Audience Research

In order to successfully create the opening sequence to a thriller, I am going to carry out in depth audience research. This will help me to understand what makes a thriller thrilling and hopefully I will then be able to include these elements in my production. To do this, I am going to ask friends or family who are avid thriller fans and interview them using a series of questions and also use secondary research from the internet. 

Here we can see that the main audience in terms of numbers is probably teens and adults. This gives me an idea of what to include in my production i.e. modern elements that will appeal to a modern audience. Instead of strictly going by what I have seen in my opening sequence research, I intend to cross borders into other genres such as niche or art house. This would increase the interest in my production if it were real and appeal to a wider audience, perhaps including the older generation. 

Successful Thrillers:

This gives an idea of what popular thrillers have consisted of over the years. All of these films have an eerie feel, which I will include in my production. This will then appeal to the target audience and present a vintage feel to the film, as well as authenticity.

Audience Research Interview

From this interview with a member of my chosen audience, I can gather reliable information on what appeals to them. I now know to focus on the atmosphere and editing, as well as the soundtrack to build the tension. I can also make sure the opening sequence establishes my chosen genre of thriller, so that it eases in the audience. In conclusion, I now have enough audience research to determine what elements will be included within my opening sequence which will provide my sequence with authenticity.

Looking in depth at my target audience 
(sourced from uktribes.com)

If I find out what my target audience enjoy, I can use this to add elements to my film that will appeal to them. 

Here is an overview of who I believe watches thrillers. From this diagram of types of people and subgroups of the modern age, I definitely believe the more 'arty' types such as hipsters and skaters would be interested in thriller films. As to people such as Rahs (middle class) and Ravers I was more unsure. There is obviously differences in peoples tastes and they can't just be stereotyped into one group, but overall I believe the niche groups would perhaps be more interested in thrillers on the whole. This is just in my opinion, so I looked  into the chosen sub groups. 

'Indie Scenesters'

According to uktribes.com, 'Indie Scenesters' definitely enjoy cinema which must also include genres such as thrillers.

Target Audience On The Whole: Leading Edge 

Questionnaire

I created a questionnaire to discover what my chosen audience thinks is the most important aspect of a thriller. Although these results are from a small sample, it shows me an overall opinion and what kind of  thriller film my audience enjoy.

Having watched the Blair Witch Project I agree that the home video aspect  creates verisimilitude. However I found that if you watch it in a less susceptible mood, it's actually quite ineffective. I am going to include one scene of home video in my sequence to gain the real life feel.

 I too found The Shining to be very creepy, partly due to some of the artistic and eerie shots. 

After this result, I watched the opening sequence of The Others. It included elements such as children, which can be quite scary in thrillers. My thriller is going to include a small child in one scene, to show that there is no 'mercy'.

Jeepers Creepers is one of the scariest thrillers/horrors I have ever seen. In my opinion I believe the aspect of the unknown works well for this film. I am going to partly include this in my thriller using the opening few shots and scenes. 

All of these participants have rated soundtrack or visual as the most important aspects of a thriller. With this in mind I am going to create an effective and eerie soundtrack using Logic and Freesound to layer sounds. 

They have also rated the opening sequence as important in setting the themes and atmosphere. I agree with this and am going to make sure my opening entices the audiences and tells them gives them a feel of the tense atmosphere.