Evaluation Question Three for A2 media studies

1. Evaluation Question Three:
What have you learned from
your audience feedback?

2. Throughout my coursework I relied highly on my audience feedback, this is because I wanted to
create a product that captivates my target audience and the best way of harnessing this goal is through
the gathering and use of audience feedback which will then reflect into my work.

3. Preliminary, I began my product creation by introducing myself to my possible target market. To do
this, I gathered information from my peers using the website Survey Monkey. To gather said
information I had to create a questionnaire which reflected the views of my target audience and
extended my knowledge in relation to what I wanted to highlight and focus on in regards to all
aspects of my products. In relation to this, I based my questions around what my target audience
would look for within all of my products (this references the use of colour systems and imagery along
with aspects of my trailer.)

4. Continuing, I also gathered information from my peers via social networking sites such as Facebook
and Twitter, this meant I could directly target my anticipated audience and ask direct questions which
I wanted to highlight or use within my products. A prime example of this would be using Twitter’
direct message system to ask my followers and target audience questions in reference to what they’d
prefer to see within a horror film/trailer. These combined gave me the ability to find my target market
(between the ages of 18 and 30) as well as enhancing my knowledge in regards to what they’d like to
see within a horror trailer: this provided me with the facts that they would like a more female
orientated cast as well as preferring to view paranormal horrors.
In this case, the use of audience feedback within my research
and planning was a crucial aspect in regards to awareness of
my target audience’s preferences and opinions as without this
assistance it may have become something complete opposite
to what my target audience would look for and evidently
failed.

5. Audience feedback also played a monumental role throughout my ancillary task and main task. I
frequently posted on social media versions of my ancillary tasks to gain feedback on what my target
audience deemed well fitting for my task itself: there are aspects of my products which needed
editing slightly and was thus pointed out within my audience feedback for example, in regards to my
poster it was believed that my title was too close to the actress’ names which sat above it along with
being slightly too large: this could have led to confusion therefore I went back to my original image
and slightly altered the title further down the image as well as changing the size.
Moreover on the original image, I used a red text which upon review: it
became clear that the quote at the top was not clear enough compared to the
background: therefore although the use of the red text represented the blood
or gore within my trailer, I found that using the main image created a better
image as it framed the castle and pointed the viewer to what was important
or influential; I went back to my target audience with the other possible
colours and they found that black was a more effective colour.
Upon further review, on my final image. It became clear that there were still
aspects I could have enhanced on and what I could have done better. For
example the main image wasn’t very eye catching, did highlight the setting
of the film but doesn’t represent the story and doesn’t particularly foretell
the horror of the movie and I personally believe this is one aspect that, given
the opportunity I would change.

6. In regards to my magazine I involved members of my target market as a method of enhancing my
knowledge in regards to what they would look for within horror magazines as well as creating a
professional and well-presented image which suits all the needs of my target market. I gain audience
feedback from both posting social network sites and face to face reviewing: it became clear that the
use of make-up on the model which creates an eye catching and unique magazine front cover which
is highly effective in relation to my target markets views and opinions. Along with the use of the
‘next issue’ sticker it creates a professional image.
Advancing on this, my target market also believed the use of my
masthead was highly effective in regards to representing the idea
of blood within my magazine using the drip effect within my text
along with making it eye catching and unique.

7. However, I personally along with my audience believe that my magazine is my less effective
products. Although it does portray a suitable, professional and unique there are aspects that I wish,
given the opportunity I could have expanded upon. For example, upon review it became clear that
although it was eye catching a singular image wasn’t as effective as a selection of images could have
been and created a broader market in relation to a target market. Following up on this, post review I
found that the use of three colours was somewhat bland and not as eye catching as it could have
been: my target audience believed the use of more yellow and dark purples would have infused the
magazine with more eye catching and individual capabilities.
Finally, the most prominent part of my coursework is my trailer: each of my products was
used to captivate an audience appropriate for the lead up and advertisement of the trailer
itself. Within my trailer I wanted to highlight Todorov’s Narative Theory which highlights
the idea that each horror film/trailer upon review it was clear that within my trailer I had
captivated this theory: it has clear breaking points in which the equilibrium and disruption are
illustrated

8. Moreover I feel like my trailer itself captivated the genre ideally: representing the use of found
footage cinema to portray the storyline whilst complimenting all of the conventions I wished to
highlight as well as breaking certain conventions in a suitable method which aimed to build suspense.
Through the reviewing of my trailer on social media by my peers it became clear that although all
round it was a well presented, structured product it did seem to lack in certain areas. To learn and
grow from this experience I created a first draft: this gave me the opportunity to reach out to my
target audience and gain audience feedback on what they found effective/ineffective within my
trailer. During this process I was made aware that aspects such as the first line of text transition and
first frame weren’t on screen long enough to be fully read therefore on reproduction: I was able to
edit the time (in seconds) the images or footage was on the screen.

9. In addition, a selection of my target audience found that the beginning of the trailer was a
bit unclear, in that the storyline was not portrayed obviously however found the link
between the jump scare and drop/speed in the music creates a highly effective and tense
build up which enhances the fear factor of the trailer itself. On the subject of music, it was
also suggested that the bass was lowered in the music as it becomes muffled and the music
volume was suggested to be increased. These are all aspects that I have changed and aided
my work in my second and finalised trailer: for example in relation to the unclear storyline
to solve this issue, I have inserted a small selection of clip with audio which makes the
storyline clearer and more understandable.

10. To conclude, I personally believe that use of audience feedback has aided my work greatly and taught
me an array of methods in relation to audience profiling and gathering audience information: this
includes the use of social networking and online survey sites along with face to face audience
feedback. Continuing, it also taught me greatly about how audience opinion varies and what may suit
one, may not suit another and it is about finding an equilibrium within the target
audience. Moreover, the aid of audience feedback within my course has enhanced my knowledge in
the use of YouTube and editing, in relation to the addition of comments or notes to a video clip.