really makes you jump, makes you scared and makes you think. I particularly liked Urban Legends because you were guessing who the murderer was, and how the next person would get killed. Yummy.”
Craig: “A good storyline with ‘normal’ characters.”
Jamie: “A good thriller is one that excites the audience and also installing a sense of fear into them.”
Becky: “The suspense and the fact that the audience themselves can try to discover who the villain is and their motives.”
Ruby: “That people need to know what happens and love the rush and thrill of the horror.”
Alex: “When there is not any unnecessary gore, and when it has jumpy bits, and uses good characters – basically a film based around the characters. And they should be real people – monsters are not scary.”

6. What kind of music would you associate with a thriller film?

Andy: “a piece that creates tension and suspicion for the audience”
Emily: “well in some cases it would be like soft instrumental music...but then you’ve got the metal rock kind of music that suits them too.”
Sam: “mostly high pitched and quite sudden music as this creates tension.”
Chris: “Mainly orchestral music – it’s good for creating tension.”
Jess: “Either really classical stuff (e.g. the music from Jaws) or some heavy metal.”
Craig: “Something like The Pink Panther that builds tension.”
Jamie: “Any music can be played really, even happy ‘safe’ music as this could be used as a ironic statement, like the beginning in Once upon a time in America where the theme tune to ‘God Bless America’ is played. Most thrillers have dark, spine-tingling music that scares the audience making them fear for the character’s lives.”
Becky: “Haunting music.”
Ruby: “Music that builds suspense, usually high pitched violins and low cellos.”
Alex: “Low tones, then high when something bad happens – like in Psycho when she is stabbed”

7. What would you say the best thriller film you’ve seen is and why?

Emily: “I liked ‘Valentine’ because I like the storyline of getting revenge on people that hated you in high school.”
Andy: “‘The Dark Knight,’ because it was action-packed and kept my attention from beginning to end.”
Sam: “‘Scream’ is probably my favourite because the storyline is original and it’s also quite tense so has a good effect on the audience.”
Chris: “If I had to choose, I’d probably say ‘The Bourne Identity’ because the story ties up so well, the acting is good and it’s just a great film overall.”
Jess: “I just Googled Batman: The Dark Knight and supposedly that is an ‘Action-Thriller’ so I guess my favourite film is Batman: The Dark Knight, mainly because I love it when the Joker says: “Madness is a lot like gravity, all it takes is a little push…” Now that is a line and a half.”
Craig: “The Usual Suspects because it has a brilliant storyline and a clever ending.”
Jamie: “Probably Layer Cake as I love the ‘whish’ of it all. The acting is really good, as is the script, and it drew me into the film. And at the end it had the ‘I don’t want it to end’ feeling. The Dark Knight is also very, very good though.
Becky: “Se7en because the victims were the focus of a sin and it’s a storyline that I’ve never seen before. The twist at the end also keeps it interesting all the way through.”
Ruby: “Friday 13th, 1980s version - Because it was so ridiculous.”
Alex: “Psycho as it involved a character you never saw, which added to the sense of the unknown, and was scary. Plus it had a big, unexpected twist.”



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