Audience Feedback (Incomplete Version)

Although our opening titles sequence is not yet complete, I uploaded an incomplete version onto both Youtube.com and Facebook.com, along with an explanation and series of broad questions in order to gain honest audience feedback from our target audience. It was my intention to understand how audiences received and registered the information presented in the opening two minutes of the film and to discover whether we were successful in creating and keeping to the conventions of the opening to a Brit Grit film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pIMCRXXDBc&feature=related

How I addressed my audience:

"Okay guys, basically i need your help with my AS Media Coursework. This is it so far, I'm aware the quality once uploaded to youtube isn't great and as you can see it isn't complete yet -we still have music and more footage to include, but in order to meet our criteria we need audience feedback, so please comment and give constructive criticism when needed. If you could take into account and preferably answer the following questions when you comment it, that would be great:

1) Comment on quality of editing and filming?

2) The aim is to introduce the main character fully, how well do you feel that this aim has been achieved? What is your understanding of the character and his lifestyle?

3) Based on the footage you've seen how successfully does the clip portray a British film as opposed to an American film?

Thanks"

Various comments and audience feedback received:

Based on the feedback from the public audience it is apparent that we have succeeded in portraying our character and meeting our intended targets. Despite watching the incomplete version of our opening titles, audiences were able to establish the location of the film, who the main character was and his lifestyle, some in fact were able to make premonitions and extend upon the character. For example one suggested that he "could be a bit of a roughie" meaning that even though there was no violence directly presented to audiences, it was still understandable that he may lead a violent and rough lifestyle. One viewer was also able to understand his distain for the life he leads and the way in which society works, a characteristic that will be made clearer through the involvement of a personal interior monologue, to be involved later, saying that "I don't think he wants to live there... It looks like such a chore".

Upon being asked if our film meets the conventions of a British film or if it has more connotations of an American film, the public stressed that we have created a piece that "Oozes British", meaning that we were successful in our choice of Mise-en-scene and location. Although a suggestion was made to include footage of a 'red bus' in order to further convey this 'Britishness' and appeal to audiences (as it is what they associate with London), I feel that it is too stereo-typed and that more subtle uses of props and Mise en scene, such as the English flag outside the pub, are better suited to the genre.

Audiences both praised certain techniques and offered advice and constructive criticism whereby we could improve certain areas of our footage in order to make particular aspects more apparent and smoother. One comment outlined a transition between clips that was not particularly well executed, taking this into account I then made attempts to edit, making necessary changes and was eventually able to improve the transition, making the footage flow better. One comment specifically highlighted the shot filmed as though it were from a CCTV camera, informing us that it is successful.